The daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1863-1864, 1864-12-14
LATEST FROM THE SOUTH.
Richmoad Papers ofsEridey,
GEN, sAralDAs's Izar-rzz VALLEY.

e. a. ~
rEssm the RisAaaond KzaniaGs M. e.k 81
From the best information Ia our reach,
we believe Sheridan himself, and the largest
portion of his army to be still inthe VAL
lev. Some of his troops have, indeed
Joined Grant recently. ~,
GEN. sHERMAN's OVERLAND TRIP-eEoReIA.
as-. 7son-GAs Rishnend Ezsais~s Dec. es<s-,-sss-
Sherman is reported to have reached q
point half way Between NIlen and Savans
nah, and Is believer to bplnarShing on the
otter place. We hope it Is true. We
hope he will attack Savannah, but the
nope is faint. When he reaches the neigh.
borhood and gets some clear information as
to what Savannah is, he will turn his steps
10 another direction. lar se>gf8E
FROM THE SOUTH. g,rso
From the Richmond Dispatch, Dec. Q.
We hear nothing from Sherman
Whether he is crossing the Savannah on
pontoons, or sailing down the Oconee in
RATS and Aat,boats, is equally unknown to
Us. We only know, and we rejoice In the
fact, that Central Georgia, is relieved OF his
presence and that our railroads and lines
of communication are being rapidly recon>
structed in bis wake. As regards their
railroads, Georgiahs are, to man, "recon-
structionists." s0zsf8s.s bE
MESSAGE OF THE GOVERNOR OF VIRGINIA..
On Thursday last extra Billy Smith,
formerly member of our Congress, and
now Governor of Virginia, sent in his an
nual message to the Virginia Legislature.
The document Is very long one, and is
printed in all the Richmond papers Of FRI
day last. None Of them comment on it,
excepting the Sentinel Cleft. Davis organ),
which endorses it a. follows :-"The mes
sage svinces throughout an ardent and sa>
gacious search after the best measures for
imparting TO the public defence the great>
est possible energy, and for relieving the
hardships and promoting the advantage and
comfort Of the army and of the people at
large. It's wide.awake patriotism will
command the sympathy even Of those who
NAV not be prepared to assent to all Of
its positions and recommendations. ~ .
The following is . synopis of the mes
sage, with the leading points given in full
Governor Smith begins with review Of the
last years campaign in Virginia IS follows:
cat the period of your last adjournment
our. enemy was engaged in vast prepara>
tions for the capture and occupation OF
this proud city, Having completed biz
preparations by the organisation of one oil
the most formidable armies ever assembled
on this continent he, about the first Of May
last, commenced his march. He relied
with confidence upon his vast numbers and
thorough equipment for an early consum.
nation of bis long deferred hopes Led by
the greatest of his captains, flushed with
numerous successes 1t was entirely matt
ursl that he should fsarlessly look to the
future, while we should contemplate it with
uneasiness and apprehension
He had, however, scarcely crossed the
4 Rapidan before our noble army, led by that
great and good man, Gen. r. Z Lee
breaking up their camp, dashed upon hi
naughty columns, and after one of the
bloodiest and best contested battles of the
war, taught the enemy to respect the army
he had affected to despise, and to know
that his march to Richmond would be at
tended with difficulties and dangers he had
not anticipated. iI,shsll not undertake to
detail the series of bloody battles, which
were fought on the road to Richmond, mol
tell how the enemy, although continually
strengthened by heavy reinforcements, wal
compelled to leave the city to his right
until finally he crossed the James and un-
dertook. by coup dc main, to carry the
city of Petersburg, nor how, after nearly
seven months campaign of unexpected
slaughter Of his men, be still finds himself
with hope deferred and but little prospec,
of realizing expectations 20 con6dsntl J
entertained for the last three years. Sui
flee it to say that you, gentlemen, are here
in safety, here in calm deliberation, here tc
digest these measures which are still re-
CURED by dangers we have yet to meet"
After an earnest appeal to the Legisla-
ture to make every provision for the sue
cess of the Confederate arms, Governor
Smith says that the first duty of the Leg
islature will be "to adopt measures to bring
into the field all the able bodied men who
| tfe NV noooosssiy w VIC StoSo NoV0in
msnt. 1t is utterly impossible for me tc
understand the logic which exempts State
officials who are not necessary for State
government, and yet il is fact that the
Judges are turning loose from the grasp o.
the military auth rity men without any
duty to perform, upon tho ground that they
are officers provided BY tho constitution
and laws.
There are some forty or fifty counties o.
Virginia within the enemy's lines, most OIL
them under the regular government of the
enemy. The State officers therein have
been, "were loyal" of course, expelled
from Office and are refugees most of theu
haze acquired new homes and have formed
new social and business relations, and may
not return to their countries until this wal
shall terminate. Many will never return
even with peace, and it may be a question
if they should do so, whether they would
have right to resume their offices. .a
Under the laws and the Constitution