The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-01-08
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT.
RICHMOND. Jan. :. 1901.

NJ,
,,sera her last, sta tes suecinctiy the conside.
Items which induced me TO convene you In
x.yaordiuary seSsioa
eAnsIy however, requires Of me a more de-.
ita4 exroSifion OF my views npon the sub.
IS therein referred 10, as well as the presen-
y,tnn of such recommendations are de-
.asnded by proper regard for the public in =
.a~s, "a, and the faithful. prompt and efficient
1asntion OF the laws of this great an 4 grow
* Commonwealth. These views and re-
~ ts,,,endations will be presented with as
v,,ch brrvity as the extraordinary circum.
s,srces Of the times will Justify.
y,terialuing a profound respect for the In i.
.aIlireuce. experience and information OF the
~ertIemen constituting the two houses of the
as,eTsl Assembly, feel that it. would be a
-easc aan upon them 10 accompany each re-
.,r.rneu alton with an assignment of all the
Tsasoas which might be urged in its favor
v,iIl content myself, therefore, with the as
sigpulsnt Of y few general reasons in support
-, ny recommendations. Gou viii consider
and discuss tsern. and either adopt OF reject
tbefu as your judgment and discretion shall
d..erinipe | am responsible to the people
our common constituents, for the recommen-
dations Ysu are res pons BILE to the same tri-
buHal for the disposition You may make Of
them.
regret that / cannot congratulate you on
the peace and prosperity, the healthy and
n9urishiHg condition Of the various branches
Of business in which our people are so vitality
ia:ereS ted and offer bright and cheering hopes
for the future of our country. The times are
indeed full OF peril aud danger, and demand
from those who are clothed with representa-
i've trusts. coolness, calmness and frmuess,
united with prudence, wisdom, moderation
and patriotism 1udecision or indisc retion
Vassion or pre- iudice, heedlessEess or reckless
ness, will precipitate results that may be de-
piored. when too late to he averies. blum
dlr at such a time Is n crime. An error com =
ruitted now can never perhaps be corrected.
With these preliminary remarks, / address
myself to the discussion OF the most impor-
tant question thai has ever claimed your CON
sideraiion, and in the determination OF which
so much OF human happiness IT misery is n-
yolyed. ! repeat, as applicable To this occa-
sion, the language of Governor Floyd in his
message OF January, 1888: \ our station IS
hIsh aud res Do onsibie to you the people will
LOOK nay, do look for security and protec ton
and the maintenance of all the rights of the
States virginia, the land of our birth, the
burial place OF our fathers, the peaceful home
Of our wi yes aEd daughters, awaits your de-
etsion.' Tue people will review whatever
NAV be done--and the man who fears to trust
hem, is not friend TO their rights or their
safety.
FEDERAL RELATIONS.
The condition OF our country at this time
excjtes the most serious fears for the per-
peiuation Of the Uuion. Clouds o'erlapping
clouds are weaving DER our house evIi
woof a fearful canopy" The country is torn
by dssenslOH; fierce and angry excitement
exhibits itself in all sections passion aud
ureludce have taken absolute possession OF
ihe minds of the people throughout the land
The vie spirit of faction, (which poliutes the
f,unlain of national honor, and digs the grave
Of PATRIOTISM" shows Itself on all Sides
Confidence is des stroyed fraiernal feeling has
been supplanted by in teuse sectional hate; the
slirIt of coociliation has been smot aud
crushed and the affections of the people
Nnrth and south, East and West appear to
have been entirely Withdrawn from their gov
erument. The ties of brotherhood have been
severed and though living under the same
C1ustltuuon the sections seem 10 be Us hos
tils, each 10 tne other, as If their ci1izens be-
ioueed 70 unfTieuGly governments. Distrust
has matred the pleasure of friendship and So
cai Intercourse; bitterness aad unkiUdness
hare crushed out fraternity. Urity of feel
ing unity Of &C ION Is now gone. 1t is hardly
possible fVr q government to live and -four
ish under such adverse circumstances
I've must not, however, look mournful-
ly INTO the past That Is beyond the
hope OF recall. We must wisely improve
the present; correct its errors reform its
abuses; reunite the severed ties of affection,
aud enkindle anew the fires OF patriotism, if
We would recover all that has been lost 1t
this shall be done, bright and glorious fu-
ture is Vet before us We should be blessed
with power, iatiuence, wealth and prosperity,
such TO natiCn has ever enjoyed in the his
tory OF the world. Great as has been our sue
cess, as compared with The Nations OF the
eartn heretofore, greater far would il be here
after.
II is Interesting TO trace our progress, from
the formation of the Cons nstitutIon up To the
present time. The results Will be found in
The highest degree gratifying to our pride as
people, and Immensely important, far as
our power and influence as Il nation is con-
cerned. What was the area of our country
IN square miles, EN- braced by the original
thirteen States Oaiy 5I96l5. What is it
now ! Thlrty-three States, covering an area
OF $4,000, six organized Territories, exciu-
slve of the District of Columbia, covering an
area of l,lU1, ,uOO; and in addition, we have the
: n
dian territory, embracing Isl 900 square miles
Our territory mas been enlarged nearly seven
times III eX tent; our navy has been increased
unli It's canvas whitens every ocean, and our
national flag assures protection to the Ameri-
can citizen wherever he may be. Our power,
ourlnhuence, our prosperity, our agricultu-
raj, mechanical and manufac turing wealth
have Increased far beyond ali expectation
That banner which is borne up, and which has
been carried forward by the unseen yet steady
hand Of progress, has attained a position far
III advance OF The hopes and anticipations Of
the founders Of our Government. Surely no
people have been blessed as we have been, aad
II Is melancholy to think that all is now about
To he sacrificed upon the altar of passion. If
the Judgments Of men were consulted. il the
admOnItlous Of their consciences were re-
spected, the Union would yet be saved from
overthrow. Every calm, consiierate and re-
heeIng mind rs filled with apprehensions OF
lie most painful character, every patriotic
heart ihrobs with anxiety, and all conserva-
seeking 10 devise some means of escape from
tue evils that now threaten our peace and the
continued existence of the Government All
SEE aud feel and know that the danger is i'm
minent, and all true patriots are eXerting
themselves 10 save us from the perls now i'm
pending ever us. Tue dark gloom If appre-
henson is fast gathering around rs. aud if
saved al all, the wisdom, prudence, aud patri-
Otlsn OF the country can alone (aided by Di-
vine Prov ideuce) be relied upon 10 relieve us
la this hour OF our extremity.
Ny inaugural message, presented to you
b Jast one year ago today, was prepared in an
ue'pation OF the occurrences OF the past two
months, which have cast their shadow like n
pati ever the business finaucial and CONNER
ciaI OF the country. / thought / saw then a
storm ahead, that threatened 10 be destructive
III IFS consequences and anxious 10 avert It's
Jury, II possible, / made two recomEenda-
lions, which, If adopted, would I'm my Jadg-
iAeht, have saved us from the consequences
now upon us. In this opinion, however, you
ulu noe concur, and no action was taken IN re-
gard 10 either
Seeing nc other hope of ayerting the threat
euee Danger, l cordially endorsed the propo-
silon presented by Col Msmminger, OF SCUM
oaroiiha and Mr.. Starke OF Mississippi, for a
conference with those States. Ii that propo-
'',oh hao been accepted, / am entirely salts
io iAeo thiAt the results would have been most
1Iappy mat II would have tended in a great
ooSiee 10 Tue settleraent and satstac tory ad-
iuStmehl OF the painful controe eersy which
Aau 50 long existed, and which seemed TO oe
.1eIeaSea Wy ume aud untoward circum-
ff,aneosi betHeeu the Two sections of the
phiou The questions would have been pre-
'eht1d IN form and shape, and In a manner
T ~ Imposing, that action must have followed.
& aha ac,ion could not have tended otherwis
than toward peace.
now again most respectfully renew the re-
~ntaehaation, presented in my inaugural
"essage, In the following extract:
-, ne only mode. therefore, OF remedy ing
Tue evil that occurs 10 ms, under ths Con,f,,x.
SoH Is provided Ia the fifth article thereof
sun mon Convention OF all the STATES that
iaii and free conference may be had between
me representatives OF the people. elected for
ms purpose, aud thus aseert tain whether the