Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1861-01-08
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, I
Gentlemen Of the Senate
aud HouSe of DeleOdteS


me to convene you in extraordinary session.
DUTY, however, requires Of me more detailed expo
son OF my views upon the subjects therein referred TO-
as well the presentation of such recommendations az
demanded by proper regard Tor the pubic inter,
ests and the faithful, prompt and efficient execution oil
the laws Of this great aud growing Commonwealth
These views and recommendations will be presented
with as much brevty the extraordinary circumstances
of the times will justify.
Entertaining profound respect for the intelligence
experience and information of he gentlemen cousttu-
ting the two Houses of the General Assembly feel that
It would be a reflection upon them to accompany each
recommendation with assignment OF all the reasons
which might be urged in its favor. will content my
self therefore, with the assignment OF few general req
sons in support Of my recommendations. You will con-
slider and discuss them and either adopt reject them
as your Judgment and discretion shall determine. am
responsible to the people, common constituents for
the recommendations. You responsible TO the same
tribunal for the disposition you may make of them.
regret that cannot congratulate you on the peace
aud prosperity the healthy and ourishing condition of
the various branches OF business in which people
so vitality interested 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, camness
and irmness united with prudence, wisdom, modera-
ton and patriotism. Indecision ndiscreOn, passion
or prejudice heedessness recklessness will precp
tate results that may be depored when too late to be
avered blunder at such time is crime. An error
committed now can never perhaps be corrected.
With these preliminary remarks, address myself to
the discussion of the most important question that has
ever claimed your consideration and in the determine
ton of which so much of human happiness misery is
involved | repeat as applicable to this OCCASION the
language Of Governor Floyd in his message of January
1888 "Your station is high aud responsible to you the
people will look, nay do look for security and protec-
ton and the maintenance of all the rights of the States
Virginia. the land of BIRTH the burial place of
fathers the peaceful home of wives md daughters
awaits your decision" The people will review whatever
may be Gone-and the who fear to trust them is
not 4 friend to their rights or their safety.
FEDERAL RELATIONS.
The condition of country at this time exctes the
most serious fears for the perpeuaton OF the Union
CLOUDS o'erlaping clouds weaving DER our house
an evil wool fearful canopy" The country is torn by
dssenon fierce and angry excitement exhibits itself in
all sections; passion and prejudice have taken absolute
possession of the minds Of the people throughout the
land The vile spirit of faction, (which polutes the
fountain of national honor, aud digs the grave of
PATRIOTISM shows itself all sides Confidence is de-
srOyed; traerna feeling has been Suppanted by intense
sectional hate; the spirit of Cancellation has been smoh
cred aud crushed and the affections of the people, North
and South East and West appear to have been entirely
withdrawn from their government The ties OF brother
hood have been severed and though living under the
constitution the sections seem 10 be as hostile each
To the other il their citizens belonged 70 unriendy
governments Dsu. has mGrred the pleasure Of friend
have crushed out fraternity Unity Of feeling, unity of
action ia now gone IL is hardly possible for govern
ment to live and flourish under such adverse circum-
stances 1--WE must not however, look mournully into
the past" That is beyond the hope Of recall. We
must wisely improve the present correct its errors
form il, abuses reunite the severed ties of affection, and
enkadle anew the fires Of PATRIOTISM If we would recover
an that has been lost If this shall be done bright and
glorious future is yet before US We shall be blessed
with power, influence, wealth and prospery-such AS
-, II, .off b
Great has been success, compared with the ma
tons of the earth heretofore, greater far would 1t be
hereafter.
1t is interesting to trace progress from the fOrma-
ton OF the constitution up to the present time The
results will be found in the highest degree gratifying
our pride as people and immensely important so far
as our power and influence nation arc concerned.
What the OF country in square miles en-
braced bv the original thirteen states Only 5i96lj.
VIVA; is it nov? Tirtythree states, covering an area
Of SOP 0O0 six organized territories, exclusive OF the
district of Columbia covering Of 4Ol 900; and
10 addition have The Mesil valley, embracing $1,000,
lad the Indian territory, embracing $4,000 square
miles Our territory has been enlarged nearly seven
times in extent navy has been increased until it,
canvass whiJeus every ocean, and our national hlg
assures protection 20 the American citizen wherever be
may be- Our power, our influence, our prosperity,
our agricultural, mechanical aud manufacturing wealth
have increased far beyond all expectation. That
banner which is borne up, and which has
been carried forward by the unseen, vet steady hand
of progress has attained position far in advance
o the hopcs and autcipa:Ons OF the founders OF our
government Surely no people have been blessed
have BEEN and l. is melancholy 10 think that all Is now
about to be sacrificed upon the altar Of passion Il the
judgments of men were consulted il the admontons Of
ber cousceuccs were respected, the Union would yet
ne saved from overthrow Every calm consi ,eate and
rejecting mind is filed with appreheusious OF the most
painful character every patriotic heart throb3 with anN
lcty and all conservative throughout extended
country are seeking 20 devise ofescape from
the evils that threaten our peace aud the continued
existence OF the government All see and ieel and KNOW
that the danger imminent and al tue patriots
erting Themselves from the pers now mpend-
ing 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 alone aided
by Divine Providence be relied upon TO relieve us IN
this hour of our extremity
Ny inaugural message presented to you just one year
ago to-day prepared in anticipation OF the occur
rences of the past two months which have cast their
shadows like pail the business, financial and com
mercia OF the country. 1 thought saw then a storm
ahead that threatened to be destructive in its
uences and Jxiuus to avert its fury if possible, made
tSO recommendations which, If adopted would I'm my
iudgment have saved from the consequences now
upon u.s. u this opinion however, yon did not concur
and no action was taken in regard TO either.
Seeing no other hope OF avertng the threatened dau
ger cordially endorsed the proposition presented by
Col Memmirger, OF South Carolina, and Mr.. Starke, OF
Mississippi for conference with those States If that
proposition bad been accepted, | entirely satisfied
that the results would have been most hppy; that it
would have tended IN a great gree to che settlement
and satisfactory adjustment OF the painful controversy
which had so long existed and which seemed 70 be in
creased by time and untoward circumstances, between
the two sections OF the Union These questions would
have been presented in form aud shape aud in man
ner so imposing that action have followed. That
action could not have tended otherwise than toward
peace.
Inow again most respectfully renew the recommendation
presented in my inaugural message, in the following
extract:
THE only mode, therefore, of remedying the evil,
that occurs TO me- under the Constitutions is provided III
the fifth article thereof Summon convention of all the
states that full aud free conference may he had be-
tween the representatives of the people, elected for this
purpose and thus ascertain whether the questions in
trOversy cannot be settled upon some basis mutually
satisfactory both sections. If such aconvenon shall
assemble and after free and full consultation and
parison of opinions they shall find that the differences
between the savehodng and nOn-savehodng states are
rreconcabe let them consider the question of peace
able separat on, and the adjustment OF all questions
relating the disposition of the common property be-
tween the two sections. II they can be reconced let
them adjust the terms and give them such sanctions as
will render them effective.
suggest therefore, that you adopt resolutions in
favor of the call of such Convention AID appeal to the
Legislatures Of the several States unite in the appca-
ton proposed to be made Congress- in pursuance Of
the provisions of the article aforesaid. If the nonsave
holding States shall fail refuse unite in the appica
ton, such failure refusal will furnish conclusive evil
deace of determination their part to keep up the
agitation and to continue their aggressons upon Ii
the Convention shall meet and the question cannot be
satisfactorily adjusted il will furnish evidence equally
conclusive of their determination In either event. the
people of the South will clearly understand what they
are 10 expect in the future"