Virginia Argus

The Legislature of S. Carolina convened at Columbia on the 24th ultimo. The following extract from Governor Middleton's communication, at the opening of the session, is truly patriotic:

"Our federal and state constitutions have vested the power of declaring war exclusively in the general government, and have given it special control over every description of force necessary for carrying it on: Yet the spirit of our polity and the extent of our territory require, when war is declared to exist by the Constituted authorities of the nation, the state governments should yield a faithful and entire co-operation in all such measures as may have a tendency to insure a successful progress and termination to the contest in which the Union is engaged; and all its members are bound by the most sacred obligation to furnish every aid in their power, as well to mitigate the evils of war to our own citizens, as to make it effectual against the enemy.

"Such would be our obvious duty, did we even doubt or disapprove the policy of the war. It is only by a vigorous prosecution of it, that it can be brought to an honorable and advantageous termination; opposition to the measures of the government, if effectual, must paralyze its efforts, and tend to produce defeat and disgrace, and to blast the future hopes and prospects of our country.

But the circumstances of this war, hold out strong inducements to give it a zealous support: It originates in the inflexible hostility of a government, which although defeated in its plan of establishing an absolute dominion over our continent by the war of our revolution, yet has of late years vainly believed that by means of its great naval superiority, it may shackle and control our commerce, so as to reduce it to a complete subserviency to British views and interests. If it be true that a free Commerce be a necessary appendage to our national independence, and (next to the right of self-government) one of the most precious fruits, there can be no doubt that in the present conjuncture, it is due to the character and essential to the interests of this Union, to exert its strength for the establishment of its maritime and commercial rights.

"Nor need we entertain any apprehensions for the final result of the contest; the growing resources of our country, and the gallant spirit of our countrymen, afford ample pledges of its successful issue. Already our legions, by a just retaliation for the violation of our rights on the ocean, are preparing to carry the republican banner into the heart of the enemy's continental possessions. Meanwhile, let us beware lest the war be retorted on our shores; the situation of our state, whose extensive coast becomes an exposed frontier, should rouse our vigilance; the general government has spared no expense in placing the posts in its possession in an adequate state of defence; but all it has done, or will be able to do, much must be left to our own energies, which should be exerted to extend complete protection to all our coast against predatory incursions, and due preparation should be made at every point for repelling attack.

"Since the declaration of war, regarding the necessity of the case as sufficient justification, I have ordered a small distribution of arms to the effective companies of militia, whose stations are on the most exposed points of our Coast. I have also authorised the mounting of some cannon, the purchase of a few commissary's stores, a small contract for equipments, and the making up of some tents for the detachment actual service; the amount of all which will be laid before you.

"In consequence of a representation made to the general government, that the state had not provided the means of arming and equipping the quota she was called on to furnish, as required by law, I received an order for some arms and equipments the greater portion of which has been delivered out to that part of the detachment now in actual service.

It affords me satisfaction to state, that our quota of 5,000 men was organized with expedition, and is composed principally of volunteers. In many cases the draft was resorted to only to decide who should have the privilege of being accepted as a part of the quota: in some instances, officers, who could not obtain commands, have volunteered as privates! The military ardor of our citizens has every where evinced itself by a readiness to serve the country; nor has their patriotism been shaken by the sufferings and privations of the camp, the hardships and fatigues of which (more trying than the dangers of battle) are borne by them without a murmur. Since June last, they have been exposed, with very insufficient accommodation, to the most inclement season that has been known for years past. To detail their suffering here, would be unnecessary; a representation from the officers stationed at Naddiril's Point, is herewith transmitted: Your wisdom will best dictate in what form relief shall be afforded to our patriotic defenders.

"To these considerations, urging a call of the Legislature, was added another, which, alone, rendered your meeting at this time indispensably necessary. The act prescribing, on the part of this state, the manner of holding elections for Representatives in the Congress of the U. States, was repealed at your last session; and yet a joint resolution, ordering the managers of the state election districts to hold elections for members to Congress, was passed, under which the managers are bound to act early in October next. Since your adjournment too, I have received an official copy of an act of Congress for the apportionment of Representatives among the several states, agreeably to a ratio of one Representative for every thirty-five thousand persons in each state, computed according to the rule prescribed by the Constitution and consistently therewith, allotting nine members to the state of South-Carolina, according to the third enumeration. In considering this subject, it appeared to me, that it had not been in the contemplation of the Legislature, to have any election for members of Congress held previous to next November, when the times, places and manner of holding these elections, would probably be prescribed by the Legislature, under the 4th section of the 1st article of the Constitution of the U. States.—The resolution was nevertheless obligatory on the managers; and doubts existing respecting the construction which should be put upon it by them, diversity of opinion would probably have led to considerable irregularity in the elections, which might, and probably would, ultimately annul them; in which case, as Congress alone is competent to decide all questions relative to the election and return of its own members. the people of this state must have been deprived of their representation on that floor for one session at least. Out of these circumstances arises a difficulty, which the legislative power of the state is now competent to surmount, having been assembled previous to the elections. On a question involving so important an interest, as that of the state influence in the councils of the nation at this crisis, I could not hesitate on the necessity of convening the Legislative body.

"It may be proper that you should be informed at this time, that the Legislature of N. Carolina, at their last session, refused to accede to our last propositions on the subject of the boundary line—A copy of the correspondence on that point, is now furnished."