The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-01-25
THE STATE CONVENTION.


THE FOLLOWING IS A COPY
| D> of the letter OF Mr. LYONS to the pe6-
pie of the county OF Hsurieo, which was read to
10 he PeoSe n tae County Of Henrioo.I regret very
deeply, llow-citi1en., that my sngagsmis,nts in
be with you in your meeting regarding It, as do,
as a meeting Of great importance Though not
personally present, shall be with you in spirit.
The object of the meeting is understand, to de-
terInne whether the County Court shall by law
be authorized to purchase arms for the use Of the
| county. Yon viii, earnestly hope, decide that
question in the Affirmative, assocatipg AZ think
You ought so DO At least two citizens from each
the matter. After having been wronged in almost
every conceivable form, without offence of any
been insulted and condemned, as well as fearfully
threatened, by the election, by a sectional vote,
fame except by his declaration that the conflict
with them was irrepressible, and slavery could
not be tolerated in the Union; that the coun.
because the Southern States have refused to sub
init to the government of such g party, under such
a leader, who has now taken Win. II. Seward
his chief adviser, his Secretary of State: a man
more infamous than John Brown, infamous as he
was-for he suggested the work which Brown
spirit, but without the nerve of an assassin
the the snsgester Of insurreetions as remedy
Tor our Ills and the preservation of the Union;
who, a short time since, proclaimed his pur-
pose to dsband the army and navy, because
they protected you, he said against your slaves;
and now proposes to keep that army and navy,
and turn their guns on You. the masters of those
slaves. They are threatened with war, and the
army and navy, once of the United States that
heroic army and navy, which in defence OF the
right have acquired so much renown-- are to be
converted into the mercenaries of the Black Re-
publicans. To make war upon you for by none
| others than Black Republicans will they be paid
or supported although led and directed. |
grieve TO say, by one who owes his birth to Vir-
Sinia; At such moment the people should be
tf hee deienee Every man should be
and protect the land Of his birth from conquest
and tyranny; for If 1t is not defended, tyranny
tfnpx Il t1Ep
cursed any land, will oppress ruin, and degrade
you. Ey en- now now, the y government is military
at Washington: The actual Commander in Chief
OF the army directs its movements. The troops
which garrisoned the forts of the far West,
have been Withdrawn from them and con-
centrated at Washington, in It's neighbor-
hood; and the batteries. which acquired such re-
nown upon the battle fields of Mexico, under the
gallant Magruder and Duncan, when commanded
by Gen. Taylor, are to be used, under Scott, to
anoot down our own people, at the Inauguration
and thus III the midst of cannon, and surrounded
by bayonets, the President of a RcPnb &c Of free
men IS TO be elevated 10 his office What a spec
| tacie IN Government calie Republic, for the
contemplation Oh men cal led free!! Thus it was
Iarls, and suppressed the voice of Liberty. Blu,
even this Is not all. L has been openly proposed
stitu ion, 10 preserve which, they pretend it is
tn Il they make on the south, and to CON
ltute the Lieutenant General Of the Army Mi
!,rg Dtctator OF the land; and the Government a.
Washington has, after the manner of the worst
despous ms Of Europe, determined and attempted
to destroy the liberty of the press, by formally
derlng all Government printing to be withheld
iiom he newspaper called The Constitution
because II found fault with the conduct of secre
tary, who violated the faith of the Government;
aud the Northern States, and especially New
York, are rendering men aud money, without
limit, to subdue the South. Under such a Govern
ment, IT is but the form of liberty which you
joy, and if you do not prepare to defend your
selves, you will not enjoy that form long. pray
you, then, to arm yourselves The cry. ITO
arms should resound from every hilltop, and
fill every vale in Virginia. In whatever you do,
count me- in for my full share of the Of it, and
II the war does come, will be with you in your
camp, to conquer or die with you.
Most respectfully,
Your humble servant
ia 25-lt JAMES LYONS