Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1862-03-05
Important from Virginia.

In the Senate, at Richmond, on the | lth
ult, the following startling communication
was received from John Letcher:
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, Jan. H.
Gentlemen Of the Senate uni House of Deteg0tes--
y crisis Is upon us. The results Of re
cent reverses to our arms at Mill Springs,
Fort Henry and Roam axe Island. app .al
in the strongest terms to our PATRIOTISM
and demand an exhibition of all our ener-
gies, uncompromising spirit, AMI stern
and determined resolution
The cXi@encies of the times are not du-
lv appreciated bv many Of our people -
the dangers which environ us arr too
highly estimated We must see an feel
that acton which is necessary to save Us
from alarming lis and 70 avert evils tn 1t
threaten our existence. oar peace, an | our
organization a. Il gov rnment The re
suits referred TO should be sufficient to
arouse the people Of the Contcderacy to
stimulate and call into action all our en-
crgicS physical and intellectual
1t cannot bat be apparent to every min!
that the object Of our enemies is to cut off
our Southern connections by railroad and
otherwise, and to defeat the transportation
Of troops from one poin to another with
certainty and CELEBRITY, as our necessities
may demand. This result accomplished
and one great step will have been taken
towards their success and our suhiuga.
ton.
1t becomes Us, therefore, to perfect our
orraniza ton and bring into active use all
our strength, to defeat the designs of a wi
ly and unscrupulnus foe, whose march has
been marked by brutality, bloodshed and
plumber. Every citizen of Richmond
ought to feel and know that the possession
of this city is an object Of the most ear
nest and anxious desire on the part of our
enemies, Its mechanical and manuiactur-
ing Interests are doing 50 much to uphold
Southern confidence that the loss to US
would be well n gh irreparaLle
Tho various propositions which were
made by Lincoln and his allies, to parcel
out the territories of the Commonwealth
makes the possession and suhjugation OF
Virginia an object not less desirable, The
casual observer cannot have failed to see
these things, and he should rouse up eve
ry latent feeling Of patriotism that slum
bers within him, and bring it into prompt
and decisive action
The defence Of Richmond, Norfolk
fredericksburg, and other parts of the
State, is of the utmost Importance, and to
secure this defence We must, at once, take
steps to secure this organization, and
bring an efficient corps into the field, |,
therefore. recommend -
First That the male population Of the
cities and towns be divided into those
subject to ordinary and extraordinary
draft the first class to embrace those be
tween eighteen and forty the second
class to embrace those between siytee.,
and eighteen, and those betw eea forty five
and sixty years Of age,
Second; T. authorize the Governor,
when informed by the President of the
Confederate States of the urgency Of so
2CiEg u. call out both classes for home
defence. to make rules and regulations for
tn eir organic ltion. INTO companies and reg
ments, and require all places of business
be closed at two oclock, p. ~, and the
whole force drafted as aforesaid, to turn
out for discipline and instruction.
Third The ordinary draft 10 be ordered
if uecess 1ry to defend any lines of APP
prodch TO the town or city to which they
belong, The extraordinary draft not t.
he required 10 serve beyond IA distance OF
five miles from the limits of iIe town or
city to which they belong,
Fourth To include IN suoh drafts all
persons soiourning in the cities and towns
for a period longer than ten DAYS
Fifth None to be exempt for any ether
reason than service in the states or Con
federate States