The national Republican., 1862-01-16
MESSAGE FROM GOVERNOR LETCHER.
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dictlon foreign 10 our constitution and unao.
knowledged by our laws, giving his assent to
their acts Of pretended legislation"
He is endeavoripg TO quarter large bodies
OF armed troops amongst u.s."
He Is endesvoring to cut off "our trade with
all parts of the world"
lie Is endeavoring TO impose taxes upon
us without our consent"
lie is endesvoring TO deprive us, ain many
cases, Of the benefits Of trial by jury"
He has abdicated government here, by de-.
claring us out of his protection and waging
war against u.s.
"He has plundered our seas, ravagsd our
coasts, burned our towns, and destroyed the
lives Of our people,"
=" He is at this time transporting large bodies
OF mercenaries TO complete the works Of death,
desolation and tyranny already begun with
circumstances Of cruelty and perfdy scarcely
parallcled in the most barbarous ages, and TO-
tally unworthy the head Of civilized nation"
He has endeavored to excite domestic insur-
rections amongst US, by proposing TO put arms
in the hands of our slaves, and thereby encour.
aging them to ian undis stinguished destruction
Of all ages, sexes and conditions"
He has violated laws human and divine TO
crafty bis passions, 10 glut his prejudices, and
10 wreak his vengeance upon q people who ask
only their rights, and who are struggling to
preserve their liberties. Can Government
conducted upon such principles endures
lu every stage OF these expressions, attempt
ed or consummsted. prior to the secession of
the State, we warned President Lincoln epd
the Northern people Of the inevitable conse
'queuces OF their course, and admonished them
taat IL justice was not accorded to us, the
Union must be dissolved. Iu every state Of
these expressions. since the secession of the
state. - have rasiataI thop, r.
penpl" asserting Independence. Our admoni.
'ons aud resistance have been answered by
repeated injury and oppression, aggravated by
war aud bloodshed and by the assump ption and
exercise Of power which even an sutocrst
would hesitate to assume and exercise, A
President whose character is thus marked by
every act which may define tyraut is unit 10
be a ruler Of free people,"
have thus presented:
controlled the action Of Virginia in separating
herself from the Government of the United
states and resuming her sovereignty.
z. The results which President Lincoln's
policy gave us fearful reason to spprehend,
and which are now matters Of history stamped
indelibly upon its pages In these I enunler
ate its repeated violations of Constitution
which he had solemnly sworn to support.
3: have run parallel between the conduct
VI iNciuVht L"COlu duu SeOEge the Third
ana have demonstrated that the former has
shown himself not less a tyrsnt and usurper
than the latter.
The Constitution Of the United States has had
no binding efficacy upon u.s. since the l7tb dav
OF April last. On that we day repudiated IL. and
declared to the world that we would not be
longer bound by its provisions. From that
day virginia dates new era. Her own con.
stituton. her laws and her ordinances copsti.
tuted the rule for her guidance from that day
forward until her union with the Confederate
a position as an independent State she deport |
ed herself with the grace aud dignity that be.
came :" the mothers OF States;r after her union
with the Confederate Government she fulfilled
her obligations faithfully 10 her new relation.
The occurrences Of the past nine months
have demonstrated conclusively that we cannot
1--we together as equals under the Government
OF the United States; and the habitual violation
OF the provisions of the Constitution, and the
open disregard of the laws by President Lin.
coin and his officials, render governmental "A
soc alton between us impossible Mutual re.
spect between tie citizens Of the Southern Con.
federacy and those of the North has ceased to
exist. Mutual confidence has been succeeded
by mutual distrust, and mutual good will bv |
mutual aversion. No Government can be en-. |
during which does not possess the affection and |
respect of the governed. 1t cannot be that the |
people OF the Confederate States can again en-.
terrain feeling of affection and respect for the
Government OF the United States. We have
lh'retore. separated from them; and no,o let Il
Js understood, that the separation Is and ough
to be final and irrerOcab.e that Virqinia ,oM
under no circumstances, entertain anu proposi.
hOn, from any quarter, ,ghich may hdpe for lis
otyec: restoration or reconstruction of the late
cn'o"' on any terms and conditions ,rhaterer.
We must be content with nothing less than
iht unqualified recognition Of the independence
OF the Southern Confedcracy and it's national.
ny by the Government of the United States:
ard t" this end We must meet the iseue thew |
rave rendered to us with spirit, energy, and |
dtieTmination aud with q firm resolve on the |
part ut each Of the Confederate States that |
everything shall be done that may bs neces. |
Say 10 insure the triumph of our arms, and |
thus secure our liberty and independence for |
the South
Ia conclusion, l recommend that before your
a3J"urnment this day, you resffirm, by solemn |
vote 10 each House, the resolutions adopted nv
the General Assembly Of Georgia. The En-.
pre- state OF the South has spoken; let not |
I" h" Mother OF States" remain silent on A |
subject OF so much Significance and import. |
ahce to the Southern Confederacy.
Respectfully, JoHN LErcHER
EXECTrvE DEPARTMENT.
-NWtdgeviEe, Gd., Dec lG 1861,
Iii. EXcelcncy JOIN LErCiiER:
Sill have the honor 10 transmit herew ih |
copy OF joint resolutions adopted by the Cen |
'ral assembly OF Georgia. The Legislature
hGs not directed me to forward them, but do |
- under the conviction that you will be pleased
10 learn The action of Georgia on the important
subj ct TO which they relate.
Very respectfully, JOSEPH Z. BRowS.
JuIHT RESOLUTIONS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Or THE STATE OF GEORGIA, PASSED AT ITS LATE
SESSION.
hsSot"ed, by The Senate and House OF Repre-
s"nIaIiyes Of Georgia, in General Assembly
met Iha' 1t Is tue sense of this Gener n Assem-.
Wy mat the separation of those States now
lmng the Confederate States Of America from
u" mt, H'"Ics Il, and ought to be, final and
~ eanle' ana that Georgia will, under no