The Abingdon Virginian. [volume] (Abingdon [Va.]) 1849-1883, 1863-09-04
BY THE GOVERNOR OF VIRGINIA.
A 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 Tor the exer-
else of the best judgment OF the wlsest council
lors of the State. The large levies Of addition
al troops by the enemy for the devastation OF
our lands and the subjugation OF our people, re-
CURES extraordinary exertion on our part, and
every State in the Confederacy must brace it
self to the impending encounter with fearless
fortitude and untirng 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
meet the foe with calm defiance that acknow-
lodges no alternative but an unqualified recog-
lnition of cur independence. No people can 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
General Assembly for the purpose OF devlslng
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 arining and equipping such additional
force and furnishing the means Tor rendering
their services available when necessary; to give
confidence to our people in our ability to repel
our unscrupulous and worse than savage foe; to
set an example to our Southern sisters by exnl-
biting mistaken confidence IN our Government
and nndiminished ardor In our common cause.
and to invoke their united aid once more in
meeting the emergency as becomes people en-
gagged in righteous cause-to display not only
endurance under losses and severe reverseS, but,
graphing with adversely, to exhibit, at a mo-
ment Of anticipated weakness, power from moral
example and physical exertion
Besides this important purpose, first and up
pernost in every heart, there arc 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 accessories
of life.
While it is proper for the Government to call
in its excessive issues and to endeayor TO- fund
its debt, it is not necessary or proper, in my
judgment, in doing so to dlscredIt the only mo-
new that is now in the hands Of the people to
meet their every day transactions. The CAPT
talists and broker may collect and fund the
amount of the currency in their hands, but the
Government should not permit the banks and
the corporations Of the country to discredlt the
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 should
the States themselves dscredit it by prohibiting
its reception in payment Of taxes and public
dues. Such acts are mischievous in the ex-
IRENE, and will prodncesa panic, frightening the
mass of the people from their propriety, and
tending to shake the Government to its founda-
ton. L convoke the Legislature to provide a
remedy for these evils, and especially to repeal
the act prohibiting tie reception OF Confederate
notes of a particular date, IN payment OF public
dues Much rather would | punish those who
refuse to receive the currency of the country
{ with the utmost penalties of the law
1t is also necessary to provide tunds Tor car
rying on the operations of State Institutions; to
provide the means for employing the convicts in
the penitentiary, many Of whom are supported
at public expense without returning an equiva-
lent in labor, because no adequate approprla-
ton has been made for furnishing q full supply
of materials for their work.. Other approprla-
tons are required, which it is not necessary TO
specify, but which are, nevertheless, essentlai
to the. public service therefore,
l, JOHN LETCHER, Governor Of the Conn
monwealth Of Virginia. by virtue. of authority
vested in me by the Constitution, do hereby re-
Auire the members Of the General Assembly,
selected in May last, to assemble in extra session
at the Capitol, in the city Of Richmond, on Mon
day, the seventh day of September next at IL
o'clock, NJ.
~ Given under my hand, as Governor,
L. s. and under the Seal Of the Common
1 ~ wealth, at Richmond, this tenth day OF
August, in the year 1868, and in the eighty
eighth year of the Commonwealth.
JOHN LETCHER.
By the Governor:
GEORGE w. MUNFoRD,