The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1862-06-06
FROM RICHMOND.
THE REBEL CAPITAL TO BE DE-
TENDED.
DECLARATION OF JEFF. DAVIS AND
GOVERNOR LETCHER.

GOVERNOR LETCHER.
1t appears that the rebels are determined
to defend Richmond to the last extremity
at least JEFF. Davis, Letcher, the legislature
and the Richmond editors say 80. The
walls of the Richmond papers over the
prospect of the capture of the capital show
how heavy blow that triumph of our
arms would be. According to the Rich.
mond Dispatch, Richmond is now the
point in which are centered the hopes and
apprehensions of the South" and that the
legislature of the state holds the same
opinion is proved by the following joint
resolutions, which were adopted by that
body on the l4th inst.
Resolved, by the General Assembly of Vir-
ginia, That the General Assembly hereby ex.
press it's desire that the capital of the state be
defended to the last extremity, if such de.
fence is in accordance with the views OF the
President of the Confederate States; and that
the President be assured that whatever de-
struction and loss of property of the state or
fully submitted to.
Resolved, That committee of two on the
part of the Senate, and three on the part of
the House, be appointed to communicate the
adoption of the foregoing resolution to the
President.
A copy from the rolls.
Teste, WM.F. GORDON, JR,
o. Fl. d. and. K of R.
By JNo. 7. CowAN, Deputy.
AN OFFICIAL DECLARATION FROM JEFF.
DAVIS.
On the 18th instant a joint committee,
appointed by the legislature of Virginia to
communicate with JEFF. Davis in relation to
the defence of Richmond, made the follow
ing report:
The joint committee appointed by the two
Houses to communicate to the President of
the Confederate States the joint resolution of
the General Assembly in relation to the de-
fence of the city, have discharged the duty
conided to them. and respectfully report that
their interview with the President was in the
highest degree satisfactory and his views, as
communicated with entire frankness to the
commit e, were well calculated to inspire
them with confidence and to reassure the pub
lie mind.
A ter reading the resolutions. he desired US
to say to the General Assembly that he had
received the communication vi IncSe TeSOlus
tons with feelings of lively gratidca ton, and
instructed US to assure the Houses that it
would be the effort of his life to defend the soil
of Virginia and to cover her capital.
He further stated that he had never enter
tanned the thought Of Withdrawing the army
from Virginia and abandoning the State; that
if, in the course of events the capital should
fall, the necessity of VIII ich he did not see or
anticipate, that would be no reason for with
drawing the army from Virginia. The war
could still be successfully maintained ON Vir-
ginia soil for twenty years.
All Of which is respectfully submitted,
JOHN ROBINSON.
Chairman Senate Committee.
WOOD BOULDIN,
Chairman House Committee.
A copy--Teste:
VIM +. GoRDON, Jr.,
Clerk House of Delegates.
By JOHN 7. COwAN, Deputy.
PROCLAMATION OF GOV. LETCHER.
On the 18th, Governor Letcher issued the
following proclamation, declaring that "the
capitol must not be surrendered" and call
ing meeting to provide for the public de-
fence:
By the Governor Of Virginia-A Proclamation
The General Assembly Of this common.
wealth having resolved the capitol of the
State shall be defended to the last extremity, if
such defence is in accordance with the views
of the President of the Confederate States, and
having declared that whatever destruction and
loss If property of the State or individuals
shall thereby result will be cheerfully submit
ted to- and this action being warmly approx
ed and seconded by the Executive: Therefore.
| do hereby request ell officers who are out of
service, from any cause. and all others who
may be willing to unite in defending the capi-
toll OF this State, to assemble this evening at
the City Hall, at five o'clock, and proceed
forthwith to organize force 10 CO operate
with the Tredegar battalion, and any other
force which may be detailed for the purpose
indicated. The organization, upon being re-.
| ported to the Executive, will be recognized
and properly Differed, as prescribed by law,
| and be subject to the orders of the Governor
for local defence, under regulations to be here.
| after prescribed.
Prompt a 4 efficient action is absolutely ne.
cessary. We have gallant army in the field.
upon whom we fully and confidently rely !;
but no effort should be spared which can con-
tribute to the noble object. The capitol of
Virginia must not be surrendered. Virgni-
ais must rally to the rescue.
TOOL Given under my hand and under the
Il. S. seal OF the Commonwealth, at Rich
(~~} mond, this 18th day of May 1862, and
| in the eighty-sixth year of the Commonwealth
JOHN LETCHER.
THE PUBLIC MEETING.
The meeting thus called assembled at the
City Hall on Thursday evening, Captain j.
B. Danforth presiding, and Mayor Mayo
and Governor Letcher made speeches. We
quote the report in the Dispatch:
Mr.. Joseph Mayo, the Mayor of the city.
stated that the City Council had adopted
resolutions requesting the Governor to place
the Tredegar battalion at his disposal for
the defence of the city. He endorsed in the
most enthusiastic manner the proposed &C.
tion of the meeting, and said that if the city
of Richmond was ever surrendered to our
enemies it should not be by descendant OF
its founder. He would sooner die than sur
render our city, end if they wished Mayor
who would surrender the city they must
elect another in bis, place.
Governor Letcher was then called on, and
heartily approved the objects of the meeting,
He said that the city should never be sur
rendered by the President, by the Mayor