Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1863-09-18
Gov. Letcher's Message
E1EeUTIvE DEPARTMENT,
R1cHMoND. Va. Sept. ] 1868.
Gentlemen of the Senats

E1EeUTIvE DEPARTMENT,
RrcnMoNb. Va. Sept. !. 1868.
Gentlemen Of the Senats
and House of Delegates
In this crisis I have deemed it advisable
to convene you in extraordinary session
/ in order that the freshly chosen represen
tatives Of the people may consult and de-
wise such measures as will be calculated t
meet the existing emergency in public at
! fairs. The war has now been in progress
has been prosecuted against us with fe
/ rocity unparalleled 10 all past struggles be-
tween contendipg parties. Il has beer
conducted upon the avowed principle o
subjugating Us. either b. force Of arms Of
by visiting upon oer people the horrors o
/ famine. Hence it is that. fooled and de
feated again and again upon the field O
battle. they have adopted the policy Of de.
solating our farms, destroying our crops
4 burning our dwellings,, stealing and carry
ing away our property, leayng cur wives
and children to perish by the slow tortures
of starvation. 1t il no longer war for
the preservation Of the old Union, as it Was
originally proclaimed TO be, but it has de-
/ generated into q war for the emancipation
Of our slaves and this purpose the Adj
miuistration at Washington propose to ac-
complish, even If the exserminasion Of the
white race. of aE 4ges, ceres ard condi-
tons, of the Southern onfederacy shall be
the result We have no alternative there
fore, but to defend ourselves with all the
power, energy and ability We can COM
mand. We must succecd, if We would be
free and independent people. worthy Of
the illustrious ancestry from which we de-
scended. To succeed. we must have un-
ion. harmony, concert. Cancellation, cour-
aye, energy and determined resolution on
the part Of rulers and people. We must
cultivate one towards another the noble
virtues Of prudence, federation, charity and
| forbearance.
With these general remarks, ] proceed
to the consideration Of such subjects as are
Of special interest at this time, aud in my
Judgment demand Legislative action
The subject first in Importance, 80 far as
the Common wealth is concerned. is the best
means Of providing an adquate force for
the local defence Of the State against inva-
sion or raids, and for the execution Of tire
laws in case retcrt to force shall at any
time become necessary. FIRE entire mill
tary force OF the State has been absorbed
by the conscription law. and we are thus
lett. in a tiuc Of greatest peril. with no
militia organisation for the defence Of the
Common wealth This want can be and
must be supplied with as little delay As
prxcticntae.
As to the plan Of raising this force, am
aware there is much diversity Of opinion
! The difference. however, is reconciable, il
.h. subject is considered and discussed in q
patriotic spria
| Let force to consis. Of all able bodied
persons between the ages of sixteen and
sixty, not in the Confederate service, b.
organized. corresponding with the force
row organized in the cities of Hichn. ond,
Petersburg and Lynchburg Let them be
reguF>rly enrolled, formed into companies.
ba.tallions and regiments. and ofhcered in
such manner SIS will be most likely to Sc
cure efficient. utcliIgsns and energetic
uieu. They should be drilled at prope. in
servals, so as to be well instructed in the
erolntisus and the manual. and prepared
for efficient service whenever the necessity
shall arise. Tie act should also define
what is local defence, rs there 10 mach con-
srariesy Of opinion in regard 10 il. Some
think that local defence consists IN remain
ing at home, aud under no circumstances
to be taken out of the city or county in
which the company is organized. This, in
my view, ia ,aost mistaken notion Of the
meaning OF the term local defence; and
if III is to prevail, will work great mischief,
and render the organization Of little valuo
in giving protection to our people. Ny
opinion Is. that If the city Of Richmond
can be defended more certainly Fifty miles
from il than Immediately around it, or 10
1t. that locality is the proper place for it's
defeneo, and the local militia should be re-
CURED to make the defence there The
officer charged with the defence Of any par
ticular locality is presumed to be better ac-
quainted with the mode of defending. it,
and the best point for defending it succe s.
fully. and he should direct all troops so as
best to secure the end desired.
The object of such organizations should
be, to give adequate protection TO all parts
of the Commonwealth. We must not only
provide for the defence of the counties
cities and towns, by the local forces in and
Immediately aroand them. but we must. un-
der the law which is proposed to be passed.
have authority to order other contiguous
counties to their aid and support. A force,
whose operations is to be confined by coun-
~, city or town boundaries, can prove of
but little value in checking raids, or IN ex-
ecuting and enforcing obedience tothe
laws.
This organization should be made to en-
brace the foreign population who are loca-
ted amongst u.s., This foreign population
may be said to consist of three classes
First, those who haze been regularly nat
uralissd. and who are therefore citizens en-
braccd by CUR laws relating to the public
defence; second, those who are domcilla>
ted amongst US. and have been living in
our midst and prosecuting various branches
Of business. and who left their native land
nth no purpose or intention OF returning
10 it: and lastly, those who are temporar
lily sojouru;;ag amongst US. The first class
-, n service ussaer the militia laws. and
.he ..oond class should be required to go