Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1864-03-29
fence Of tho Southern States captured BY her from the

Geek.
The Governor said that his views in regard to the Inn
portauce of preparation for in the outset OPP
posed by many men Of mind end influence. For one
thing, he was arragned for the purchase Of POWDER
and for other OUTLAWS which were considered by some
unn cessary expenditures of money, and went to
show that those very expenditures had not only been
most fortunately applied 10 aid In the present great
couhct under the aid and advice Of the military com
mission created by the General Assembly but that they
may possibly have saved the country from disaster and
ruin. He ascribed the opposition to his views In re-
gard to preparation for war; to the mistaken idea in the
minds OF some men, that there would be war; and II
| q war, IL would DO short one.
Since the commenced, he said that the Confede.
Tacy Notwithstanding many Disadvantages, had stood
up against unequal numbers, and maintained that
would stand up triumphantly to the last.
In remarking upon the manner in which the war had
been conducted, he showed that, Notwithstanding the
North, time and again. bad been gully of the most
atocous conduct the Sou had far conducted it &C.
cordhg to the ussges Of civilized warfare, when
army went into Pennsylvania, the only private property
destroyed was the iron works OF Thaddeus Stevens,
which was In the use of the Federal Government and
| the conduct of the enemy had been different He
ferred to the infamous conduct in the destruction Of
private property James river, and the dabolcal plot
which had been laid and which was TO have been car
ried out by the late radDg party, of burning the city
/ of Richmond aud of assassnatng the President and
Cabinet officers. He also referred 10 the organization
Of slaves into regiments for the purpose oil plunderDg
aud destroying property, and the lives of incfsnsve
women and children.
After speaking of the atrocities of the Federal army
| which he spoke Of in terms of scathug rebuke, Gov
Letcher proceeded to give an account Of the present
condition Of the Confederate army. He spoke of the
large number that had reenlised for the war; and
cluded by expressing his opinion that It had not been
| in better condition than it is at this time.
The fact Of the willingness Of the soldiers TO re enlist
after long AID hard service patiently bearing the suf
ferngs aud priVaiOns Of war, ought to stimulate every
man at home to use the utmost exerions make the
army comfortable and to provide for the families Of
| soldiers.
In the course Of his remarks the Governor took oc
cason to deal pretty hard blows upon the Presi
deut Of the United States. After seeing correspond
/ ence which took place between himself and the Rev.
Mr. Clover of Springfield, Illinois, which related to the
dissolution Of the Union, and the consequences which
would follow it. Mr. Lincoln, doubling the ability of the
| South to maintain war, said it could not more
than GO 900 troops aud that the whole thing would be
thirty days Wond,r. He had the niatuation to sup
pose that he was commissioned by Heaven to the
Union and to adjust the difficulties growing out OF the
slavery question. Gov Letcher read the following ex
tracts from speech made by Mr.. Lincoln, which show
that he did not claim for the General Government any
| control over the institution of slavery.
Republican doctrines aud declarations are accom-
parted with conLuIl protest against any interference
whatever with your slaves."-Speeeh dsliVsred by Mr..
| Lincoln at the Cooper Institute FEB 81 1860.
L II
the power Of emancipation s in the Federal Govern
ment He spoke OF Virginia; aud, as to the power Of
| emancipation, | speak OF tho saveholding States
| only Ibid
| "Ail they a k (.he South We could readily grant,
We thought slavery right all we ask, they could as
readily grant, if they thought t wrong Their think
log it right aud thinking il wrong, is the precise
| fact upon which depends the whole controversy.
Thinking right as they do, they ara not to blame for
desiring its full recognition, az being right but think
| ing il wrong do can yield to thems Can We
cast QUE votes with their Wow, and against own
| Ia view of moral, soc al aud political responsible
ties, can We do this g"-Lbid
"Neither let ~ be sandersd from our duty by false
Accusations against us, nor frightened from il by meDa
Of destruction TO he Government, nor OF dungeons
| TO ourselves. LET Us HAVE FAITH THAT RIGHT
MAKES MIGHT, AND THAT FAITH LET Us HAVE
1 TO TIE END, DARE TO DO FOR OUR COUNTRY
AS WE UNDERSTAND IT"-Ltid.
After making the speech quoted from, he issued his
emancipation proclamation, which, Gov. l.. oontended,
| Involved him in q violation OF his oath II
Office He maintained that confidence could be placed
in man 30 utterly destitute Of all integrity OF purpoe
That in his overweening deee to obtain the credit Of
crushing the rebellion and restoring the Union by tho
destruction of the South he capable Of any act,
| however infamous.
Ia regard to the next election Gov L. expressed the
opinion that Lincoln would be reelected, or that be
would hold over if he failed; but he thought he could
not carry the That constant deserton GO
ing from the United States army that 1t had losl in
five battles alone, in killed. wounded aud missing, one
hundred and thirty thousand men, admitted by the
editor of the Ohio Crisis; that the signs encoar
| aging and cheering; that gold Was advancing In the
United States; that there 800 100000 Treasury
notes ia circulation and their debt reported at $780,
900 OO0-Whie in the Confederate States gold has de.
cned, and the currency had improved. He adverted
also to constant defeats which had been suffered by the
Federal forces since the lst Of January
In conclusion he paid handsome tribute 10 the late
General T. j. Jackson, compliment to General Lee,
aud made earnest and stirring appeal TO all, 10 en-
ploy their utmost energies to feed and coLhe brave
soldieTs In the field.
After Governor Letcher had concluded, loud calls
were made for Judge J. w. Broctenbrougb, to which
be responded in lev brie' but spirited and eloquent
remarks.
He urged the people to unite thoroughly with each
other 10 aiding the great cause of the Southern people,
He spoke cheerngly of the present prospects re-
marking their settled determination TO triumph In the
end and the disposition of the North to relax aud give
way
The financial condition OF the country had been i'm
proved and would continue TO be improved by the
ration Of the recent Acts of Congress- The Tax and
Currency aws he believed would cure the evil of
dundaat currency; aud with the return Of healthy
| circulating medium disorders would be ended
He denounced in strong terms the atrocities commit.
| ted from time to time by the Northern army. While
the United States profeaed to be civilized nation, lie
charged it with having inauguraed uncvilzed warfare
and he beved that tho iez taionis should be pu in
| practice If they persisted in their ou.rages.
MAJOR GERARDEYs SHE'LL FOsE.-This invention ia
thus spoken OF in the Augusta COnsttutionast OF the
| 10Th instant
"The following ia one Of the many compliments Try
reports in reference to Major Grardeys shell fuse
vented by Major Girardey OF this city, The report
/ is made to Col Rains of this post aud must be- very
deVoDg all his skill and energies as an ordnance OH
GER and as commander OF the local rooFs in this city,
| to the cause of the Oonlederscy.
| ave congratulate the Major on the success which
| has crowned his efforts:
| EXTRACT.