Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1864-03-16
ADDRESS OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY,
10 Tax s0LSlEnS or VIRGINIA..

your appeals jusIc sparnsd VITA contempI s.d war
our sister mates Of the South BY Abra
By this iasls proceeding the Fsd.rA ADMINISTRATORS threw
could remain an indifferent spec By every tie
Of blood ssmpathy, wrongs 5,
ihe th hostile was tet on foot
abe withdrew a. ron which no longer re-
spectsd wren Constitution and resolved receive b
bosom the threatened shock Of Invasion she invoked "
rally defend your homes your sts your honor
this appeal was not made In VAN Promptly and generously
formed H. In long arduous service you shubk
from no 70 no danger and no s.rnee During absence
I'D yoa ttls may suffered want:
your ten rayaged and the fu industry destroyed BY
arues and earearous enemy Bun despite every temptation
h.ye never looked back Your eye has always been fxed
the foe and vang for the summons 10 battle Amid
s psaD. ns sse Won Ssy IS s
always rendered cheerful obedience 70 the ktse
You have been ia most OF the m Srsnt battles Of The
war; and ALL your vslor has been conspieuouL has made
States, and ~ the whole civilized world.
Many Of your comrades have fallen In battle or from disease
70 mmoraty There are many more whose mutaisd
forms attest their heiorAbls devotion country
sons intee aed 81 all the oynsns life indeed been
great TIE war; for;ea the malice Of people whom
cruel srnerng It's unavoidable c.aules greatly
~ the refusal q the enemy % respect the laws Of
sion from oy visiting The relentless bArbarides upon
men and children the aged and the hepsa Unbhded license
has been TO the cupdy unt;d millions Of property have
been wantcny destroyed thr malice sweed the Golfers
Of the PAnpsIsd villains Who unvhp Justice have been OPEN
Aged and unohsndng have been dragged from their beds
men have been Siaa Landed by rd
Ing sode have been LED captive from their homes hostages
desoa,ed dwellings have been laid in ashes
unprotected women and helpless children
gallant dead have beei robbed and desecrsd nen
have iuhley invaded the ssncy the grave outraged
Inc hypocea aass OF lberaus from slavery pop
usron hipPF aod more yueus than themselves, they have
soughtto 1bJect Us 10 Joxe CALLING than they
abortive effort made to carry into execution, with nnufe In
,truc.on snsnsog (s We have bsye) from the
the night consgn inhabitants without
moment. waning, TO lIes and TO DEATH Par th, purpose
ments Of destruction, and orders carry
design Among o,s1ng ruins toe released prisoners from
D,hea and Fitzpatrick IN dealing slaughter upon
unefending ana assia cit 1ens and naci' upon
This heart ckens At the contemplation Of the enorme
would been committed had nefslous Ichsms succeeded
prayer mercy would have heard help
would nave be- Needed Pre- slaughter and lust would
We fotbear enlarge but make hI, recital hatyou may
clearly the character Of foe hst may
disregard all the rul,s warfare your
Chief Magistrate ana hI Cabinet vere by special directions
be denied The g Of poneis o. war ard edin cold blood
SOyed ana the entire country within their reschl.id
ssaer, this band Of and private
Contests What hey could not appropriate caei OF ever. aod
plate conhgned The danes fprOvors burnt mills and
i lett whole families without food.
Thanks salan.ry citizen sOdsy they were routed
ssnsbl les OF the civilized world Many Of bem
9Th Awakened consciousness Of their deserts contemplate
their doom vhii the wells prison from which they hoped 70
An syensnr God suddenly their strocou leader
from ths CT hs wickednss The OF Judgment
and al slain body found his atFocOus Instructions
stained blood The name viii be banded
down history n inIamy Butler and
host ofleser cmaa who have dsgrscsd humanity
Ban these very ,ou will discern the motive any
needed for eou.u d service and esh sscncs Virginia
takes step backward Every consideration honor, interest,"
duty and safety demand taa we shall forward In the grand
struggle for human rights ard human Liberty bravery begun,
| and menfuly m,iltained
amer All have endured suit ag,ton or
submission the c-ue foe would reduce degree Of de-
grsdaon and misery which has parallel in the htory Of
civilization @
lives for the sseye Of independence obd that We
should nsdey throw away what has been Already In the
Nothing but wrchednes and untold misery await u.s. II We
pshdeace This yslOr will surely command Men Of viz
snA are soldiers Of renowned Commonwealth. whose
fenced mot unfold 70 yeu he muamenIs Of right
msas assured MT you folly comprehend the ne
lay down until you have Born 70
slavery or death ssbmon 20 an enemy who has eubsnsd
every lpany not endurabe thought were base
enough desire upon terms
recognition Of independence neres alone would leach
"a sssry .p Por s sse ss9 S n0 who
md their only policy raPne Paneer and oppression Tho
sdncnhes thatn common they never faii
employ III r power to take sway property present
malice springs chiefly fom bsit updy Bal this master
passion Of honorable and speedy peace would
be easy The has fully developed all purposes and
DON liberties v utterly persh Your state orssnisssen
sn be boited out ANY property Of description viii
Your lands win be divided among the rom the Norh
and from EarSss who hsye Invaded our State free negro
cis tquas and military governors Negro guards viii the
and
these yourselves your wives and chdTen will mental Ia
sneniss Iha reserve dungeon or the saoss ''1
Such the doom denounced tor the people the South BIZ the
executed An Of veterans have resolved their country
aA not enslsyed aud while their stands the
shat Of nd resolae liberalization The tenn Der Of
the army has rsscaed the people =. home and inspired them With
see mulIpea evidences Of eners. and ensu,a In
submit and with this spirit people nvncbis IRE
filing their ranks, and the legislation Of Congress
remain At home the Industrial pursuits
the support OF the army, win IL that You ,hs
their property spne TIE defence Of he
ny Ia business and every citizen required 10 con-
Commons eaIth "a taken steps aose families Of G o s
who be in want aad win not fail is power
provide and cherish them They suhorIzsd and
eced the purchase iGprssment Of unlimited supplies fer
Of such within iaes enemy, and half million
hospital fand for the sick and organized agency
ctsens individually and collectively in county civ and State
organ zstOns. the people with determined 70
/ feed clothe, sustain and cherish the army.
hand, your appalled, by the mscn
tude the task before them The loud bossins which few
they freely uttered have enced BY your
reenmsnts for the snd the and rste
bssrg Of the ssuh Dssen ions exist among Them Eager 70
possess the spells Of their corrupt and profits nmen they
l hate each other nearly much n they do
Is longer popular The rich buy an
exemption thus all the bu den upon the door,
abong classes have already revoed against To
escape It's odlum bou,es have been voun
but all these expedents have failed, again heavy
draft The armies OF the enemy are every dy
Diminishing and Ii Is evident they cannot recu 70 the
with hch they heyan the struggle large and grow
ng party st lager discovered IN
has far only served to entail themselves
posm which tamples down public and private right
They Wedge that they the
cha him odous the world BY party and
se and conscious the impotence scheme u
conquest the ranks Of enemies already beginning 70
vaver 0ne more resnlne Effort and the day IL
viii strengthen In the hour OF battle, dive