Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1863-08-14
BY THE GOVERNOR Of VIRGINIA.

4 Proclnmntion
by the proceedings of sundry counties in
primary assemblies Of the people, the desire
has been expressed that the General Assem-
bly, of this State should I've convened in extra
session. The condition Of the country calls
for the exercise Of tho best judgment of the
wisest councillors Of the State The large
lcvies Of additional troops by the enemy for
the devastation Of our lands and the subjuga-
ton Of our people, requires extraordinary e1-
ertiou on our part, and every State in tho
Confederncy must brace itself To the impcnd-
ing encounter with fearless fortitude and un-
firing energy. The people must prepare for
the magnitude of the emergency, and each
man must feel that his arm is necessary 10
aid in yindicating the justice of our cause,
and that, come what may, he Is prepared to
meet the foe with n calm defiance that ac-
knowlcdges no alternative but an unqualified
recognition of our independence No people
can be conquered who feel thus and net up to
that feeling with IN abiding confidence in the
Justice Of Hoaven.
I concur in tho propriety Of converting the
General Assembly for the purpose of devising
means for the public defence; to ENROLL an adj
ditional force Of militia beyond the conscript
age for local as we'll NJ general protection to
provide for arming and cquipping such addi-
tional force and furnishing the means for rem
dering their services available when necessary;
to give confidence to our people in our ability
to repel our unscrupulous and worse than saw
age foe; to set an example to our Southern
sisters by exhibiting unshnken confidence in
our Government and undiminished ardor in our
common cause, and to invoke their united MD
once more in meeting the emergency Ms be-
comes people engaged in Il righteous cause
to display not only endurance under losses
and severe reverses, but graphing with ad-
yersity, to exhibit, at q moment Of anticl pated
weakness, power from moral example and
physical eIertion.
Besides this important purpose, first and
uppermost in every heart, there arc other
mutters which require our most anxious
councils. The currency of the country is in a
deranged suite. 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 cir
culating medium and the enhancement of the
price of the neoessaries of life.
While it is proper for the Government to
call in lis excessive issues and to endeuvor to
fund its debt, it is not necessary or proper, in
my Judgment, in doing so to discredit the only
money that is now in the hands of the people
to meet their every day transactions. The
capitalist 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 discredit
the money which the poor are required TO re-
ceive, by refusing to receive iton deposit and re-
iccting it for ordinary dues, and muchlcss should
the States themselves discredit it by prohibit
ing its reception in payment of taxes and pub
lie dues. Such acts are mischievous in the
extreme, and will produce apanic, frightening
the mass of the people from their propriety,
and tending to shake the Government to its
foundation conv0ke the Legislature to pro-
vide IL remedy for these evils, and especially
to repeal the act prohibiting the reception Of
Confederate notes Of particular date, in pay
ment of public dues. Much rather would !
punish those who refuse to receive the curren-
cy of the country with the utmost penalties Of
the law.
1t is also necessary t" provide funds for
ChTT Slup uii tDc 'pelHLiouo w ''IhIc iaSIitu
tions to provide the means for employing the
convicts in the penitentisry, many Of whom
are supported at public expense without re-
turning IN equivalent IN labor because no
adequate appropriation has been made for
furnishing a full supply of materials for their
work. Other appropriations arc required,
which it is not necessary to specify, but
which are, nevertheless, essential to the pub
lie service therefore
|, JOHN LETCHER Governor of the Com
monwealth of Virginia, by virtue of authori-
ty vested in me by the Constitution, do hero
by require the members Of the General AS
sembly, elected in May last, 10 assemble il
extra session at the Capitol, in the city Of
Richmond, on Monday, the seventh day Of
September next, OF ~ o'clock, VI.
~ Given under my hand, rs Cover
LIS. nor, and under the Seal Of the Com
~ monwcalth, ut Richm, nd, this tenth
day of August, in the year 1855, and in the
eightv-eiShth year Of the Commonwealth.
JOHN LETCHER.
BY the Governor:
GEORGE w. MUHFoEp,
Sec'ry Of the Com'th.
Augl2-ctd.