The West Virginia journal. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1864-1877, 1865-02-01
GOVERNORS: MESSAGE.
81 ExEcufivs Drr1krxrSr,,'s(
i sjWHikLlSo, Jan.'l7, 1861

.N1V'. ~ e. ExEcufivs DrrIkrxrNr,,
(; < .isSe-;i.i t1WHikLlSo, Jan.l7; 1857 ,"'
| Gentlemen ef The Senuts-aI 81: S"3Ie'Em -
$.qS and Uouss II Dtltgate,: a.I ,.,., 9 IS j.,
i welevlnu you, 70 tho seut OF Government on
your annual return TO tho Important and re.
spousibto duties devolving upon you in tLe
capacity. OF, Legislators for> our growing new
I ommouwcalth; nnd us contemplated by the
Constitution, l proceed to communicates ~ you
briefly tho condition or the State, aud recon-
mend to your consideration such measures us
seem to inc expedient. - -
About the drsr' Of august last tho ,rebol
General McCaGsland, with q considerable
forco, invaded tho southeastern portion, OF the
State pnd on the fourth Of tin, month nt'nck
cd comparatively snail bod. Oi Government
troops stationed ut wsLreek. ;nbut'tLe Iattrr
nude u gnllaut dsteuss, .anl lhc ,enemy Was
rrpulseu with considerable loss, aud retre4t.
ed towards Moerriield Hud OH Lie scvvnlh Ol
tho same luoluh was attacked hy our cavalry,
under fstSerll ,,and completely routed
aud driven .ut Of thr State. In September u
rebel force OF about six hundred mounted men,
under Col. Wucher, mndu raid into tho east
ern portion Of tho State, passing through BriI.
ton, Lewis, upshur, nd other conuties. nnd'lu
their course iobbcd aud plunde,cd the citi:
Gems OF those counties, driving away ,Lrir
uorse- aud cattle aud carrying oil large
quantities of ,h,ir goods, and committing
other serious dep, cdai.ons. 80 1..t's' ~
On tie twen,y-elghth Of November a.rebei
force OF mounted mcn, under General Ross-r,
again attacked New Creek and succreIeu
In capturing the place. tnking II consider
able number OF prisoners and doing some
damage " the railroad at that poIht, nnd
I'M modiutrly thereafter retired II ON tue State.
Had It been in my power 10 provide Iorcc
sufficient to prevent the invasion 6y tue enemy
referred 10, il would certainly have Afforded
mo great pleasure, us it wns my duty 10 do
50; bu. it was simply impossible. Early 1T
the summer | addressed communications to
the Secretary OF War und the -Gehrral Ut that
time eomnunittNg this military department,
setting forth our dcfenselrss condition and my
apprehension thar ns the fall uppronched the
state would b. invaded Ivy the e"emy in suth-
cieht force " iulict upon our people severe
jamage; but | receive no rc3po SO from,
either Vi those officers. SO impressed wns ]
with the belicf that the interior oil the State
would be subjected 10 rebel raids. TINT enrly
in September | visited Washington, nnd H.
person called ON the Secretary Of War, anu
again stated the dcienscl'ss condition OF the
State and my appreLcnsioms, and requisite"
him u order sufficient troops ~ the Io'ier 4"
save the people from tho ruinous VISiutti"hs Of
the rrbrl arm,cs. His answer Was Tint LA
did MT think there would he any such invn.
sious in force; anil that il would derOlve Oh
our people 10 defend themselves against the
smaller bands that might come. into The SInle
that ull tho uvailnbic troops were needed 10
c nfront tho lll ger forces VI the enemy nnn
tim, he could not possibly supply troops io'
our border, to guard against npprehende'l
raids, without prejudice to the lnasn armies
Ut the points mentioned, which hc dad not feel
authorized IL do.
a fcw days after my return from Washing.
ton, the rebel Col. Witcher ma'le his rn,d into
the ens,ern counties, Of which i tciegr"pheu
To the Secretary Of Wnr us soon Ms | wns adj
yis.L. lie Immediately plncrl troops under
command Of G.ner1l Kelley, who moved upon
the enemy and drove him from the Sihtr,
apd stationed d force in the morntnins sufti-
ci.nt 10 guard against like rald so long his
they nre permitted to remain.
Since writing the foregoing, I have heen in. +.
formed TINT a few days since, rebel force
captured Beverly, au took prisoners our
troops stntioucd ut that place; but am not
advised Of the particulars:
In tho cxtreme Southern counties, It has not
We, been practicable to organize civil nuthor.
itv. on account Of tho frequent incursions OF
tho rebels-those counties being occupied ul-
,ernatcly hy government nnd rebel troops.
While the State has been subjected 10 rebel
invusions in force, during. tho past yenr. only
m the instances mentioned. AMI n great por
,,on Of il has not been SO invaded nj all. ytt
many s.c,iuns have BEEN inicstch with smn'I
banda Of armed men. tic most il uot all, Q:
vh,n lei, their .honcs. within this State nt
rhr commencement OF the rebellion, or since,
aud went of into the rebel army, aud now re.
mrr 10 rob- plunder and murder their Former
neighbours who are loyal, because the Mtter
onld not 20 into the rebellion with them
Recently robberies have been committed on a
largo scale In many p,trts OF the State, md nnd
me Of the beet citizens murdered ny these
outlaws in the counties Of Harrison md
Marion. The frequency and boElne's ot1hrrc
outragcs I'VE nlnrmingly increased, 80 mu;h
70 that it is idle 10 Think Of Furnishing then,
in the civil courts and thereiore on the Z3'i
Of December issued an address calling on
tho loyal people OF the State TO organize them
sci yes into conpa nies for their own protection,
and 10 capture or kill these outlnws wherever
found assuring them that would furnish
them With arms and ammunition tor the Pur.
pose.
One feature Of this condition of things Il
thu. many Of tho disloynl in our midst who
hive remained at home, feed md har6or these
maraudefs and murderers, knowing their pur'
poses, while the latter nre preparing TO- de
their devilish, work, and conceal" the fact o.
their presence from their loyal neighhors ;whc
are only made awnrc Of such presence ny The
loss Of their property or'u murder in theil
midst. ~ The course Of these disIoyal~ person,
| is reprehensible beyond degree; and [ trust
you. will enact Law. imposing the 'severes'
penalties; on them. hut with provisio ns:st
guarded. AZ to protect the innocent. ]. have
no hope thnt any law can b. prepared ;iha,
will secure the punishment or the Principa
mn randers.nnd mnrderers. There 10 mo law
! for Them hut the Law Of force, to heaiminis
tered wherever. aud Whenever, they "y<b'
| fOLln0. sr,..