, 1861-06-25

The sovereign people of Virginia, unbiased,
and by their OWL free choice, hare, by ma.
jority Of nearly one hundred thousand quail
fed voters, severed the ties TINT heretofore
bound them to the Government Of the United
Statee, and united this Commonwealth with
the Confederate States. That our people hare
right ITO Institute new government, lay
ing LIS foundations on such principles, and
organizing its powers in such form as to them
shall seem most likely to effect their safety
err, and it Is 9 right which no freeman should
ever rellnquish. The State Of Virginia has
now, the second time In her history, asserted
this right, and it is now the duty OF every
Virginian to acknowledge her act when ratl-
fed By such = majority, aud to give hi. will
ing co operation to make good the declara-
ton. Ali her people have voted. Each has
tsken his chance to have his per3o12l views
represented You, as we'll Is the rest Of the
State, have cast your vote fairly, and the ma
citizsns to yield to the will Of the State. The
bill Of rights has proclaimed "tha. the peo.
pie have right to uniform government; aud,
therefore, that no government, separate from
CT Independent Of the government Of Virgin
ia ought to be erected or established within
the limits thereof"
The msjority, thus declared, therefore, have
8 right to govern. But notwithstanding this
right, thus exercised, has been regarded by
the people Of all sections Of the United States
as undoubted and sscreo, Jet the Government
at Washington now utterly denies Il, and By
the exercise Of despotlc power, Is endeavoring
to coe1ce our people to abjsct submission to
their authority. Virgins has asserted her IN
dependence SheWill maintain it at every haz-
ard. She is sustained By the power Of ten Of
her sister Southern States, ready and willing to
uphold her cause. Can any true Virginian re-
fnee to render asslstances Men Of tie North
west, appeal to you, By al the considerations
which have drawn Us together as one people
heretofore, to rally to the standard Of the Old
Dominion By all the sacred ties CT consan-
eutnity, By the tntermi1tura Of the blood Of
friendships ballowcd By a thousaad cherished
1ecollections, memories Of the past, By the
relics Of the great men Of other days, ccne to
Fnginias banner, and drive the invaders from
your soil. There may be traitors in the midst
Of you, who, for eeldsh ends, have turned
against their mother and would permit her to
be ignominious1y oppressed and degraded.
Bnt cannot, will not, believe tha. q majority
Of you nre not true sons, who will give your
blood and your treasure for Virglnia's de-
fense.
I have sent sor your protection such troops
as the emergency enabled me to collect, in
charge Of O Competent commander. I have
ordered . large force to 60 to your aid, but I
rely With the utmost confidence upon your
own strong aims to reecue your tiresides and
altars from the pollution Of reckless aud
lulQ4ts6 EueluY. 1QE Gi1LE l9 lQF1QeQ at sew.
eral points, but ample forces have been col
1ected to defend her.
There has been complaint among you
that the Eastern portion Of the State has
enjoyed an exemption from taxation TO your
prejudice. The State, by majority Of 5o,-
600, has put the two sections on an equality
in this respect. By displaT Of magnanimity
in the vote just given, the East has, By q
large majority, consented to reliuquish this
exemption, and Is ready to share with you
NIL the burdens Of Government, and to meet
all Virgfnia'e 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, ons power,
nerve every patriot arm in common cause.
The heart that will not beat in unison with
Virginia row, IS . trnstor's heart the arm
that will not strike home in her cause now Is
pa1sied by coward fear.
The troops are postedat Huttonsville. Come
with your OWL good weapons and meet them
| as brothers!
Given under my hand, and under the
the seal of the Commonwealth, this
L. g. 18th day Of Jnne, 1861, and in the S5th
year Of the Commonwealth
Jons LErCHER.
| BJ the Governor:
GEORGE ". ACNFoRD,
Secretary ofthe Commonwealth.