Kanawha Valley star. [volume] (Charleston, Va. [W. Va.]) 1856-1861, 1861-04-30
For The Kanawha Valley Star.
TO my Felior Citizeas>J

~ Try 4 ettUH tStAt%tH9~ " II sF| u.
|- Hanamho County
Ihaye given to your many private and
public calls upon me, regardless, Of party
70 serve you in the next Legislature. 81
the State. that reflection, which they de.
serve. The compliment whichHyou hare
so frequently communicated 10 me, your
sense Of my ability to serve you, are duly
appreciated, In times Of Tire ordinary
legislation OF the State. ii would be i'm
pos, ible for me 10 yield TO your wishes.
but in times like Tho present, it behooyes
every good citizen 50 to do, and to act as
best he may serve the general good. -
Look 70 whatever course We please, as
the source Of our, national troubles, the
crisis upon us 10 an attack upon constitu-
lionaf liberty. whose very pillars aud
dome are beingIshsken and rentby North
zern fanaticism, and it requireslhe united
and strong armof the statesman and sol
der Is preserve IL for ourselves and pros
terity., Liberty is In danger, and every
freeman should run 10 her rescue. We
are in actual war The spell Of the Union,
dear as we all loved il once, has bern
broken at the mouth Of the canon, and
the North is arrayed against Virginia in
hostile arms. Some Of rs Thought twas
better to separate at once than to part in
the storm OF war, which We thought delay
would bring upon the country. Our.
counsels were eyerrnled, and the counsel
OF others. who, advised a different course.
prevailed, The voice Of censure and re-93
elimination should not rest upon our. lips.
We must forget lie past and unite for the
future. Had the policy Of those with
whom ] acted prevailed, it might have
led 70 the same unhappy result. we
will, at least, extend to each others opin-.
ions an honest and manly charity. What
would be&thezbest policy in such trying
times, was question u proportions,
upon ahichthe best and wisest might
honestly differ and err. We Will be wise
enough TO profit BY our errors and unite
for our mutual defense.
The flag Of Virginia calls every son Of
Virginia to duty, and We will respond
from the hills and low lands, and keep
its proud crest upon thai eminence where
our fathers placed il. Division amongst
us now, will induce our foe to bring this
war to our very doors, which we may yet
avoid, by being united. ID this great
conflict, all parties have erambled into
dust. to rise no more. Itremains for tie
future 10 inaugurate new governments and
new parties. For the present, we will
know only the fagsof Virginia, and
wherever HAT leads We will follow. Vir-
giuia exhausted all her powers TO keep
he peace between these States; she will
low exhaust all Der stores ofwarin main
aiming her honor and driving the foe from
Ter soA. Tsfose the Black Republican; /
lincoln. U,lonr now, with; which we are
4 war y treason to Virginia treason.
,rh;el will live in ne minds and be ex.
creed by The good and great Of genera
.ohs unborn. The Legislation of the
kate should be now so directed as to
ring this unhappy war to 4 speedy close:
his can only be accomplished By bold
nd energetic policy. Timid counsels
low is crime, that viii make this war
{ long duration. Il must be brought to
speedy close by vigorous means 1.-THE
GENERAL desire for my services is, as isI
l will serve you with pleasure.
fyo1 can select another, who Will serve
,ou with more energy and ability, shall
eioice TO serve n1y State ID another field
f duty. Ny preparation for the aP:-
courts, allow me no time Tor
the county, and | must leave
ny election to my friends.
Respectfully. your obi sey't. |
THOMAS B. SWAMI. ii
Charleston. April so, 1881.