Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1863-09-18
SPEECH OF LIEUTENANT-G Governor
MONTAGUE.

The following report of Lieut.. Gov. Mon-
tague's remarks, at the Capitol on Wcdncs
day night, were necessarily omitted from yes
terday's edition of the Enquirer:
Mr.. Montague commenced by making d.
rcct,appeal to the members Of the General
Assembly, whom he aliured not to fritter
away their time in speech-makiug and aiscnst1
sions over subjects remote from those which
should entirely engage them. Speoch-mak
| ing on this continent had in his opinion, y
great deal to do with the struggle for life and
liberty in which we are now engaged. The
idea Of every man that he was born an orator
brought upon us brood OF demagogues
whose dissensions, and whose constant and
perverse pretensons. brought these troubles
upon us-troubles which no speaking could
, cast off.
Now, lie. continued, still addressing the To-
sislatOrs. you come here to restore the cur
rency, to check inordinate prices, and 10 or
sanize tho military forces of the State Do
that, and thon 80 home, and 60 to work as
You ought to As TO the organization Ct the
militia, am not military man enough to know
anything about it; ms to 10 the currency haze
some ideas which need not present now and
on this occasion; hut as to stopping spccula
ton and cStortion, have = plan of my own,
which, were n member of your body, would
hiring forward and venture 10 say THAI If YOU
adopted it there would be no more spccula-
tors inside of the limits Of this Common
wealth. But there are none of Won who are
going to bring il out for me-. I'm afraid YOU
have not got puck enough. But | will state
it here, or anywhere, upon my own rcsnan.i-
hility, that would make the law we're j: ir
nv power ! Cr;es, Brig it OH ~
Well, gentlemen. let me ask & question:
Who has got any right To make money at al
in this war? If we get cur liberty: if we
secure our independence, 70 whom will we be
indebted VIII we owe it 10 President Da-
Wis? viii we owe it TO General Lee? and
permit nc 10 say that Genera! Lee is one ii.
two men whom look upon nc the grca asst
men that over lived: and | have more faith in
him than in all the great men ni this country
combined. Loud applause. 7" whom will
we owe this boor of our liberty? ia the MOT
to the men I've seen barefoot, whcn the itc
was four inches thick: to the men who have
toiled and fought through all seasons. and un
der all circumstances have rema:nnl firm and
brave to the cause. Applause. 70 them
we arc indebted. Do they make any momry?
Have you people. then. who stay at home. "ry
| right to make money? say noC. NV for
show what each man WAS roth whcn thi.,
war begun. Go around the lit, ana us soon
as the war is OYER take another i'af. Then
say to each individual ycu may have what
you had before the WIZ, bur the baia"cr. VIC
will confscatc and pay tie public debt. .!p-
plause This is tho on!y way you can 10 il.
You will have no more blocladc running, I'll
venture to say; You Will have m mrrc hoard
ing away money. Now, will any OF You have
| pluck enough to Introduce it!
There seems 10 ;a a wild enthusiasm fny
| this money making. Where is ii t., end, If
continued, if not in the corruption Of The very
foundations on (which this govcrnglc1t rests:
Tbs safety Of tharst;ucturc depends upon The
mofaliti ana virtue Of the great mas; Of H..
| middle class of our population, an! if their
strength is not in the effort, YOU will have. in
stead Of the ross Of morality ani virtue Il:
the basis Of your government the shifting
sands of vice and corruption. With liberty
in one scale and money AMI property in ti,c
other, would dap?ass the scale Of money ard
property into the lowest depths Of he'll and
elevate the shining light OF liberty until the
whalc nation felt is invimorating rays Unless
you have the honest pluck 10 do this, You will
have aided in the decentralization Of your GOV
ernmcnt, the corruption Of your people, and
the brave men who have passed through the
SHOWS of winter, the torrd hc:! Of summer,
and the storms Of hattle-wiii have ;oileG MI
in vain, And you wont 10 worldly /, 2 free
| Applause.
The speaker then briefly alluded to the state Of
ths country at the present moment DID ATTY
sensible man, lie said, EXPECT 10 go through tbs
war withou. passing through M ag"ny ri n!oOL;
without occasional revcrses 7 What was the fall
of Yicksburs; shat was the reverse AZ Gettys.
| burg after such a succession of splendid vlctos
riesf Is there cause for Encouragement in this
On the contrary, even if the clouds should lower
more tiercey and terribly AS each day advances,
it is the part of brave and .earnes, people, de-
termined to be free, to fight on. The old sea
| captain, when the storm is raging The i;.rccst
around him, does not sit resigned!y in his cabin
and say II give up my ship bat pits fnrth al
of his vitality, all of his energy, with Tic strength
| and will of his men, to BUILT with the storm. AID
| the vessel is saved.
believe that the finger Of Almighty Col ia i'll
this struggle and 10 no; believe that )" great
a people are to he turned over by That i:ni IA be
made the slaves Of foreign despot repeat |
see nothing to discourage. hive letter from
General Lee at his headquarters. with tn Army
Of Northern Virginia, which closes with these
words IF our people will hold fast and exhibit
their forttude, we will have everything I" hope
| for" That is the sentiment of Geaerati Lec TINT
| is the sentiment of yonr commanding general
that is the sentiment Of Toar soldiers; that : the
sentiment OF every patriot IN the land: Let us
| go to work. then, and 60 our duty. When Ne
henliah built up The walls of jerusa?em he lid
no: do it by caiolerv or cr"aking. but hc made
every man build up the wall before his o~n house.
ard the city was enclosed. Now let every man
build up Ms part of the great bmiwark of oar
liberties. and the question whether man Is cap"'
Bile of scifgovcrnmeut will be put upon sntrr
foundation thaa ever. aud orr children, and our
children's children will call this generation bless
/ ell [ Ann [