Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1862-12-05
nv THE GOVERNOR OF VIRGINIA.
A PROCLAMATION


A PROCLAMATION.
HAyISo rsesiysd a communication ;og1nIai =. "a tTG ~ the s s,sss FasS GU i've
II Confederate STATE, >, ae,,i inT = Sss0 n p mS y. in IN giving my cordial
cooperation, to call upon the officers OF the state, eyn y nnl
~ nv united and harmonious action, our independence can and
viii be obtained. A cheerful and ready obedleues to The laSs
should be given until they are pronounced by compete" ''u"-
IL the dTy Of every good citizen to sustain the constituted ap'
horites in their just endeayors to promote the rnoIe welfare
The President asks for assistance "n the enrolment Of con
scripts and the forwarding Of them to the proper poinis Of rem
deryoqs," To render hi, appeal eneSIaGL inyOts ms Ia oil tne
the Justices OF tho Peace. From their general kn%wisdgs OF all
the Inhabitants OF theh several districts, they ha'ei In their power
TO end out and to report to the enrolling officers all persons liable
10 c~on.crPtIOn, and viii render efficient service By eHPediang the
The gaSss in which We are en- aged, the holy purpose We have at
hear. requires that every man, liable TO military duty, should he
stimulated BY moral suasOn, and, II need be, by eomP9satory
process to give To the country the advantage OF ms h'eIlsft anu
all, and none should he allowed to sneak or skuik from duty,
The President asks assistance In restoring to me army al on
CEN and men now within the State absent without leave, or whose
t,rm Of absence has expired, ~ who have recovered from dlss-
aus ,o.- Of = The TuIlILeSs Victories heretofore gained. If in any one Of
the great battles in which our armies have been VICTORIOUS, all N
tana aaun' gs NV q d I'M y. mr. rS si,te wonlI have been relieved from
the cure Of Invasion aud The consequent desolation of the fairesi
portion Of our territory. How essential, then, Is 1t that this fruit
III Si,S sSaSI iss Sl y u i nS,1ihs Ss Sas a a ds saf,; Al Let GT lSs SSEPer Of sso ne Of
the young and the old, Of the matron and the maiden, be pointed
duty. let them be hunted from the neighborhoods in which they a e
.kuiEins aud be carried back H1Ss, a guard u ans.r S"s Uni 9n =
appear At the place OF rendezvous when ordered o shaI absent
If4Nsef Without leave. It OuluiaAuhut u Wv 'tNhh VI VI
the regiment to which he beong, may order him to his proper OH
Ger, and such pc son without ~Jasiiaable excuse shall be treated as
a iesrrter." mere Is reason to believe, and regret TO state II,
that ii IS too commsn for men who have recovered iroindtsabhty,
and are now able TO return to duty, to continue TO absent then
selves and TO draw their pay while rendering no manner OF equiva-
len. This Is a burning disgrace, and no family should tolerate an
Inmate who will thus act In times like these, 1t becomes their
friends not only not to ask them to stay, but toimplore them togo,
that they may aid their comrades In conqueriug Il speedy peace
Then, aud not TIL then, will they he able, with honor aud grailhea-
tIon, 10 re,Hne under their own vine aud rs trees, andto enjoy the
blessings they viii have secured by their manly eNertions forihem-
The President, with an anxious souetude, asks assistance ia
-t within the State in excess OF the quantity indispensable for the
support Of the people at home . l have hsretoiorS with earnest
mi mi ,Ipp"s. =, ~, s,sstsncs viii prrytpt or at ann ate, |
alleviate much suffering. Men who are fighting for Us ani rsking
ustt ~, , it H :. S Sad- 20 protect Them, Sy sai,ahir clothing, from |
lneement weather and TO provide them Smh necessary food
am happy TO testify that have had presented to me, by nndi'id'
usls, noble examples Of liberal gins, to add to the comfort Of our
troops, ana that 1 have seen in oil our public prints ample evil
dencrs Of unbounded charity, which would reheet he highest honor
upon sny people. Nlrginlsn' ha', not oeen LaEsardoi lheir mean''
5ut have opeLed heir hears and their purses In generous acs.-
Saeh conduct deserves the thank. OF the state and IS worthy Of all
LII asked OF the different States to provide such lave "a' win
nav be required In the Prosecution Of work. conducive to the pub
Nc defence" The state OF Virginia has already responded to this
hut / regret To say that the counties heretofore called on, With fe~
honorable exceptions have no, complied sih '9s acquisitions as
formulation Of tht Shoi- stat, not far from being onehalf Of the |
population Of the Ioy al part Of the state. The slaves are exempted
frIm serving in our armies, they are freed FROM all military duty,
and Il Is but reasonable that a small portion OF their tune and la
Dor should b, devoted to the prosecution Of WORT. conducive to
the public defence. The law i a liberal one to the owner i
s s,Ss. slave sAss Ss.i y ta,on,' medicine. and MEDICAL Attendance. II It
provides that "the value Of all such slave, as may escape fromthr
Confederate authorities aud not returned TO their owners, or be
seized or killed by le public enemy, or may, by -snt Of due dill.
any manner be lost 20 the oSncr, shall be paid for by the Con-
tedcrate states to the owner,s aud in like manner Above eomPsn-
.auon "ior any injury 10 slaves arising FROM a want Of due dill
seuce on The part Of the authorities Of the Confederate States"
As our army is constituted, 1t Is but right to lessen the burdens
they have 10 bear. aud TO cause the eathsorss upon our fortihea-
ton to be constructed by the lAborc, who are Injured to such ser
Vie. The County Courts are authorized TO apportion the slaves
called Tor In their respective counties, sud tLSl ought % make the
ApporIOnment in such manner A. to BE- least onerous upon their
feow citizens, particularly as there IS no appeal from The decision
they make. by q careful exercise Of this power, much hardship
may be ayeried, II the courts i,l or refuse to comply Nth The
acquisitions, the law invests the Executive Nth authority, by OH
crs aud agents Of bis own selection, with the aid OF the commis
iiouer, Of the Revenue, TO impress the proportions Of slave de-
handed FROM the county, not exceeding I've per eeiNam Of the en-
tire slave population thereof The performance OF this duty III"
elected by the people, aud who know their situation and crcun
stance should discharge It, but Il the failure continue, after doe
notice, the duty will be performed with unShrinkng fidelity, under
the full belief that the labor called for Is necessary, and that the
prompt completion Of the fortin'ation Will greatly eonduee to the
In addition to these several subjects, l deem It to be my duty TO
call the attention Of the people generally, hut Of the county and
corporation court. specially, to the necessity that nov eNhst for
Increased Vigilance In regard to dome'iiS and county police
Our slaves have hitherto been eon,enied unhappy, pe.eeable and
Trustworthy, and | doubt not they will continue 90, notvtthstand'
Ing the disgae"iul PROCLAMATION OF the President Of the United
states anu TIE shameful attempts Of abolition tWa,sAIie' ana
armies 10 renir them Disconnected and insubor Innate. But In tlmr-
ike these Il Is proper 10 be ever waichNl ever on the guard. /
therefore recommend, earne ty, that the several county and cor
poraton c luts shall forthwith proceed 10 exc ute the provisions Of
corporation, 10 visit within such bounds a. he courts may require, |
all nrgro quarters and other places suspected Of having therein
Unlawful herluAe " ~ rAANts a. ma tANNl ENNl ~ IlAlla'
ton 70 another without permission. Let every master keep = watch
tl guardianship over hs plantation, and cause bis slaves 10 keep
within their own premises, and prohibit Others from making gnne-
cesary visits. II thr county courts cannot assemble promptly,
let each justice OF the peace order out patrols, a the Law author.
Is him 10 10, 20 continue In service until the next term Of the
county or corporation court.
Aud finally, the President denounc~s, In appropriate terms, the
vile spirit Of eStorion, now 80 rife In all portions Of the Confrde
Tlcy, and urgently appeals to the Executives Il the States 20 urge
upon their several Legislatures the necessity Of passing such Laws
as Will tn-ctuany restrain and crush H. | earnestly invoke the
patriotic everywhere To disountenAnce eNtortion and eItortionrr.,
and II patriotic appeals will not induce them to change their poll
cy. and abandon a course Of conduct calculated 10 prejudice our
holy cause, then I urge them to impress upon their Senators and
Delegates In the General Assembly the necessity Of adopting such
legislation - will remedy the evil al their next session 10 January.
We have another struggle TO make against our unscmpulous foe.
Il may not be the last, but let Il be At least worthy Of our ancrs
tors and ourselves. Let t be- a gallant fight in which we shall put
orth al Of manhood, Of vigor aud of courage that has been
ginlNns enulaed their glorious slrrs and fought with determined
cooucss and Nalor, leaving nothing undone that might have breni
done 10 ensure sucCres.
--I Given under my hand, at Richmond, and under the Seal
us lof the Commonwealth, At Richmond, this 81 day Of De-
- cembrT, ls62, and la the sIth year OF the Commonwealth.
JOHN LErCiER-
BY the Governor,
Gao. y. MUsToAn,
d-5-a Secretary Of the Commonwealth.
~ Country papers throughout the state Nill copy and send
accounts 10 Executive Department
NOTICE no CONSCRIPrs!
TO ALL PERSONS BETWEEN TllE AGES OF Is AND i0lEARs