The weekly Butte record., 1861-06-08


The 3lst proximo is appointed day Of
fasting and prayer.
ST LOUIS, May 25th, P. NJ.
Agents of the Government are here to-day
purchasing steamboats, for an expedition south
From present appearances Memphis well be
attacked next week
A gentleman from Richmond. says there are
10000 troops there, and they are arriving on
every train.
New YORK, May oath.
The steamer d1tna has arrived with four
days later news.
The British Government has issued a proc
lamation warning its subjects against engaging
in the war in America and declaring the inten-
ton of the Government to remain neutral.
A Virginian gives John Letcher his Opin-
ion of him.
The following noble letter from Lieutenant
in the U. S. Navy, now on this coast, will be
read with pride by all Union men, but more
especially by those who hail from the Old
Dominion
UNITED STATES SHIP ST. MARY's
MARE ISLAND, Cal, May 30. 1861.
To john LETcHER, GOVERNOR OF VIRGINIA:
Ercelency-I have this day seen, for the
first time, an ordinance of The Convention, y
issued in form of proclamation, " The iniunc-
tion of secresy being removed" " by order of
the Goveanor," by Geo. W. Mumford, Secre-
tary of Commonwealth.
One section of this ordinance reads thus /:
And that he (the Governor) shall immediate
ly invite all efficient and worthy Virginians
and residents of Virginia, in the Army and
Navy of the United States, to retire therefrom
and to enter the service of Virginia, assigning
to them such rank as will not reverse the rela-
tive rank held by them in the United States
service, and will at least be equivalent there
to-
John Ietcher, for the sake Of the American
character, | deplore that the Injunction of
secresy" was removed. | am slow to believe
that any body of Virginians, met in solemn
convention, could have deliberately authorized
you, " the Governor" to invite all efficient
and worthy Virginians, and residents of Vir-
gina, in the Army and Navy of the United
States" to betray their trust to turn their
the flag which has given to them all they have
and all they are worth. | can hardly believe
that any body of the select men of the Old
Dominion could Invite any man, through
their Governor, to become an honorable desert
er. Even with the tangible evidence Of the
sad facts before me, l am in doubt as to the
identity of the ordinance
Excellency, feel assured that the fifty odd
l.. IT,.
cal' hocuspocus to baker dozen-who voted
against Secession in the Convention, did their
best to save the State from this execrable
abuse ofits people. Western Virginia certain
ly does not lend itself to such lnvitdtlons
If | remember Alright sir, the leading States
Rights men of Virginia declared at the time
of the Hartford Convention, that the secession
of State from the Federal Union was treason
How can leading States Rights men, from
Virginia, no1c 'invite" the military officers of
that same Federal Union to commit the sin
which then was so damnabie? What system
of morals works the change?
John Letcher, am not a politician, though
am Virginian-by birth. | am no Souther
ner, no Northerner, no Western man. | am
citizen of the United States. 1t requires no
political acumen to discover that The Con-
vention,' whose orders you obey by publishing
its own precept 'for the benefit of the public"
perpetrated gross fraud upon the people Of
Virginia, and a grosser outrage upon the
people and Government of the United States.
our Convention has precipitated the State
into hostilties against the Judgment Of, and
has insulttd the people. 1t has, however, as
an offset, shown the hands of those who, un-
happily, now direct the State
John Letcher, am not your merceuary
nor the mercenary of '' The Convention Ny
primary and only allegiance is due and render
ed to the United States The United States
has cared for me for many years, and its flag
is endeared to me by too many associations to
be lightly abandoned and turned against in
this hour of its direst peril, particularly upon
the promise to pay Of an exhausted treasury,
and the promises of crank from State whose
militia, by her own showing and invitation,
are commanded by foreigner VINO is traitor
to that Government to which the people of
Virginia are not faithless, despite the unholy
and unpatriotic action of " The Convention"
Excellency, if | lrere to forsake the Stars
and Stripes and join your banner, what as
surance would you have that l would not
betray YOU? Surely not that of honor nor
that of patriotism Remember Arnold
John Letcher, Governor of Virginia, l
scornfully reject the infamous proposal of THE
Convention, made public by you-its organ.
1t is cut from the same secret piece-dyed
in the wood-as the perfdy of Harper's Ferry
and the Gosport Navy Yard. l decline to
yield myself, upon the invitation of The Con
ventions," disgraceful subordinate to JEFF.
Davis, and unworthy and inefficient Virginian
II III ] / I
ed not all the honors which the Old Domin-
ion can create, will ever seduce me from a full
and unreserved devotion to the Stars and
Stripes"
Excellency, you might have restored peace
to your Country-but You would not.
W. X. MAYO,
T7aufnpant r : NAVY