The weekly Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1860-1863, 1861-02-07

Governor LeteheT on the Ohio Resolutions,
The following was communicated TO
the Virginia General Assembly:
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMEsT.l
January 31st, 1861.
Gentlemen Of tie Senate and House of
Delegatss:
] have received from lis Excellepey,
William DennisoD. Governor Of Ohio, a
communication enclosing resolutions pas
sed by the General Assembly of that
State on the 18th instant:
These resolutions express desire for
the preservation Of the Union. To give
effect to this patriotic desire. they lender
to the President of the United States Lhe
entire poaOer lnd resources ofhe ,St,ie of
Ohio" 10 be. employed in the coercion
and subjugatiOp Of the seeding States, or
as they express i: in "tle maintenance Of
the Constitution and Laws CT the Gener.
al Government, by whOmsoever admins
tered" Such policy can never accom-.
Iplish the object desired.
Such resolutions sent to the sIavehold.
ing States caO have no other effect than
TO excite the resentment and inflame the
Iprejudicos; TO increase existing Difficult
ties, and 10 embarrass, if not defeat all ef.
forts now being made to adjust the con.
troversy.
The General Assembly of Virginia bav-
ing expressed their opinion on the doc.
trine Of coercion, with the most crafty.
ing unanimiiy, such resolutions as are
now communicated can be regarded 10 no
other light than "a threat against all those
States which recognize the doctrine Of
secession. am happy 10 assure you. how.
ever, that IN this instance no serious ap-
prebeusions need be entertained, as Gov
ernor Dennison states IN his last annual
message, (of date January 7th, 1861
that "the organized militia Of the State
numbers. at present, a little less than
TWELVE HUNDRED men. They are uni
formed. armed and equipped, and are for
the mos! part, in commendsble state
Of discipline AS 10 arms. he says, ii
appears that the State has received 81.
982 muskets and rifles, and has but 6 600
at her present command. Of1I 1872 cav
airy pistols but 722 remain-of 272 re
yolvers, about 40 are supposed TO be re
con srable- Of 46 brass cannon, NOR
than three -ioarths we're useless or dan
gerous Tor service, from neglect or bat
usage, until the Quarlermaster Genera
restored them to serviceabe condition.
This fifth resolution declares that /
is the will and purpose of the people o
Ohio to fulfill, in good faith, all thei
obligations under The Constitution Of III,
! United States according TO the spiri. an,
intent thereof This is Just sentiment
,land the purpose expressed cannot be to-
highly commended. 1t would, howeye
have been more strongly Appreciated.
the General Assembly bad rebuked til
Governor ofOhio f r refusal TO suriende
Owen Brown and B. +. Merriam, when de
! manded by the authorities Of this Con-
t monweahh as fugiives from justice.
would suggest the propriety Of such
rebuke from the General Assembly Of tn
State of Ohio at i:s present session. Sue
rebuke would furnish proper sequ,
to this resolution. | would further sup
gest that as M enactment of the Stale q
. Ohio has clothed tie Governor nth du
thority TO surrender 10 another State ta
t gitives from its justice, seeking refuge ,
$ Ohio, it would be well to enact such law
and thus, fulfill, in good faith all thoi
obligations under the Constitution of tn
5 United States according 10 the spirit an
:. intent thereof" Virginia has good groun
for complaint from the present author
g.. ties of the State Of Ohio on this score AN
, | earnestly hope they will carry out the
declarations, as expressed in this reso.l
n tion, at the earliest practicable momen
t | hope the General Assembly of Obi
: will now "Show their faith by the
Q works
It You will make such disposition of the
j resolutions as in your wisdom shall
deemed best.
John TETCUEK