Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1850-12-25
SPECIAL MESSAGE OF THE GOVERNOR.
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,
December l6 1880

To tie General HSsembly Of Vlglnla:
GENTLEMEN II herewith transmit TO you Preamble
and Resolutions passed by the Convention of Indiana,
sembled TO revise the Constitution of that State and the
Report and Resolutions of a like Convention of the State
of Maryland. The spirit in which they conceived must
be regarded favorable omen and may excite the hope
that the feelings of bitterness and dssenson which pervade
the Confederacy may yet pass harmlesy away. There
are indeed porenous manifestations of deep discomfort
the South and these have jeen heightened and named by
the recently pursued in Vermont. The Legislature
of that State has virtually, by statute annuled the law OF
Congress for the recepure of fugitive slaves, which alone
induced the Southern States to acquesce in the late Com
promise measures. Vermont has thus inflicted upon the
whole South at injury and insult 10 neither
can we with honor or self-respect submit.
There must be distinct, immediate and final settlement
of the question of Slavery between the Savehocng and
non-Saveholdng States II the present agitation is conn-
ued the Union will inevitably be destroyed if this element
of dscod be removed of feud remains TO eopad
ze the permanence Of onr Confederation No honorable
means should be left uned to restore and perpeuae tran
qny. For this should exhaust every of
catiOn and forbearance We scarcely pay too much
for the restoration of that faerna harmony, which the
life blood Of ederae organization, and which alone
for any length of time preserve the Union In discharge
of the duty which the South to herself and her cl
zens she maintain at all hazards and any COST her
HONOR her independence and her essential rights In proof
of her devotion the Uncn she must be prepared sacr
flee all else to her of patriotism.
instant
ment fhe issue which has so long Instructed the country
the recent action of Indiana indicate that the time
is propous (o its amcabe decision. For The restora-
ton of complete and efectua harmony, would suggest
measure in which The patriots of all sections, and all who
and willing 10 abide by the Constitution, may
CO operate.
would recommend the adoption by the Legislature Of
resolutions inviting all the States of The Union 10 unite in
sending delegates 10 represent the whole people in gener
al Convention which ought to assemble at an early period
mot later than Mayat Baltimore other central
point for the purpose of bringing 10 an end all sectional con-
troveses relative to Slavery. To secure that end the
principles which should govern the action Of the Conven
ton ought be announced in the resolutions by which is
called All should be invited TO unite in this movement
who in favor of the pepeuaton OF the Union and who
attain this result in favor Of the Fugitive Slave Bill
honestly and cordially enforced, who opposed to its
peal OF essential modification, and who adverse &c
any further agitation of the Slavery question, either in
Congress or in the States With thslhe South will be
tent less than this can only eventuate in the dissolution
of the Union.
The action of such Convention, if successful and fully
sustained by the none saveholdng States, whoud satisfy
and quiet the South if unsuccessful, would prove that
the friends of order and the Union mporent 10 control
the fanatca passions which urging speedy dissou
,ion 1t is measure which addresses itself to peculiar
party and refers peculiar organization, but asks the
dial support of every true patriot all sections oour wide
ly extended Republic and which alone seems adequate
now labors, or of which it is apprehensve
To render this efecua and to relieve the de-
l5eratons of the Convention from the rammes by which
il might otherwise be embarrassed, would farther recon-
mend that such resolutions be accompanied with the sincere
ard earnest appeal of the State of Virginia, speaking
through her Legislature, to her sister States of the South
entreaug them to postpone any extreme action in relation
to present difficulties, until the result of the deliberations
of such Convention could be known. The restrictive
measures which the Legislature may adopt might be made
dependent for their continuation upon the ultimate action
this Convention.
By the adoption of this course, it appears tome The T.
Mon might be preserved and perpeuaed atena harmo
n.y. or the South enabled 10 pesen; united and unbroker
front 10 the assaults of anatical adversaes. The frs
must be the sangune hope Of all lovers Of freedom and he
country the last must be the sole refuge of Southern indie
pendence only when all brighter hopes proved by this
last effort to be futile and vain. The motto of the South
must be, as it has been, Union, if Independence
if we must.
have the honour TO be,
Most respectfully, your ob't. servant,
JOHN B. FLOYD.