The Abingdon Virginian. [volume] (Abingdon [Va.]) 1849-1883, 1862-12-12
BIZ THE GOVERNOR OF VIRGINIA.
A PROCLAMATION.


EE AVING received communication from the
GE President Of the Confederate States, invok-
ing tie aid of the State Executive on several i'm
portant points, deem it proper, in giving my
cordial cooperation, to call upon the officers of
the State, civil and military, and upon the
people of the Commonwealth generally, TO lend
their assistance.
BY united and harmonious acton our indapcn-
deace can and viii be obtained. 4 cheerful
anu ready obedience to the laws should be given
until they are pronounced by competent tribunals
to be unconstitutional.
1t is the duty OF every good citizen to sustain
the constituted authorities in their just endea-
vors to promote the public welfare.
The President asks for assistance SIN the en-
rolmept OF c0nscrIpts and the forwarding of
them TO tie proper points of rendezvous. To
render his appeal efectual, l invoke the aid of
the Commissioners Of the Revenue, the SheriffS
and Constabies, and the Justices Of the Peace.
From their general kuowledge of all the inirabi-
tants of their several districts they have it i'll
their power TIC find out and to report to the en-
rolling officers all persons liable to CONSUMPTION,
and viii render efficient service by eSpediting
the conscripts to their several destinations.
The cause in which we are engaged, the holy
purpose we have at heart, requires that every
man, liable to military duty, should be stimulat-
ed by moral suasion, and, if need be, by COM
pulsatory process, TO give to the country the adj
vantage of his intellect and his physical ener-
gies. The country has right to the services of
all, and none should be allowed to sneak or
skulk from duty.
The President asks assistance 'sin restoring to
the army all officers and men now within the
State absent without leave, or whose term Of
absence has expired, or who have recovered from
disability, and are now able to return to duty"
This absence is the cause Of the frlitless victo-
ries heretofore gained. If in any one Of the
great battles in which our armies have been
victorious, all the force composing those armies
had been present, none can entertain 8 doubt
but that the enemy would have been utterly
crushed and destroyed, and that ours State would
have been relieved from the curse of invasion
and the consequent desolation OF the fairest por-
ton Of our territory. How essential then is it
that this fruitful source Of il! should cease TO
exist. An officer or private absent without leave
is nothing bat u deserter. Let the finger Of
scorn Of the young and the Old Of the matron
and the maiden, be pointed at such denquents,
and If shame win not cause them to return to
duty, let taem be hunted from the neighborhoods
in which they are skulking and be carried back
under q guard 10 their eucalnpments. The law
OF Virginia prescribes that-''If any person
shall fai! to appear at the place Of rendezvous
when ordered, or shall absent himself without
leave, the co1nmandant of the detachment or of
the regiment to which be belongs may order him
to his proper officer, and such person, without
justtisble excuse, shall be treated as a deser-
teri There is reason to believe, and [ regret
to state it, that it is too common for men who
have recovered from disability, and are now able
to return to duty. TO continue TO absent them
selves and to draw their pay while rendering no
manner Of equivalent. This is o burning dis
grace, and no family should tolerate an inmate
who will thus act in times like these 1t be-
comes their friends not only not to ask them to
stay, but to impiore them to SO. that they may
aid their comrades in conqneEing speedy peace.
Then, and not till then, viii they be able with
honor and qualification to recline under their
own vine and fig tree, and to enjoy the blessings
they viii have secered by their manly exeftlons
for themselves and their posterity.
The President, with an anxious solicitnde,
asks assistance s'n securing for the use OF the
army ell such necessary supplies as exist within
the State in excess Of the quantity indispensa-
BILE for the support of the people at home
have heretofore with earnest appeals III my pro-
invoked from the people these neces-
sary supplies. | report now, that the necessity
for suchsupplies still exists, and that prompt as
sistance will prevent or at any rate alleviate
much suffering Men who are fighting for us
and riskinc their lives for the common cause,
have right to expect that proper exertlons shall
be made to protect them. by suitable clothing
from inclement weather and to provide them with
necessary food. am happy to testify that |
have had presented to me, by Individuals, noble
examples of liberal gifts, to add to the comfort
Of our troops, and that have seen in all our