Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-01-08
MESSAGE OF GOV, LETCHER,
TO THE

tionS which induced me 10 convene you IN ex-
traordinary session.
Duty, however, requires Of Inc . more de-
tale! rxnosition OF my views upon the subjects
therein referred 10. as well as the presentation
OF such recommendations as are demanded by
a proper regard for the public interests, and tho
faithful, prompt and efficient execution of the
laws Of this great and growing Commonwealth.
These views and recommendations will be pre-
sented with as much brcvity rs the e1traordi-
nary circumstances Of the times will justify.
Entertaining q profound respect for the intel
ligsnce, experience and information OF the
gentlemen constituting the two Houses OF the
General Assembly, l feel that it would be q
reflection upon them to accompany each re-
o~ommendation with an assignment OF all the
reasons which might be urged in its favor. |
will content myself, therefore, with the assign
ment Of a few general reasons in support OF
ms recommendations. You will consider and
discuss them. and either adopt OF reject them,
as your Judgment and discretion shall deter.
mine. l am responsible to the people, our
common constituents, for the recommendations.
You are responsible to the same tribunal Tor
the disposition YOU may make Of them.
Iregret that cannot congratulate you on
the peace and prosperity, the healthy ana hour.
ishing condition Of the various branches OF
business in which our people are so vitality IN
terested, and offer bright and cheering hopes
for the future Of our country. The times are
indeed full Of peril and danger, and demand
from those who are clothed with representative
trusts, GOODNESS, calmness and iirmnesS, united
with prudence, wisdom, moderation and patri-
otism. Indecision or indiscretion, passion or
prejudice. heedleSSneSs or recklessneSS, Will
precipitate results that may be dcp!ored, when
too late to be avcrted. \. blunder at such q
time is q crime. An error committed now can
never perhaps be corrected.
With these preliminary remarks, ADDRESS
myself 10 the discussion OF the most lmpor-
tant question that has ever Claimed your con-
sideration, and in the determination OF which
so much of human happiness or misery. is in
volved. I repeat, Is applicable TO this occa-
sion. the language Of Governor Floyd, in his
message of January 1885 Your station is
high and responsible to you the people will
look nav, do look for security and protection
and the maintenance Of all The rights Of the
States. Virginia, the land Of our birth, the
burial place Of our fathers, the peaceful homo
OF our wives and daughters, awaits your decl-
SION" The people will review whatever may DO
done-and the man who fears to trust them, is
not a friend to their rights or their safety.
FEDERAL RELATIONS.
The condition Of our country at this time
excites the most serious fears for the perpetual
ton of the Union. Clouds o'crlapping clouds,
are weaving Ger our house an evil woot, q fear
iul canopy" The country is torn by dissen-
sion; fierce and angry excitement exhibits IT.
self in all sections; passion and prejudice nave
taken absolute possession Of the minds OF the
neople throughout the land. The vile spirit Of
faction, which poilutes the fountain OF nation,
Z! honor, and digs the grave OF PATRIOTISM
shows itself on all sides. Confidence is de-
siroreG; ~fraternal feeling has been supplanted
BY intense sectional hate; the spirit OF concliia-
ton has been s;nothcred and crushed, and the
affections Of the people, North and South, East
and West, appear to have been entirely with.
drawn from their government. Inc Ties OF
brotherhood have been severed; ana thouSh
living under the same Constitution. the sec
tons seem to DE as hostile, each to the other'
as If their citizens belonged to untrlcndiy gov.
ernmcn;s. Distrust has married the pleasure Oh
friendship and social intercourse; bitterness
and unkindness have crushed out fraternity
Unity of feeling, unity OF acton Is now gone.
1t is hardly possible for 4 government 10 i've
md flourish under such adverse circumstances!
I'VE must not, however, look mourhlu!ly louo
the past That is beyond the hope Oh recall:
We must wisely improve the present; correct
its errors: reform its abuses; rc-unite the sever
cd ties of affection, and enk;ndlc anew the fires
of na.rio,ism. if we would recover all that has
been lost. If this shall be done, Il bright and
glorious future is ye, before uS. We should be
Slsssed Nth mower, influence, wealth and pros
peritv-such as no nation has ever enjoyed IN
the history of the world. Great us has been
our success, as compared with the nations OF
the earth, heretofore. greater far would It be
hereafter.
II is interesting to trace our progress, from
the formation of the Constitution up to the
present time. The results will be found IN
the highest degree gratifying to our pride as a
people. and immensely important, SO far as our
bower and influence as a nation is concerned.
What was the area OF our country in square
miles, embraced by the original thirteen States
Onlv 549, 6l5. What is it now: lhlrty-
three States, covering an area OF ,Go2, Qoo,
six organized territories exclusive OIL the DIS
trict of Columbia, covering an area Of ,iOl ,oeo;
and in addition, we have the Mesllla valley,
embracing $4,000, ard the Indian territory,
embracing 49,. 900 square miles. Our territory
has been enlarged nearly seven times in extent;
our navy has been increased until its canvas
vhjteps every ocean, and our national nag rs.
surcs protection to the American citizen wher-
ever he may be. Our power, our intl,-
ence, our prosperity, our agricultural, me
chanical and manufacturing wealth have IN
creased far beyond all expectation. The ban.
ncr which IS borne up, and which has been
forward by the unseen, yet steady hand
of progress, has attained q position lar IN ad-
vance OF the hopes and anticipations Of the toun-
dcrs Of our Government. Surely no people nave
been blessed as VIC have been, and 1t Is MEAN
70 think that all is now about to be sacriu-
ced upon the altar Of passion. 1.-THE judgments OF
men were consulted, if the adnonitions Of
their consciences were respected, the Union
would vet be saved from overthrow. Every
calm. considerate and rejecting mind is filled
with apprehensions Of the most painful cha.
racter: every patriotic heart throbs with ankle
ty. and all conservative men throughout our eS-
tended country are seeking to devise some
means of escape from the evils that now threat
en- our peace and the continued existence Of the
All see and feel and know that
the danger is imminent, and all true patriots
are c~xerting themselves to save us from the
perils now impending over US. The dark
gloom Of apprehension is fast gathering around
US, and if saved at all, the wisdom, prudence
and patriotism of the country can alone (aided
BY Divine Providence be relied upon to relieve
US in this hour Of our extremity.
My inaugural message, presented to you just
one year ago to-day, was prepared in antlcl.
patton OF the occurrences Of the past two
months. which have cast their shadow like a
pail over the business, financial and commercial,
Of the country. Thought l saw then n storm
ahead. tina, threatened to be destructive in its
consequences; and, ANXIOUS to avert its fury if
possible. I made two recommendations, which,
if adopted, would Gin my Judgment have saved
us from the consequences now upon us. In
this opinion, however, you did not concur, and
no action was taken in regard to either.
Seeing no othc. hope Of averting the threat
ened danger, | cordially endorsed the propo-
sition presented by Col. Mcmminger of South
md NJ Starke Of M;ss;ssinni for q