The national Republican., 1861-04-19
The Richmond Whigof yesterday contained
the subjoined proclamation and letter of Gov.
Letcher:

The Richmond Wh;gof yesterday contained
the subjoined proclamation and letter of Gov.
Letcher:
By The Governor Of Tiryinia:
A PROCLAMATION.
Whereas seven OF the States formerly com.
posing part of the United States have, by au.
thority OF their people, solemnly resumed the
powers granted by them to the United States,
and have framed Constitution and organized
Government for themselves, to which the peo.
pie Of those States are yielding willing obedi.
ence, and have so notified the President of the
United States by all the formalities incident to
such action, and thereby become to the United
States separate, independent, and foreign
Power. And whereas the Constitution Of the
United States has invested Congress with the
sole power "to declare war;" and, until such
declaration is made, the President has no au.
thority to call for an extraordinary force to
wage offensive war against any foreign Power
and whereas, on the 10Th instant, the President
Of the United States, in plain violation Of the
Constitution, issued proclamation calling
for force of seventy.6ve thousand men, to
cause the laws of the United States to be
duly executed over a people who are no
longer part Of the Union, and in said procla.
nation threatens to exert this unusual force to
compel obedience to his mandates; and where.
as the General Assembly Of Virginia, by ma.
jority approaching to entire unanimity, de.
clared, at its last session. that the State of Vir.
ginia would consider such an exertion of force
as virtual declaration of war, to be resisted
by all the power at the command of Virginia
and subseq quently, the Convention now in ses.
sion, representing the sovereignty Of the State,
has reaffir,ned in substance the same policy,
with almost equal unan unity; and whereas the
State Of Virginia deeply sympathizes with the
Southern States in the wrongs they have suf.
fered, and in the position they have assumed
and having made earnest efforts peaceably to
compose the differences which have severed
the Union, aud having failed in that attempt,
through this unwarranted act on the part OF
the Presidents and it is believed that the inAu.
ences which operate to produce this proclama.
ton against the seeded States will be brought
to bear upon this Commonwealth, if she should
exercise her undoubted right to resume the
powers granted by her people, and it Is due to
the honor of Virginia, that an improper exer-
else Of force against her people should be re-
PEELED.
Therefore, 7, John Letcher, Governor of the
Commonwealth of Virginia, have thought
proper to order all armed volunteer regiments,
or companies, within this State, forthwith to
hold themselves in readiness for immediate or.
ders, and, upon the reception Of this proclama.
ton, to report to the Adjutant General Of the
State their organization aud numbers, and pre-.
pare themselves for efficient service. Such
companies as are not armed and equipped will
will report that fact, that they may be properly
supplied.
f~, In witness whereof, have hereunto
L. s. set my hand and caused the seal of the
l--) Commonwealth to be affixed, this
18th day of April, 1861, and in the eighty fifth
year of the Commonwealth.
JOHN LETCHER.