The daily Green Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1861-1865, 1862-03-15
Gov. Letcher's Proclamation.

j
dered all the militia and volunteers of that Stat
to immediately rendezvous at places named. II
says the President of the C. S. A. has calledfo
10000 additional troops from Virginia. Il
says:
" Every nerve must be strung. Every son O
Virginia must respond with an ardent zeal t,
defend the Commonwealth. Those subject t,
military duty are alone required to perform Thu
service, but gallant volunteers who come witt
the will to DO Or die ior this great cause will b,
given place in our ranks. This war has at
tanned point which requires brave men anc
true patriots TO leave their homes and grapple
sternly with the ice. We aciN not taanelv sub.
nat TO degradation or sIarery. We will have
Virginia independent, and all our liberties main
tanned, or perish In the attempt to secure them.
Every private, having seryiceable tire-arm OF
any description in his possession, or who can
procure me from noighbor not able to perform
duty. will carry it with him If lost the arms
will be paid for by the State. Those who have
no arms will be provided with them at the re
speciiye rendezvous.
The loyal citizens of the West and Northwest,
in counties not herein named, are earnestly in
Voked to form guerrilla companies and strike
when least expected, once more for the State
that gave them birth. With stern resolve and
manly courage uphold the flag and the unfair
nlshed fame of the Old Dominion. Scorn the
mlsrule of traitors who, with usurped authority,
are desecratng our SOL with pollution worse
than that of the direst enemy, and execute ven
geancc upon the foe, who acknow edges and sus-
tains their treason
1t is evident that there is some desperation at
the bottom of such shrek for help. That
response the people of the Old Dominion are
giving to it is not yet apparent, but the Rich
mond Examiner pitches into it in this style
g Yesterday, the stupendous proclamation of
John Letcher startled the people of this State
as il the earth had opened under their feet
Declaring that the President had called on the
Commonwealth for ~, 600 additional troops.
he orders, not 40 600, but the entire male nom
ulatlon Of Virginia, between the ages of Is and
40 to get up immediately and march out into
the fields, without food, without arms, without
tents, not to be subjected to Il draft but to do
service IN body during the war.
This is the Call Of which Letcher speaks
The Legislature passed Il law for dlait ut The
present time to meet this call Letchcr neplecc-
ed to execute the law the Legislature called
HIM to account Tor IL and he wrcaks his VEN
geance on the Whole population of the State. by
ordering them, without the warning of u day,
without preparation Or provision, TO 20 and lie
down together in The open fields
Real madness or much whisky may have their
parts in this sudden overturn Of IL whole socie.
Jy but above and through them both this pur.
pose is clearly evident to produce as much
confusion and embarrassment as poss bic, to rcr-
der the public defence An odious service, to dis
tress the people in the utmost extent to harrass
and annoy all classes, TIL the war for our indie
pcndence becomes an uncomfortable curse
The question comes up to every mind what
are we to do? We would willingly give a
hopeful or consoatory answer if we knew one,
but there is none to give.
Alas, poor people ! Between Lincoln with
out and Letcher within your case is indeed
sad one. Unless the Confederate Government
can lntefere fer your protection then put your
trust in God, for there ia no other friend for
you.
In another article the same paper says:
/" The Confederate States Government, we
trust will put hole in John Lctchers drum
before his ovcrdone patriotic proclamation
have effected that amount of popular discomfort
with the war which be is evidently bent upon
exciting, and have eliminated in the exploit
of dragging off the entire white population of
Richmond like droves of free negroes, with
nothing more formidable or useful in their hands
than sliovelS and tin GUYS