Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1861-06-25
TO THE PEOPLE. OF N. w. VIRGINIA.
BY THE GOVERNOR OF VIRGINIA.
A PROCLAM

AO
The sovereign people of Virginia, unbiased,
and by their own free choice, have, by q major
ity of nearly one hundred thousand qualitiedvo-
ters, severed the ties that heretofore bound them
to the Government of the United States, and
united this Conmonweai with the Confederat
ed States. That our people have the right to
''institute new government, laying its founda-
ticDs on such principles, and organizing its pow
ers in such form as to them shall seem most
likely to effect their safety and happiness" was
proclaimed by our fathers, and it is right
which no freeman should ever reiinquish. The
State of Virginia has now, the second time In
her history, asserted this right, and it is the duty
of every Virginian to acknowledge her act when
ratified by such majority, and to give bis will
ing cooperation to make good the declaration
All her people have voted. Each has taken his
chance to have his personal views represented.
You, as we'll as the rest Of the State, have cast
your vote fairly, and the majority is against you.
1t is the duty Of good citizens to yield to the will
of the State. The bill OF rights has proclaimed
shat the people have right to uniform govern
ment and, therefore, that no government sepa-
rate from or independent of the government OF
Virginia ought to be erected or established with
| in the limits thereof" The majority, thus de-
cared, therefore have rightsto govern. But
notwithstanding this right, thus exercised, has
been regarded by the people Of all sections OF
the United States as undoubted and sacred, yet
the government at Washington now utterly de-
MES it, and, by the exercise of Gespotic power,
| is endeavoring to coerce our people to abject
submission to their authority. Virginia has as
serted her independence. She will maintain it
at every hazard. She is sustained by the power
Of ten of her sister Southern States, ready and
willing to uphold her cause. Can any true Vir-
IUi mi on, IN,
North west, appeal to you, by all the conside-
rations which have drawn Us together as one
people heretofore, to rally to the standard OF the
Old Dominion. By all the sacred ties of consan-
guinity, by the internixture. of blood of East
and West, by common paternity, by friendships
hallowed by thousand cherished recollections,
by memories of the past, by the relics Of great
men of other days, come to Virginia's banner
aud drive the invaders from your soil. There
may be traitors in the midst of you, who, for
selfish ends, have turned against tLeir mother,
and would permit her to be gnominiously op-
pressed and degraded. But | cannot, will not,
belie"e hat majority of you are not true soDs,
who will give your blood and your treasure for
| Virginia's defence.
1 | have sent for your protection such troops as
The emergency GRABBED lae to collect, in charge
of a competent commander. | have ordered 8
large force to go to your aid, but rely WITH tue
utmost ntdence upon your own strong arms TO
rescue your fresides and altars from the pollut-
tion of a reckless and ruthless enemy. The State
is invaded at several points, but ample forces
have been collected to defend her.
/ There has been a complaint among you that
the Eastern portion OF the State has enjoyed an
exemption from taxation to your prejudice. The
State, by a majority of $4,000 has pu; the two
sections on an equality in this respect. By a
|disilay of magnanimity in the vote just given,
the East has, by a large majority, Consented TO
relinquish the exemption, and is ready to share
with you all the burdens of Government, and to
meet all Virginia's liabilities. They come now
to aid you, as you came in former days to aid
them. The men of the Southern Confederate
States glory in coming to your rescue. Let one
heart, one mind, one energy, one power, nerve
every patriot arm in common cause. The heart
that will not beat in unison with Virginia now
is traitors heart; the arm that will not strike
home in her cause now is palsied by coward
fear. b aW
The troops are posted at Huttonsville. Come
with your own good weapons and meet them as
brothers!
Given under my hand, and under
1 81 the seal of the Commonwealth, this
/ l. y l4th day of June, 1861, and in the
~ o5th year of the Commonwealth.
/ JOHN LETCHER.
GEORGE W. MUNFoRD,
/ Secretary OF the Commonwealth.