Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1861-01-30
Official Zeal Rebuked.
MESSAGE FROM GOVERNOR LErcHER

Richmond, January II, 1860
Gentlemen o. !,he Senate and House Of Dele
gates:-I have received q letter from
his Excellenoy. Edwin D. Morgan. Gov
ernor of New York, enclosing preamble
and resolutions adopted by tue LeSisla'
ture of thai State.
The first resolution declares that the
Legislature .! New York tenders 10 the
President of the United States "whatev
cr aid, in men and money, he may re-
quire to enable him 10 enforce the laws
and uphold the authority Of tho Federal
Governlnent." Tais understand TO be a
declaration of their readiness and willing
ness to sacrifice the men and money OF
that State in the effort TO coerce the
slaveholding States into submission TO
Federal authority. The Gorernor and Leg.
.SIamre Of Nao York ought 10 knoW that The
s,oord never rcconcilcd differences Of opinion
Military coercion can never perpetuate
this existence Of this Union, When The
affections of the people are Withdrawn
from the Government, an attempt at CO.
eIcion can have no other effect than TO
exasperate tho peeple eatened to be
coerced. Blood shed in civil strife can
only enrich the soil that must speedily
prodnce a. harvest Of woe"
cannot suppose, from what has occur.
red, that the President OF the United
States would be inclined to adop, policy
which he must see and know could not
fail to result in bloodshed. am satisfied
tha, prudence and patriotism would in
duce him to..reJact all counsels and meas.
ures which would be calculated to bring
about so great calamity. / have no idea,
therefore, that he will accept the tender
which has beea so inOpDortansiy and Ostcsta.
ho,tsiy paraGed bgore the country
Nothing that has occurred in the pro
gress Of this controversy has been worse
timed and less excusable. If the Govern
or and Legislature of New York desire to
preserve the Union. tender of men and
money under promp.ings of passion, pref
udce and excitement, will not produce
the result. At time like this, when the
horizon is overcast with clouds; when
darkness and gloom are gathering cl ose
around us, and when we behold nothing
but danger on all sides, some little wis
dom, discretion, and prudence is expect
ed from the representatives of III" people.
They ought, ut least, TO refrain from ad-
ding fuel to the flame the burns with ut
must intensity now 1t would haye been
far better that these resolutions had rev.
er been adopted.
In 1898 and 1899 the action of Virginia
was marked by calmness, dignity and an
earnest desire to preserve the Union,
without prejudice to the rights of the
States. No feeling of resentment towards
the other States was manifested by those
grea, men in that day Of peril and trial.
No effort was made TO produce cstrange-
ment between the different sections orthe
country, or TO inhomo popular prejudices.
Their example is worthy Of imitation
when eyerts are hurrying us on SO rapid,
ly into civil strife.
Nothing but sense Of duty has indu-
ced me to transmit this preamble and res
TO the two Houses of the General
Assembly. The threat which is convey Ell
in them can inspire no terror with free
men. JouS LETCHER.
The III .ssage and accompanying rcsolu-
tions were read when, on motion Of NJ.
Anderson,
Resolved, That the Governor of Virgins
ia return the resolutions of the Legisla.
turo OF New Y ork to the Executive OF that !
State, with the request that no such res
buttons be again sent 10 this General As.
sembly.