The Abingdon Virginian. [volume] (Abingdon [Va.]) 1849-1883, 1863-08-21
BY THE GOVERNOR OF VIRGINIA.
Proclamation.

By the proceedings of sundry counties IN pri-
mary assemblies of the people, the desire has
been expressed that the General Assembly OF
this State should be convened in extra session.
The condition of the country calls for the exer-
else of the best Judgment of the wisest council-
lors of the State The large levies of addition
al troops by the enemy for the devastation of
our lands and the suhjugation Of our people, re-
quires extraordinary exertion on our part. and
every State in the Confederacy must brace IT.
self to the impending encounter with fearless
fortitude and untring energy. The people must
prepare for the magnitude OF the emergency,
and each man must feel that his arm is necessa-
nv to aid in vindicating the justice of our cause
and that come what may, he is prepared to
Emeet the foe with calm defiance that acknow-
lodges no alternative but an unqualified recog
milton of our independence. No people con be
CONQUERED who feel thus and act up to that feel
| ing with an abiding confidence in the justice of
| Heaven.
/ concur in the propriety of converting the
1 General Assembly for the purpose OF deylslng
means for the public defence; to enroll an addi-
tional force of militia beyond the conscript age
for local as well as general protection; to pro-
vide for arming and equipping such additional
! force AMI furnishing the means for rendering
their services available when necessary; to give
| confidence to our people in or ability to repei
our INSCRIPTIONS and worse than savage foe; to
i set an example to our Southern sisters by exhi-
biting mistaken confidence IN our Government
and undiminished ardor in our common cause,
and to invoke their united aid once more in
/ meeting the emergency as becomes people en-
| gared in righteous. cause-to display not only
endurance under losses and severe reyerses, but,
graphing with adversely, to exhibit, at mo-
ment of anticipated weakness, power from moral
example and physical cxertion.
Besides this important purpose, first and up
permost in every heart, there are other matters
which require our most anxious councils The
currency Of the country is in deranged state.
Something must be done to give confidence to
the people in the stability Of our monetary
concerns Something must be done to prevent
the depreciation of our circulating medium, and
: the enhancement of the price Of the necessaries
!. of life.
While it is proper for the Government to cal
in its excessive issues and to endeayor to func
: its debt, it is not necessary or proper, in my
| Judgment, in doing SO to discredit the only mo-
new that is now in the hands of the people t.
: meet their every day transactions. The CAPT
: talists and broker may collect and fund tht
t amount of the currency in their hands, but thu
/ Government should not permit the banks ant
the corporations Of the country to discredlt TIT
money which the poor are required to receive
by refusing to receive it on deposit and reject
ing it for ordinary dues, and much less shoult
the States themselves discredit it by prohibiting
] its reception in payment Of taxes and publ
| dues. Such acts are mischievous in the sx
7 IRENE, and will produce panic, frightening tn
mass of the people from their propriety, an
t tending to shake the Government to Its iounoa
= ton. I convoke the Legislature to provide
remedy for these evils, and especially to repea
the act prohibiting the reception Of Confedera.
notes of particular date, in payment OF puDil
dues Much rather would punish those wh
:, refuse to receive the currency of the countr
with the utmost penalties of the law.
It is also necessary to provide funds for cal
rying on the operations of State institutions; !
: provide the means for employing the convlcts
: the penitentiary many of whom are supporte
=. at public expense without returning an equivs
u lent in labor, because no adequate approPris
ton has been made for furnishing o full suppl
Q of materials for their work. Other approprls
g tions are required which it is not necessary
: specify, but which are, nevertheless, essenu
I. to the public service: therefore,
n I,JOHN LETCHER, Governor OF the Con
a. monwealth Of Virginia. by virtue OF autnorl'
ID vested in me by the Constitution, DO nerepy
SO quire the members of the General Assemol
elected in May last to assemble IN extra sessa.
if at the Capitol, in the city Of Richmond on MO-
,e day, the seventh day of September next, at
is o'clock, M.
49, Given under my hand, IS Governo
- S. and under. the Seal Of the Commo
= ~ wealth, at Richmond, this tenth aay
80 August, in the year 1868, and in the eight
eighth year of the Commonwealth ,,mcurp
By the Governor:
p GEnRGE " MUNFORD,