Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-12-03
MESSAGE
or
GOVERNOR lETCHER.
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, [
DLrrapsx q 1851. !
Gsntlemens@ the Senate

Gentfms":g the Senate ns,,oot,.
Since the adjournment OF the General as
seInbIy. on the 4ih duy cf April last. fiiglh':
has Withdrawn from the Federal Union, anf
hus resumed her sovereignty as an lndepeit'
dent Slate Tn. reasons which impeiled her
to the adoption OF this course sEe numerous,
and are ample to justify her action IL is SUI
arient TO state that the government which en-
,orafathers established YVES a goTernnien: 81
frcsdorn and Of eoua!itv-that II Gas been suo
verified, and It's AIMS and objects Gr'eaieG.-
Free VIII and the consent OF the governed were
the great principles lying at lis foundation
| They never entertained the idea that orc Sec
ton of the country was to DC held by Surju-
CATION under the dominion OF the other. Their
| own history had shown that they had freso
themselves from unwise and unjust legislation,
from coercion and suhjugation by their revolt
| tionary struggle-the MODEST and most glori-
Gus in its results that has adorned The annals
of history. They founded u government for
| the protection of all, which commended itssl;
to popular approval, ard around which the a.
| ~fect,ous of the people were cl1$rlv entwlned.
| giving TO it strength power and influence. ]"
| The pure Gays OF It's existence It enjoyed IL"
| confidence Of the people AID commsl,drd llc
| respect OF the nations OF tho earth So l"rG
rs it gave prutcclion, all were Interested il.
maintaining and pei pctuating lis existercs,
but when it Ceased u 1T rd protection, and the
attelDpt was made 10 cJelco uud SutJusalr
States, the government OF our !ore'atters vas
overthrown.
We arc IN no sense responsible for the pre-
sent condition OF pubic 1T .irs. The Northern
masses, maddcned by passion and 1t hl'ned ty
pr.iud,ce, have pushed these agsreSs'ons
| upon US until every consideration VI duty nrd
patriotism requires us ~ separate from iten'.
We desired TO separate in peace. Vic want
| I'd no war, but yet VIC had made M our minds
TO vindicate our conduct on The battle bs'd,
II ne, ds be, and trust 10 that Gcd who d'rtc's
the Cesiiuies Of men ard ~nators, 10 gnide Us
into the pathway 70 success and indepen
dence, So lar, he has watched orCr US; guard
ed and protected Us in our r gh'cous Resistance
to tyranny has presided III the councils o.
our brave generals; has stimulated our officers
and men to deeds Of nUoie darr! &. and HIS
crowned our efforts with the wreath Of victory.
IL would bc an idle Consumption OF nme To
! present all the reasons which influenced cur
action, in lais Communication. They are "a.
mlllGr to the public mind, ami under :hv:r ill
Huencs tho people Of Virginia have pro"ounc d
their judgment at ;he polls; a,d by a ma.
jJr,ty unparalleled, have dvclar.d Tor sepsra-
ton. The events that have tranSpired since the
II b day Of April, fully attest the slrc=r;ty OIL
thsir convictions. stu content 10 leave their
vlndlcation with posIcl:ly, assured that their
action will be fully justified.
TIE purpose OF The Fc0crai President TO sub.
jugate US and cuerce US ~ remain IN Il Unlon.
the great aims and effects Of which have fail.
ed, has involved us in Z war of resistance 70
defeat his unhu'y Designs. We have met his
movements With n G~rluness, resolution ard
courage that becomo lrte,nen in the maInlc-
nance Of their honor, their rights and their III.
s,itutions. We have def, a.ed MS best troops,
and driven them in cun!uSina and dis,nay !r2uI
his own sole cted blttl- fields. Esthel ard
Haynesville, Bull Run and Manassas, L ch
Mountain and G.ulry, l~lsrpe,'s Ferry and
Lsesburg, ali attest the Sp,r!t, the hcro:sm, the
palr;otism and courage ui the volunteers oil tbs
Southern ConfedeIacy. they have proTrG
themselves equal To any emergency, aRc have
demonstrated tGat they arc worthy sons OF IL
l~ustrious ancestors, vino struck he list blow
tor freedom in the western world.
Il is not with US TO determine whether this
war shall be OF long or short duration. We
have decided, however. that II cannot terminate
until our enemies shall rcsgnza FULLY and
| unconditionaliy tue independence 1.-THE South
ern Confrderacy. Whatever OF men Ut mo.
neY is needed 10 work out this result will De
cheeriully furnished. There can DE-, and there
will be no Compromise. We can never again
live in harnlcny aiiG peace nndcr lhh same
government We cati never en!c. tain iTltTGly
feeling, iar a peopie who have :ut!leSSIy Shed
Southern blood upoa Southern soil, III $" t1ecia.
ole u war. They nave shown themselves our
worst enemies, and such VIZ hold li!em ~ be.
The separation that mas takr" place flSS bcc:'
s:gnalSz.d in blood, and il Ought 10 br, aud |
trust will be L permanent seyslai!Un. R.cCn.
struc!ion is not desirable. anu even IL X vert,
it IL now an impusSlt!ltty.
II is our duty, therefore, to devote all cur
energies TO q VIGOROUS prosecution OF tie war.
Every thug musJ bc done that vigilance ara
fidelity require, AID nothing left uadvnc ihai
patriotism snG prudei!ce suggest as necessary
TOT Our protection against &c uai ara colIiem
plated sggfesslons alrd ercroacnmeuls upon
our rights. No hesitailnG CT doubtful polc"
will answer when armies are Iii tia 1eit. Mar
will 1t do TO ACT alone on TIE crleuS:vr. lie
Su>Quehunnah is q better lighting line for Il.
thur the Potomac, and the sooner the war IS
pushed forward TO tina. line, the hrltcf Tor
Virginia and The S0u.nern Conreder"cy. To
shat lin: It must go, II we would save Mary
land. Let our actions show TO her tcupie tia
We feel iur their cui;diliUu, anu that We in;e!L
10 aid them in thecting their cel.veraace !r"rI
The tyranny that how "pEfe:s:S item, a."
thousands will wric ule Us 10 tl.eir State, AID
ao,k 10 tue standard OF The Southern Cunfc!r
racy, with a resolution to plant trat l's ti'm-
~ upon her suii, Ut die in the attempt. THI>
var Will tot End until We skog III, Northern.
people the q .d=,ence between Invading aud be
ing invaded.
ia this connection ! nust not omit 70 notice
the NOBLE spirit and prumptiude exhibited ~
The gallant SONS of that State, in COMING f,r
ward immediately after cur ordnance oil Secs
sion was passed, and making tenders Of service
10 aid IN The struggle, when was then Sren I"
b. unavoidable A more gai!an; SET Of rncr
never graced 4 battle 6cld, and sold ers mar
true, more courageous, ard more fai!tiui,
never struck blows for lreedam and ind pen-
dence. When their State vas SUI iga,ch ItsS
LIFT their homes. families and friends, cairc Il
Virginia, catered her service, and have exh'b'i
ed a devo ion aad fllcilty to the cause worth;
Of all admiration.
Very shortly after the secession Of Virginia
in The full 5c!iei tina. Governor H:eks OF Ma
rvland would be disaosed 10 unite with inc il
the adoption oisome line Of policy that would be
calculated 10 give mutual protection to our re
spective States against tho encroachmfntS o.
the Lincoln Government, sent Judge William
W. Crump Of this city, one Of INV aids d
camp, a gentleman OF fine intelligence ant
great prudence, to confer with him. aad ascrr
tain what would be his course # ac'i n iu ,h,
then existing condition Of public aff.irs. On
calling upon Governor Hicks, Judge Crumf
very soon became sati. 1"d tina; the vcrnn'
intended to 20 with the North. and would Us"
his il haencc, personal ard official, 10 proven,
Maryland from connecting herself with her
Southern sisters. The conference, therefore.
SOM terminated JUDGE Crumr''s ,.port is
haror;th transmitted