/ ^-y» J, Duke University Libraries 
 
 ^ ' ' T Message of the 
 
 -p» ' Conf Pam #813 
 
 ffS/3 lllllllililiilll 
 
DOC. No. I. ''^i^*^ 
 
 MESSAGE 
 
 OF 
 
 THE GOVEENOR OF VIRGINIA, 
 
 AND 
 
 ACCOMPANYING DOCUMENTS. 
 
 RICHMOND : 
 
 WILLIAM F. RITCHIE, PUBLIC PKINTEK. 
 
 1863. 
 
YALE. 
 
Doc. No. 1. iii 
 
 MESSAGE. 
 
 EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, VA. 
 Richmond, Jan. 7, 1863. 
 • Gentlemen of the Senate 
 
 a?id Ho2Lsc of Delegates : 
 
 Another important and cvGntfnl year in the annals 
 of the coninionwealth and the Southern Confederacy, has passed. 
 When the impartial historian shall have made up the record for the 
 ' inspection and serious deliberation of the present and future genera- 
 tions, it will reflect the highest honor upon the enlightened wisdom 
 and patriotism of our generals and subordinate officers ; upon the 
 courage,, the energy and the unyielding -spirit of our gallant sol- 
 diers — while the brightest page will be reserved to chronicle the no- 
 ble heroism ; to illustrate ithe self-sacrificuig devotion ; to celebrate 
 the virtut^s and commemorate the glorious deeds o'f the daughters of 
 " The Old Dominion," and of her southern sister states. 
 
 An all-wise Providence has guided and guarded, has watched over 
 and protected, and has stimulated and encouraged us in the effort we 
 are making to achieve our independence. Our loved ones at home 
 and our armies in the held have been blessed with general health. 
 The earth has yielded in bountiful profusion every thing necessary to 
 supply our wants and promote our comfort. Our arms and our ef- 
 forts have been crowned with the most brilliant success. Our peo- 
 ple have been cheered and (>xhilaratcd by our victories on the Chicka- 
 hominy ; at Cedar Run ; at Manassas plains, twice baptized in blood ; 
 at the surrender of Harpers Ferry ; at the battle of Sharpsburg ; at 
 the signal triumph of oiu- arms at Fredericksburg; and finally, at 
 Murfr^esborough and at Vicksburg. The names of Lee and John- 
 ston, and of Beauregard, of .Jackson, of Longstreet and of Price, of 
 Ewell, of the two Hills, of J. E. B. Stuart, of Forest, and of Mor- 
 gan and others, will never be forgotten. The valorous deeds, the 
 unsurpassed courage of the officers and soldiers of the Southern 
 
iv Doc. No. 1. 
 
 Confederacy ; the sacrifices they have made, and the sufferings they 
 have so patiently endured in the holy cause of independence, will be 
 remembered, while freedom has a votary and justice and right an 
 advocate. 
 
 In every thing that constitutes soldiers, our army has never been 
 excelled in ancient or modern times. They have shown themselves 
 ready to submit cheerfully to every sacrifice for the success of the 
 cause. They have endured privations not less severe than those sub- 
 mitted to by our revolutionary ancestors, in a struggle not less im- 
 j)ortant or sacred than that in which we are now engaged. Nothing 
 but a pure love of freedom, a noble and elevated spirit of patriot- 
 ism, a generous ardor in behalf of our countr)^'s independence, a de- 
 termined purpose to dissolve an alliance with a people who enter- 
 tained respect neither for the constitution nor laws, a people who 
 repudiated all the glorious reminiscences of the past, could have in- 
 duced officers and men, women and children to make the unparalleled 
 sacrifices which have characterized this unnatural war, brought upon 
 us by one whom accident elevated to the presidency of the United 
 States /in the memorable year 1860. Abraham Lincoln stands this 
 day, in the estimation of the people who constituted a part of the 
 United States, and before the world, as the justly detested author of 
 the ruin of his country, and is answerable for the blood that has been 
 shed, and the lives that have been lost upon the fields of battle. He 
 and those who elevated him to power, inaugurated this revolution, 
 and upon him and them will rest the curses of the present and of 
 coming generations. As he has sown, so let him reap. On his re- 
 tirement from the presidency, a doom, more fearful than that of 
 Devergoil, awaits him. 
 
 In after times, the origin, progress and results of this revolution 
 will furnish a theme for curious speculation and enquiry. It will be 
 a matter of amazement that a government, great and noble as ours 
 was, should have been sacrificed to the fell spirit of a wild and reck- 
 less fanaticism :* that a large portion of the people should have been 
 so thoughtless and so wicked as to make war upon the institutions 
 of a minority, and drive them into revolution for their defence and 
 preservation. But however this may be, it is certain that the Union 
 is dissolved ; and it is equally certain that we can never again be re- 
 united ; and the man who preaches the doctrine of reconstruction, 
 is a traitor, and deserves a traitor's doom. 
 
Doc. No. 1. V 
 
 The admission of the forty-five counties of Virginia, as an inde- 
 penderlt state, by the federal congress, clearly indicates that that 
 government has no longer a hope of accomplishing the subjugation 
 of the south; and they are looking to boundary in the adjustment of 
 the controversy which they have provoked. They have overrun 
 much of our state ; and this new state thus formed embraces coun- 
 ties both sides of the Blue Ridge. If in any adjustment the portion 
 of our territory embraced by these counties is to be regarded as part 
 of the northern government, it requires no prophet to decide what 
 the future of so much as remains is to be. It is bound necessarily 
 to be free territory. I cannot suppose, in any treaty of peace that 
 may be agreed upon, Virginia will ever recognize this division of her 
 ten-itory, or ever assent to a treaty tliat will strip her of any portion 
 of her domain. Nor can I tliink tiiat the confederate government 
 will ever assent to such an arrangement. Whenever a settlement 
 shall be made, come when it may, Virginia is to be regarded as a 
 whole, her territory is to be preserved intact, and she is to take her 
 place in the Southern Confederacy as she separated from the old 
 government. Her proportions are not to be diminished. Virginia is 
 to be in the future as Virginia was in the past. She is to be as she 
 h{^ been, " The Old Dominiox," full and perfect in all respects. 
 We cannot give up a foot of the north west nor of the middle west — 
 not a foot on the Potomac borders, not a foot on the peninsula, nor 
 on the bay, nor on the James river. It is better that this war should 
 continue for an indefinite period of time, than that Virginia shall "be 
 even partially dismembered. Let every Virginian, then, kneeling at 
 the altar, swear that the old commonwealth shall remain one and 
 indivisible, and that he will never assent to an adjustment, which 
 will take from her one square foot of her territory. 
 
 The federal army, which has invaded this state, has been so da* 
 maged in the various battles which have taken place, that it will be 
 difficult again to bring its power to bear upon us in the field. We 
 have reason to believe that it has been demoralized, and that officers 
 and men have learned a lesson, little anticipated b}^ them when the 
 war commenced. Be this, however, as it may, we must not relax 
 our efforts. We must preserve our organization ; perfect our plans ; 
 redouble our energies ; employ all the means within our reach — and 
 above all, we must encourage a tolerant, charitable feeling; inspire 
 harmony and conciliation, and in every respect be prepared for every 
 possible contingency that may occur. We have much at stake, and 
 
vi Doc. No. 1. 
 
 it becomes us to omit nothing calculated to insure success in the 
 struggle. Dissension and division, strife and contention, crimination 
 and recrimination, can have no other effect than to embarrass, and 
 perhaps defeat plans and measures, upon the success of which the 
 present and future of our cause and country in a great measure de- 
 pend. Principle is always to be respected and observed ; and it is 
 proper to remember that it is not less important as a rule for govern- 
 ments than for individuals. If we cannot agree upon the principle, 
 let our protest be made, and postpone the question, and the contro- 
 versy to which it may give rise, to a day of peace. If the policy 
 indicated is not approved, postpone it to a day when it can be settled 
 without destroying the unity and harmony of our people. It will 
 all come right in the end. The people are honest, patriotic, intelli- 
 gent — and they will decide it in such way as to preserve the honor 
 of the country, and maintain their own rights; The questions of 
 principle and policy are postponed merely ; and we may be assured 
 the tiitie will come when they can be fairly and properly dfecided. 
 It becomes us, therefore, to be tolerant one towards another ; to bear 
 and forbear ; to cherish a kind and conciliatory spirit ; to do all and 
 suffer all that patriotism inculcates or duty enjoins upon the citizen. 
 
 A reasonable degree of common sense, judgment, prudence, pat- 
 riotism and conciliation will carry us safely through this war. We 
 must be united, if we would be successful. Concert and harmony 
 are indispensable, and without these essential virtues, we can only 
 anticipate disaster and inglorious defeat. 
 
 The vandalism of the northern armies is without parallel in the 
 history of warfare. No regard has been paid to the rights of per- 
 sons or of property. They have violated the one and trampled upon 
 ^he other. They have aiTested and imprisoned private citizens, and 
 sul)jected them to every indignity and outrage: they have destroyed 
 property that could be of no value to them, and that in all previous 
 wars had been respected. Wardrobes have been broken open, and 
 the wearing apparel of the ladies and their children either destroyed, 
 or appropriated by ofhcers high in rank, and sent to their homes in 
 the north. Pianos and valuable furniture of all kinds have been 
 boxed up and removed in many instances, and in others broken up, 
 and the pieces scattered about the premises. The most wanton 
 destruction has marked the progress of the northern army ; and the 
 cities and towns they have occupied exhibit " the abomination of 
 
Doc. No. 1. vii 
 
 desolation." Even the lodges of the venerated order of masons were 
 broken open and robbed of their emblems, jev^'els and regalia ; the 
 churches were shamefully desecrated ; the Bibles torn to pieces, and 
 scattered through the streets. Our cities, towns and counties indi- 
 cate that they have been cursed by the presence of a heaven-defying 
 and a hell-deserving rabble. 
 
 Is it not marvelous, in view of all these things, that we could so 
 long have remained in association with such a people ? This war 
 has exhibited them in their true characters — as murderers and rob- 
 bers. They have disregarded all the rules of civilized warfare. 
 Their prisoners we take are entitled to no consideration, and if they 
 received their deserts, they would be regularly indicted and tried for 
 violating our state laws, and suffer the penalties which those laws 
 annex to their crime^ The alliance between us is dissolved, never 
 (I trust) to be renewed at any time, or under any conceivable state 
 of circumstances. Let us achieve our independence (as it is certain 
 we will); establish our government upon a firm and enduring basis; 
 develop our material resources, valuable beyond all calculation, 
 and move forward in the highway of greatness and power and 
 influence. When the war ends, a bright and glorious future awaits 
 us. The agriculturist, the mechanic, the manufacturer, the miner, 
 will return to thfeir aocustomed employments : life, activity and pros- 
 perity will exhibit themselves in all branches of business : our cotton, 
 our rice, our tobacco, our iron, our coal, our salt, will enable us to 
 carry on trade- with all parts of the world, and will give to us, 
 amongst the nations, a respectability and character, inferior to no 
 one of them. 
 
 The finances. 
 
 The balance in the treasury on the 1st day of Octo- 
 ber 1861 was - - - . 138,214 84 
 
 Amount received into the treasury from October 1st, 
 
 1861, to September 30th, 1862, - - 8,954,833 12 
 
 9,093,047 96 
 Amount of warrants issued upon the treasury from 
 
 October 1st, 1861, to September 30th, 1862, - 8,658,846 ^ 
 
 Balance in the treasury October 1st, 1862, $ 434,201 51 
 
viii Doc. No. 1. 
 
 Balance in the treasury October 1st, 
 
 1862, - - - 434,201 51 
 
 Estimated receipts for the year end- 
 ing Septembe^ 30th, 1863, - 17,324,446 63 
 
 17,758,648 14 
 Estimated expenditures for the year ending Septem- 
 ber 30th, 1863, - - - 17,691,763 49 
 
 Leaving a surplus at the close of the year, Septem- 
 ber 30th, 1863, of the sum of - - $66,884 65 
 
 Treasury notes. 
 
 In the year 1861 treasury notes, bearing interest, were 
 
 issued to the amount of - - - 5,025,960 00 
 
 There have been redeemed, up to the 25th of $>e- 
 
 cember last, the sum of - - - 3,532,620 00 
 
 Leaving in circulation, December 25th, 1862, $1,493,340 00 
 
 Prior to October 1st, 1862, non-inte- 
 rest bearing treasury notes had been 
 issued to the amount of - 1,103,153 00 
 
 Issued since October 1st, 1862, - 1,941,954 00 
 
 '■ — $3,045,107 00 
 
 All the non-interest bearing treasury notes are in circulation. 
 They circulate readily, and appear to be preferred by our citizens to 
 any paper in circulation amongst us. 
 
 ^ For the details and explanations of the whole financial system, the 
 receipts and expenditures and the temporary and permanent debt of 
 the state, I refer you to the luminous report of the auditor of public 
 accounts, herewith transmitted. 
 
 Expenses of the war. 
 
 The total amount paid through the auditor's office for the war, is 
 $7,337,118 50, of which sura $1,311,951 29 is chargeable to the 
 Virginia state line. The report of Major Smoot will show how 
 nuTch of the amount drawn for the state line has been disbursed, and 
 will also show the value of the supplies on hand; and to that report 
 I respectfully reifer you for this information. 
 
Doc. No. 1. ix 
 
 It is cause for congratulation, that although the pecuniary burden 
 upon Virginia has been heavy from the commencement of the war, 
 she has sustained it with a spirit and courage worth)'^ of her revolu- 
 tionary fame. All the demands upon her that have been presented, 
 have been promptly paid so soon as audited. No creditor lias been 
 compelled to wait longer than was necessary to adjust his accounts, 
 and ascertain the amount to which Tie or she was entitled. 
 
 The salt contract and mode of distributio7i. 
 
 So soon as I could leave the seat of government after your ad- 
 journment, I repaired to Saltville for the purpose of executing ftie 
 law in regard to the purchase and distribution of salt. I ver}^ soon 
 found that a most perplexing and embarrassing duty had been -de- 
 volved upon me; tbat it was surrounded with difhculties; and that 
 it woulA require the exercise of great jirudence and the most judi- 
 cious management to accomplish the objects of the legislature, and 
 at the same time steer clear of disagreeable and injurious conflicts 
 with the interests of the confederate government and the govern- 
 ments of the states of Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee and North Caro- 
 lina — all of whom had entered into contracts with the proprietors of 
 the salt works, and under which they wei-e engaged in the manufac- 
 ture of salt for the supplj' of the citizens of those states. These 
 latter contracts were not made until the legislature had declined to 
 purchase the salt works property, and were made therefore in good 
 faith. When I went to Saltville, I found that they had made large 
 expenditures of money, and they were at that time just beginning to 
 enjoy the fruits of their outlay. The confederate government had 
 'also a contract for twenty-two thousand bushels of salt per month, 
 which had been made in the year ISGl, and which was then in process 
 of execution. To have interfered with this contract, would have en- 
 tailed severe suffering upon our soldiers in the field, not only for the 
 present, but in the future, so long at least as the war should con- 
 tinue. County and corporation courts in our own state, as they 
 were authorized by a special law to do, in praiseworthy efforts to re- 
 lieve the wants and necessities of their people, had also made con- 
 tracts, which had been partially executed by the delivery of one or 
 more of the monthly installments provided for in the contracts. To 
 have interfered with these, would have been to punish them for the 
 commendable efforts they had made, and could not have resulted 
 otherwise than in withholding from their citizens the salt they were 
 ii 
 
X Doc. No. 1. 
 
 then actually receiving. I came to the conclusion, therefore, after 
 the most mature consideration, not to interfere in any way with these 
 subsisting and partially executed contracts. Had these contracts 
 been merely executory, I might perhaps have come to a different 
 conclusion. 
 
 There were still other difficuUies equally as embarrassing. If I 
 should determine to take possession of the works, I must, in the first 
 place, have had the damages assessed for the real property so seized. 
 In the second place, I must have had timber condemned sufficient to 
 supply the necessary amount of fuel that would be required for the 
 operation of the works. In the third place, I must impress a suffi- 
 cient number of slaves to cut and cord the wood, and a sufficient 
 number of wagons and drivers and other labor to insure its delivery 
 at the works. In the fourth place, I would have been compelled to 
 impress hands experienced in the salt boiling business, and who were 
 familiar with the process of manufacture. In the fifth place, I would 
 have been compelled to meet the requirements of the contract which 
 had been made with the confederate government, which your act di- 
 rected me to keep inviolate. And many other things of importance, 
 but of less consequence, would have been required to be done. The 
 necessary result would have been, that when I had finished the pay- 
 ment of assessments of all kinds, I would have had very little of the 
 appropriation left, with which to prosecute the manufacture of salt. 
 Nineteen-twentieths of the appropriation would have been absorbed, 
 and the people would have been in the end worse off for salt than 
 under the present arrangement. 
 
 I therefore determined to purchase salt, if possible, that being, in 
 my judgment, the only feasible plan for relieving, to any valuable 
 and useful extent, the public necessities, and avoiding disagreeable 
 conflicts, pregnant with the most mischievous results to the unity 
 and harmon}^ which should be cherished and cultivated between the 
 state of Vir^nia and the confederate government, and all the states 
 composing the Confederacy. The soldiers of all these states stood 
 side by side, on the battle field, with the soldiers of Virginia, in a 
 struggle without parallel in the history of the world, for its magni- 
 tude, and its importance to the present generation and those who are 
 to succeed us. I was unwilling to do any thing to arouse prejudices 
 or excite ill feeling between citizens of states where cordiality and 
 kindness now existed, and whose sons, martyrs in a holy cause, sleep 
 
Doc. No. 1. xi 
 
 quietly and soundly in a common grave, the dust of each comming- 
 ling with the other. 
 
 Nor was I willing to interfere with the county and corporation 
 contracts. The counties and corporations which had made these con- 
 tracts, had exhibited commendable forecast and judgment in making 
 provision for their citizens. Such a spirit I thought deserved encou- 
 ragement. The contracts were made in good fliith — the object was 
 laudable, and every principle of justice, in my judgment, demanded 
 their observance and strict fulfillment. I declined, therefore, to in- 
 terfere with these contracts, so as to leave the contracting parties 
 unembarrassed by any act of mine. Their contracts were left ^ I 
 found them, in every respect undisturbed by the contract which I 
 had made with Stuart, Palmer & Scott. All the contracts previously 
 made were made with Stuart, Buchanan & Co., a separate and dis- 
 tinct firm. 
 
 A copy of my contract with Stuart, Palmer c^Scott is herewith 
 transmitted ; also a copy of my proclamation, providing for the dis- 
 tribution of the salt acquired under that contract, and the previous 
 proclamation issued, prohibiting the shipment of salt over the rail 
 roads of the state. 
 
 In making the distribution, such counties only were embraced as 
 could be reached, the object being to make the purchase available to 
 as great an extent as possible, for the relief of the people. All doubt- 
 ful counties were included in the distribution, and those only were 
 excluded which were, in whole or in part, under the control of the 
 enemy. 
 
 Shortly after the adjournment of the legislature, I directed Quarter- 
 master General Smoot to adopt such measures as he might deem ad- 
 visable, to procure salt from the Kanawha works. A copy of the 
 order and instructions are herewith communicated. If the orders 
 issued to the sheriifs of the counties had been promptly complied 
 with, we would have secured at least one hundred thousand bushels 
 of salt from these works ; but parties in the counties immt^liately 
 went to work to defeat the object of the orders. Owing to this fact, 
 the movement of the wagons was delayed until so late a period as 
 to prevent them from reaching the Kanawha valley before our army 
 was compelled to retire from it. My object was therefore defeated, 
 and the supply anticipated from this source was lost to the people of 
 
xii Doc. No. 1. 
 
 Virginia. The report of Major Smoot on tliis subject is iierew/ith 
 transmitted. 
 
 Defeated in procuring salt from the Kanawlia Salines, I determined 
 to make an additional contract with the proprietors at Saltville. 
 With this view, I directed my aid dc camp. Col. S. Bassett French, 
 to repair to Saltville, and make an additional contract to an amount 
 not exceeding eighty thousand dollais, and to secure its delivery at 
 the earliest period practicable. After much trouble and difficulty. 
 Col. French succeeded in making a contract for thirty-four thousand 
 bushels, deliverable in the month of March next, upon the terms 
 specified in my contract with the parties of Scott & Co. Copies of 
 his contract and report are herewith communicated. 
 
 I ascertained, during the visit of Col. French at Saltville, that the 
 state line required eighteen hundred bushels for immediate use, for 
 packing purposes for beef and pork, and I instructed him to procure 
 the quantity required. I supposed it would be furnished without 
 delay or difficulty ; but much to my surprise, the proprietors, who 
 had agreed to furnish so much salt as the state line might require in 
 addition to the amount agreed to be furnished to the state, declined 
 to supply this demand. I therefore directed Major Smoot to proceed 
 without delay to Saltville, and impress the amount required, under 
 the act of assembly ; for which, see Code, edition of 1860, chapter 32, 
 sections Ist and 2(1. The matter was arianged, without resorting to 
 the exercise of the power referred to. A copy of Major Smoot's re- 
 port is herewith communicated. 
 
 The reports of Colonel French and Mnjor Smoot present clear and 
 intelligent views of their action in the important matters committed 
 to their management. Their duties have been performed faithfully, 
 promptly, and to my entire satisfaction. 
 
 I have endeavored to perform my duty faithfully in the execution 
 of this act of the general assembly. It has been tlie most perplex- 
 ing and embarrassing duty that has devolved upon me as tlie execu- 
 tive of this commonwealth. If the works had been purchased last 
 spring, as I thought they should have been, by the state, we would 
 have had an abundance of salt for the wants of our people, and could 
 have realized from the property a sum sufficient to have paid the pur- 
 chase money, or the greater portion of it, the past year. In future 
 years it would have paid a handsome revenue into the treasury. 
 
Doc. No. 1. xiii 
 
 In my management of this matter I have honestly labored to meet 
 the jifst expectations of the general assembly. If I have succeeded, 
 I will be gratified. If I have failed, I will hav^the consciousness of 
 knowing that I have faithfully endeavored to execute the law in its 
 spirit and letter. 
 
 The "penitentiary. 
 
 I communicate herewith, the report of the directors of the peni- 
 tentiary, accompanied by the reports of the superintendent and the 
 surgeon. Eight tables, designed to show the operations for the year 
 ending the 30th September last, and to present a comparative view 
 of its operations under Colonel Morgan and the late incumbent, ac- 
 company the superintendent's report. I frankly confess I do not un- 
 derstand these accounts, after the most careful examination. It ap- 
 pears from the figures tliat the profits on manufactures in the several 
 wards have amounted for the year to upwards of S 35,000, and yet 
 the balance against the institution for the same time is upwards of 
 $10,000. In other words, I do not see how profits should have been 
 made upon every branch of manufactures, and yet the institution 
 should not have been able to pay its expenses, and at the same time 
 yield something very handsome to the state treasury. 
 
 On the 9th day of December last the aggregate number of 
 
 convicts was - - - - - 412 
 
 White male convicts, - - - 240 
 
 White female convicts, - - . - 3 
 
 — 243 
 Free negro male convicts, - - 25 
 
 Free negro female convicts, - - 7 
 
 \ — 32 
 
 Male slave convicts, - - - 16 
 
 Female slave convicts, - - - 10 
 
 — 26 
 Making a total in the penitentiary, of — 301 
 
 There are hired out, of male free iiegro convicts and slave convicts, 
 94, and of female free negro and slave convicts, 13 — making lOy. In 
 addition to thoj^, are four children (slaves) between the ages of one 
 and four years. Some provision of law is necessary to authorize 
 these infants to be disposed of Perhaps it would comport with the 
 dictates of humanity to restore them to the former owners of the 
 mothers, that their relatives and connexions might be aflbrded the 
 
xiv Doc. No. 1. 
 
 opportunity to take care of them during their infancy. In conside- 
 ration of this restoration, the owner should be required to refund a 
 portion of the valu<j paid him by the state for the mother. 
 
 I learn from the report of the superintendent of the Georgia peni- 
 tentiary, that the clear profits of this institution for the last year 
 amounted to the sum of $27,774 74. Of this sum S 10,000 were 
 paid into the treasury, and the residue was reserved for the purchase 
 of materials for the operations of the present year. The number of 
 convicts in this institution is 242. 
 
 The late message of the governor of Alabama shows that a balance 
 of S 27,000 is on hand, after the payment of all expenses, as the net 
 products of the penitentiary of that state. The number of convicts 
 in this institution is 205. 
 
 These are the results in the only states from w^hich statistics have 
 been received. I regret that I have received no reports from the 
 other states of the Confederacy, showing the condition of their peni- 
 tentiaries. I would be glad to compare the results of their manage- 
 ment with the management which has characterized our own. The 
 contrast between the management in Georgia and Alabama and our 
 own penitentiary, is most striking, and shows how inefficient, negli- 
 gent and careless has been the. management here. 
 
 The total number of convicts employed in the Virginia peniten- 
 tiary, in manufacturing and mechanical pursuits, last year, was 298 — 
 greater by 56 than the number in Georgia, and greater by 93 than 
 the number in Alabama. With the demand which has existed in the 
 south, for a year past, for the products of manufacturing and mecha- 
 nical labor, the profits of the Virginia penitentiary should have been 
 proportionally great. Instead of this, however, the result is that the 
 institution is a burden upon the state. Of the residue of the con- 
 victs (107), the free negro and slave convicts constitute a part. They 
 are hired to the owners of blast furnaces engaged in the manufacture 
 of pig iron for the uses and purposes of the Southern Confederacy. 
 The remaining convicts are in feeble health, and employed in light 
 duties about the penitentiary and public square. 9 
 
 On the 16th day of November 1860, in order to procure raw ma- 
 terials for the use of the penitentiary, I advanced the sum of $ 2,500 
 to the agent and storekeeper, from the contingent fund, upon the 
 
Doc. No. 1. XV 
 
 assurance that it should be returned in sixty days, taking from him 
 bond and security. This sum was not refunded until the 17th day 
 of October last. 
 
 When the present agent and storekeeper entered upon his duties, 
 very little stock was on hand, and that little was unsaleable; and as 
 his predecessor had failed to pay the amount due in his hands, means 
 with which to purchase materials were wanting. The convicts were 
 unemployed and had been unemployed much of the*year, and it was 
 necessary that funds should be provided with which to procure ma- 
 terials and supplies. I accordingly advanced five thousand dollars 
 from the contingent fund; which was applied to these objects, and 
 work was again resumed. It has been found exceedingly difficult 
 for the last year to procure materials and supplies as they were 
 needed; but if prudence, forecast and energy had been exhibited by 
 those charged with the management, an ample stock could have 
 been laid in for the year's operations. This is conclusively demon- 
 strated in the cases of Georgia and Alabama; and what has been 
 done in those states could have been done in Virginia, if those in- 
 vested with the management and control had possessed ordinary 
 business qualifications. 
 
 I have made recommendations in regard to this institution, in 
 several previous messages; which it is not necessary here to repeat, 
 but to which I now again invite your attention; and I particularly 
 invite the attention of the committees on the penitentiary to them. 
 I regard many of them as of the first importance; and unless some 
 legislation to carry them out shall be speedily adopted, serious mis- 
 chiefs will in my judgment result. 
 
 On the night of the 5th of December last three convicts escaped 
 from the penitentiary, and a fourth was seriously injured in the at- 
 tempt to escape. So soon as the fact was made known to me, I or- 
 dered an investigation to be made. The report from the directors 
 has been received, and is herewith transmitted. • 
 
 The same men who succeeded in making their escape on the 5th 
 of December last, made an ineffectual efibrt to escape in the month 
 of April previous. The same interior guard was on duty on both 
 occasions, and were found asleep in the guard room, if I am correctly 
 informed. A law punishing such neglect of duty should be passed 
 immediately, and the punishment should be sufficiently severe to 
 
xvi Doc. No. 1. 
 
 cure the evil. Such carelessness and negligence might result in the 
 most serious and alarming consequences, and it behooves us to apply I 
 the proper remedy at the earliest moment. 
 
 Compensation of clerks. \ 
 
 I transmit herewith the proceedings of a meeting of the clerks of 
 the several departments of the government of the state, asking for 
 an increase of compensation, upon the principles of the bill passed 
 by congress at the last session. It is absolutely necessary that some 
 action shall be immediately taken upon this subject, or we will lose 
 all our most valuable and efficient clerks. Already several of our 
 best clerks have resigned and entered the service of the confederate 
 government, where the pay is better. The salaries paid by the state 
 are not sufficient for their support in this day of extravagant prices ; 
 and they have therefore been driven, by stern necessity, to seek new po- 
 sitions, where the compensation will secure them the means of living. 
 
 It is the pride and boast of our state that the several departments 
 of the government have been managed by competent officers, and the 
 public business has been dispatched promptly and efficiently. This 
 has been owing mainly to the fact that our clerks were kept in office 
 so long as they were faithful and attentive to their duties; and being 
 familiar with the law and its requirements, they dispatched business 
 accurately and promptly. Clerks of intelligence, educated in the 
 branches of business in their several departments; familiar with all 
 the details,*and experienced in the performance of their duties, are 
 invaluable in the management of the operations of government. 
 Of such is the corps of Virginia clerks composed ; and we should ^ 
 have wisdom enough to adopt a policy which will retain them in our 
 service. The heads of the departments have important duties to 
 perform, that engross much the larger portion of their time, and it 
 cannot be expected that they can educate a new set of clerks every 
 six or twelve months. I can conceive of nothing better calculated 
 to prejudice the^ublic business, delay its execution, and to produce 
 confusion, than frequent changes of the clerical force, which tlTe 
 government is compelled to employ in its service. Such results 
 ought to be avoided, and they can be avoided by doing sheer justice 
 only to this deserving class of public officers. The adoption of the 
 policy inaugurated by congress will solve the problem, and retain in 
 the service of Virginia a corps of clerks inferior to none in the ser- 
 vice of either of the states of the Confederacy. 
 
Doc. No. 1. xvii 
 
 Forgery of warr<nits on the treasury. 
 
 Since your late adjournment, forgeries to a largo amount upon the 
 treasury have been discovered. When the fact became knov^-n to 
 me, I instructed the first auditor and treasurer to make a report of 
 the amount of the forgeries, and all the attendant circumstances. 
 The report of these officers is herewith communicated, and will fur- 
 nish full information as to their number and amount, and the facts 
 connected with, as well as the result of the examination of the party 
 suspected, which took place before the mayor of Richmond. The 
 genuine signatures of the auditor and treasurer are attached to but 
 one of the warrants. This warrant is for $ 59G, and was paid by 
 the Farmers Bank of Virsrinia. All the others were absolute forjre- 
 ries, and are losses sustained by the banks, and not by the state. 
 When they are examined, it is surprising, with the erasures and i^^ter- 
 lineations upon the face, they did not excite suspicion, and thus lead 
 to the arrest of the guilty parties who presented them at the banks 
 for payment. I commend the subject 'to your attention. 
 
 The land office. 
 
 In a previous message, I presented my views in regard to this de- 
 partment, and amongst other things, recommended that the issue of 
 pa^tents should cease. I am satisfied that there must be very little if 
 any vacant land in the state; and under these circumstances, the is- 
 suance of patents is calculated to encourage fraud, and furnish the 
 means of imposition upon the ignorant and unsuspecting : and be- 
 sides, the conthiuance of the present system is well calculated to 
 keep land titles unsettled, and thereb}^ increase litigation. Popula- 
 tion is not likQly to seek a settlement where titles are uncertain, and 
 where parties are compelled to take with their purchases the ex- 
 penses of long and angry controversies. 
 
 Since the state withdrew from the federal Union, I have taken the 
 responsibility of refusing to sign patents for land in the disloyal 
 counties, and in other counties I have withheld my signature, where 
 I had no satisfactory assurance that the parties applying for the 
 patents were loyal and faithful citizens, true alike to the state and 
 the Confederacy. It is impossible to procure conclusive evidence ia 
 these cases ; and the consequence has been, that the register and 
 myself have been compelled to rely on such information as we could 
 get from persons visiting the capital, 
 iii 
 
xviii Doc. No. 1. 
 
 I recommend, therefore, that the issue of land patents be discon- 
 tinued, and that the books and papers be confided to the custody of 
 the register, wlio can respond to all calls for patents and plats as 
 they may be required by parties, in connection with legal controver- 
 sies now existing, or which may hereafter arise, growing out of con- 
 flicts to titles for lands. 
 
 Act- concerning slaves for ivork on fortifications. 
 
 This act, which passed near the close of your last session, requires 
 amendment in several respects ; and I invite j^our early attention to 
 the modifications I suggest. 
 
 The first provision of the law is defective in this, that it does not 
 prescribe with cei'tainty the mode of ascertaining the slave popula- 
 tion of the counties, cities and towns. The calls made upon me 
 under this law have been predicated upon the census of 1860; and^ 
 in many of the counties, cities and towns called upon, the slave 
 population, by the casualties of 'the war, has been very seriously re- 
 duced ; and in addition, the draft falls with peculiar severity upon 
 the people, who can illy afford to part with their available labor. 
 They have been severe sufferers from the war, by the reduction of 
 their laboring force and the overrunning of their territory, and some 
 regard should be paid to these considerations in all such cases. 
 
 In the second place — the act requires the confederate government 
 to pay the value of all slaves that may escape and not return to their 
 owners, or that may be seized or killed by the public enemy, or by" 
 the want of due diligence, or lost in any other manner, or that shall 
 be injured by want of proper care. But it contains no provision 
 declaring the manner by which the value of the slave "is to be ascer- 
 tained before he enters the service. The law should be explicit upon 
 this point ; and when the value is ascertained, it should be regarded 
 as conclusive. When I have been consulted in regard to it, I have 
 made it a rule to advise that it was the duty of the courts either to 
 fix the value, or designate reliable and judicious men to do so, and 
 file the record of valuation in the clerk's office of the county court. 
 
 In the third place — the act declares, " slaves hired by individuals 
 having other slaves, shall be regarded as in the possession of their 
 owners, and classed accordingly in regard to confederate service." 
 In many instances which have been brought to my notice, the owner 
 
Doc. No. 1. xix 
 
 and the hirer have been chargcfl with the same slaves, and both 
 have been required to make contributions npon tliis basis of calcula- 
 tion. This is clearly unjust, and could not have been contemplated 
 when the act was passed. An owner of slaves may have fifty, and 
 all the valuable males may be hired, loavini]; none in his possession 
 except women and children. How is such an one to comply with 
 the requisition, without witlidiawing his hired slaves, and thereby 
 incur the hazard of losing his hires, by taking the slaves away with- 
 out the consent of the party hiring them '? In sucli cases, the own- 
 ers could, if the law pjM-mittcd it to bo done, substitute free negroes, 
 who would in many instances be entirely willing to render service for 
 the compensation provided by the law, especially as this sum would 
 be increased by the sum each would receive from the owner. An 
 amendment authorizing the adoption of the policy indicated would, 
 in my judgment, be wise, and would give great relief in many por- 
 tions of the state. I do not see that the principle of substitution 
 would operate prejudicially in any respect. 
 
 Ill the fourth place — the governor is required 1o equalize (as nearly 
 as may be) the l>urden between the counties, cities and towns, and 
 also between the citizens, due regard being had to tlie number of 
 slaves theretofore furnished for confederate service. It is impossible 
 to perform this duty, because the slaves have not been heretofore or- 
 dered into service by the governor, nor have rolls, showing the ser- 
 vice, been returned to him. Hence I have relied upon the chief of 
 the engineer bureau of the confederate government, who has all this 
 information in his possession ; and I am glad to believe that in mak- 
 ing the calls, this requirement of the law has been carefully observed. 
 
 This law is exceedingly distasteful to many of our citizens — not 
 because they are unwilling to make all necessary sacrifices for the 
 cause and the "country, bat because the law is so indefinite in its 
 terms, that there has been no uniform construction. The amend- 
 ments indicated would, I think, have the effect of removing the ob- 
 jections of mau}^, and if the law is to continue for any considerable 
 length of time, would perhaps reconcile the people to it. 
 
 ♦ The war has operated most oppressively on our people in Virginia, 
 and it becomes us, while we perform our duty to ourselves and to 
 the conftderate government, so to frame our legislation as to make 
 the burden bear as lightly as possible upon them. We have already 
 lost untold millions in slave and other personal property and in the 
 
XX Doc. No. 1. 
 
 devastation of our territory. Our losses have been very heavy — 
 exceeding greatly, I apprehend, the losses of the people of any other 
 state, in this war. Our citizens have submitted to them, with a for- 
 titude in the highest degree commendable. The multiplied wrongs 
 and outrages inliictcd upon them by the enemy, have had -no other 
 effect than to sti'engthen their resolution, and arouse them to a more 
 determined purpose to succeed in the struggle in which we are 
 engaged. 
 
 Rucker^s case. 
 
 The confederate government turned over to me this notorious cri- 
 minal, tor trial (or his numerous offences against the laws of Virginia, 
 on the Gill day of October last. He was immediately sent to Alle- 
 ghany county, and was subsequently indicted by the grand jury in 
 several cases. As the cases possess uncommon interest and impor- 
 tance, I felt it to be my duty to instruct the attorney general to 
 attend aiid aid in conducting the prosecution. The report of this 
 distinguished and able officer is herewith transmitted, and to it I 
 refer you for full infonnation respecting the proceedings, as far as 
 they have progressed. 
 
 Justices of the iieace and other officers. 
 
 I have received information that several of the justices of the 
 peace in Mercer county have taken an oath of allegiance to the 
 federal government. The first question that presented itself was, 
 whether their offices thereby became vacant. This question was 
 presented to the attorney general for his opinion, and I regret to say 
 that this experienced officer can find " no law vacating their offices 
 ywo facto.'''' As there are doubtless many cases of likti kind in the 
 state, I earnestly invoke your attention to the adoption of the neces- 
 sary legislation to relieve the state from all such unworthy officers. 
 The cases can be reached by investing the county courts with autho- 
 rity, where the fact is established, to declare the offices vacant. The 
 law should be made applicable to sheriffs, coroners, clerks, consta- 
 bles, &c. 
 
 Legislative resolutions. 
 
 A resolution, requesting information as to "whether any free ne- 
 groes claiming to be from the United States, invading the soil of this 
 state in violation of its laws, and captured by the armies of the Con- 
 federate States, have been surrendered by the confederate authorities; 
 
k 
 
 Doc. No. 1. xxi 
 
 and if so, upon what ground such surrender has been made," was 
 adopted by the house of delegates September 22d last. On the same 
 day I transmitted a copy of the resolution to the honorable secretary 
 of war, with the request in writing that he would furnish the infor- 
 mation desired, at his earliest convenience. On the 21st November 
 last a reply was received from the assistant secretary of war, enclos- 
 ing a report from Commissioner Ould, both of which accompany this 
 communication. 
 
 The senate ad(:^ited a resolution September 24th last, requesting 
 the govei-nor " to enquire of the confederate authorities, 1st, what 
 number of slaves and free negroes have been captured by our armies; 
 2d, what disposition has been made of the same ; 3d, how the own- 
 ers of said slaves may obtain possession of them :" and the governor 
 was "further requested to procure a list of the said slaves, and of 
 their owneis' names, so far as. practicable, and cause the same to be 
 published for general information ; and that he also be requested to 
 communicate the same to the senate." This resolution was trans- 
 mitted to the honorable secretary of war, on the day of its adoption, 
 with a request, in writing, for the information asked for, at his earliest 
 convenience. No answer has been received to this application ; and 
 I have therefore been unable to carry out the instructions of the 
 senate. 
 
 The lunatic asylums. 
 
 I have received a report from the directors of the asylum at 
 Staunton, and am gratified to assure you that it continues to be 
 manaued with the ability and success which has ever characterized 
 its accomplished superintendent. The institution is filled with pa- 
 tients, and I regret to say that numerous applicants of this unfortu- 
 nate class of our citizens for admission, have to be rejected. With 
 ev(My disposition to accommodate, it is found impossible to receive 
 another patient. 
 
 The enemy still being in possession of Williamsburg, I have been 
 unable to procure reliable information as to the condition and ma- 
 nagement of the asylum located at that place. I have, however, 
 ascertained, that shortly after the city was taken. Doctor Gait and 
 the assistant physician both departed this life. Tiieir places have 
 been supplied by two physicians from the north, and at the latest 
 dates they continued in the performance of their duties. All the 
 
xxii Doc. No. 1. 
 
 officers who were in charge when the enemy took possession of the 
 place, resigned, because they were required to take an oath of alle- 
 giance to the federal government. Subsequently, the larger portion, 
 at the request of the federal authorities, resumed their places, and 
 are still in office. It is just to them to state tliat nothing was said 
 about the oath when they returned, and they have exhibited their 
 devotion to the commonwealth, by adhering to her fortunes, and re- 
 fusing to acknowledge their allegiance to the government of our 
 
 enemies. 
 
 \ 
 
 Two discharged patients made their way to Eichmond some weeks 
 since. They informed me that the medical attendants were faithful 
 and attentive, and they believed were well qualified for their posi- 
 tions. The supplies were ample for their support, but were badly 
 prepared, owing to the difficulty of controlling the servants. They 
 further stated that when their orders of discharije were delivered, 
 they were informed that neither money nor provisions could be fur- 
 nished, and they must make their way to Richmond as best they 
 could. After much toil and suffering, they arrived here; and after 
 being informed of their destitute condition, I applied for their relief, 
 from the civil contingent fund, a sum sufficient to enable them to 
 reach their homes. The one resided in Pittsylvania, and the other 
 in Floyd county. 
 
 Some months ago, having heard the most distressing reports as to 
 the condition of the lunatics, I determined to enquire into the truth 
 of these reports, by sending Col. Ewell, late president of William 
 and Mary college, and Mr. Custis of the house of delegates, to make 
 a careful examination, and report the results. General G. W. Smith, 
 a gallant officer, and a kind hearted and humane gentleman, readily 
 assented to allow a flag of truce ; but the federal authorities refused 
 to permit these gentlemen to pass within their lines. This attempt 
 on m}^ part to relieve these poor helpless people was thus defeated, 
 and I am therefore unable to speak more definitely respecting the 
 manacrement of the institution and the condition of its inmates. 
 
 '&^ 
 
 I cannot permit this occasion to pass, v/itliout placing on record 
 my unqualified condemnation of the action of the federal authorities 
 in this matter, and my protest against it, as a scandalous outrage 
 upon the principles of civilizati^on and the dictates of christian hu- 
 manity. 
 
Doc. No. 1. xxiii 
 
 William and Mai-y college. 
 
 This is the oldest literary institution in this country, with the 
 single exception of Harvard university. The original eharter of the 
 college was granted by William and Mary on the Sth day of Febru- 
 ary in the year 1692, and it has continued an institution of learning 
 of high character and great merit, dispensing the benefits and bless- 
 ings of education to thousands, up to the period when this war broke 
 out. Its graduates and students and their descendants are to be 
 found in almost all the states that constituted the late United States. 
 No institution has done more for tlie cause of education, science and 
 literature, than this venerable college. 
 
 Three times has it been reduced to ashes. It was first destroyed 
 and rebuilt in the year 1721 ; again in the year 18-57, and rebuilt by 
 voluntary oontributions — and nnally destroyed in the summer of 
 1S()2, after the enemy had taken possession of the city of Williams- 
 burg. The buildings had been used as a place of deposit by the 
 enemy for their commissary and quartermaster stores; and it was not 
 until these were removed, as I am informed, that the buildings were 
 burned. Thus, we have another evidence of the vandal spirit which 
 animates the yankee army. The antiquity of an institution of learn- 
 ing, or the benefits it has conferred upon mankind, secures no pro- 
 tection against such a foe as we are fighting. With them nothing is 
 sacred. Neither personal rights, private property nor charitable or 
 literary institutions are entitled to their respect or protection. Their 
 mission is the subjugation of the south, and they are foolish enough 
 to think their policy will strike terror to the hearts of the southern 
 people, and finally force them into subjection to northern power. 
 What a miscalculation! The outrages they have committed, the 
 enormities they have perpetrated, have aroused and inflamed the 
 southern mind, and have intensified southern feeling to an extent 
 that will do all, dare all, and submit to all that northern diabolism 
 can inflict, before they will ever consent to a reconstruction of the 
 government of the United States. They have "poured the sweet 
 milk of concord into hell," and our future relations must be those of 
 enemies. 
 
 Virginia military institute. 
 
 I transmit the report of the board of visitors of the military insti- 
 tute for the year ending June 30, 1862, accompanied by the reports 
 
xxiv Doc. No. 1. 
 
 of the superintendent, the surgeon and the treasurer, and also the 
 correspondence between General T. J. Jackson, connnanding con- 
 federate forces, requesting the services of the cadets in his proposed 
 attack on Milb'oy, and General F. H. Smith, superintendent,, to which 
 I invite your particular attention. I regard these as decidedly the 
 most interesting reports that have emanated from the officers of the 
 institute since its organization. The report of the intelligent super- 
 intendent cannot fail to interest most deeply every son of Virginia, 
 and he will rise from its perusal with a feeling of pride in learning 
 what services have been rendered in this struggle for independence 
 by its cadets. This institution has done much to aid our cause, and 
 its eleves have rendered services in this w^ar, which have amply com- 
 pensated Virginia for all the expenditures she has been called upon 
 to make. Indeed, it is difficult to estimate its value ; but it is easy 
 for even the casual observer to see that we would have been most 
 seriously embarrassed in the origin of the war, if we had not been 
 able at that important moment to call upon this educated military 
 talent to aid in drilling and organizing our inexperienced volimteers. 
 
 The institute has furnished eight brigadier generals, fifty-six colo- 
 nels, thirty-nine lieutenant colonels, thirty-eight majors, one hundred 
 and ten captains, one hundred and sixteen lieutenants, twelve aids de 
 camp, twenty-six adjutants of regiments, and thirty-four assistant 
 adjutant generals, surgeons, quartermasters and commissaries — making 
 a total of four hundrecl and forty. Of these, fifty-seven have been 
 killed, and seventy-three wounded in battle, and eight have died in 
 service — making a total of one hundred and thirty-eight. When it 
 is recollected that these results are founded upon incomplete returns, 
 we may well conclude that the Virginia military institute lias ren- 
 dered services valuable beyond comjiarison with those rendered by 
 any other similar institution in the Confederacy. Its claims, there- 
 fore, upon the state are strong, and whatever aid may be required to 
 ^enlarge its sphere of usefulness, will meet with a ready response 
 from the general assembly, especially when it is considered that this 
 war may last for years. 
 
 The number of cadets at the institute at this time is upwards of 
 two hundred and fifty. All the embarrassments and difficulties 
 which attended the reopening of the institute in January last (and 
 they were many), have been happily overcome by the indomitable 
 perseverance, energy and judgment of the superintendent and his as- 
 
Doc. No. 1. XXV 
 
 sistants. The school is in a most flourishing condition — more so than 
 at any previous period in its history. The number of cadets could 
 have been much increased, if accommodations could have been pro- 
 vided for all who made application for admission. 
 
 I invito your attention to the report of the surgeon, and particularly 
 to that portion which relates to increased hospital accommodations. 
 His suggestions are sound, in my judgment, and I commend them to 
 the favorable consideration of the legislature. 
 
 University of Virginia. 
 
 I have received no report or other authentic information as to the 
 condition of this valuable institution, since it was reopened. If in- 
 formation shall be received during your session, it wi!l be specially 
 communicated. 
 
 Extortion. 
 
 In the laws and moral government of God, extortion is considered 
 a high crime; and the extortioner is uniformly associated in his Word, 
 with idolaters, with the covetous, thieves, drunkards, adulterers, for- 
 nicators and revilers. Against this prevailing crime and those who 
 commit it, the president of the Confederate States, in a recent com- 
 munication, appeals to me to invoke action on the part of the general 
 assembly. He says, "I beg respectfully to ask the aid of the execu- 
 tives of the several states in recommending to the several legislatures," 
 " the adoption of some measures to suppress the shameful extortion 
 now practiced upon the people by men who can be reached by no 
 moral influence, and who are worse enemies of the Confederacy than 
 if found in arms among the invading forces. The armies in the field, 
 as well as the families of soldiers and others of the people at home, 
 are the prey of these mercenaries; and it is only through state action 
 that their traffic can be suppressed. Their condign punishment is 
 ardently desired by every patriot." 
 
 I cordially endorse all that the president says in this extract from 
 his letter. If the members of the general assembly could have 
 heard, as I have been compelled to hear, day after day, the appeals 
 of mothers and sisters and children of soldiers, whose husbands, 
 brothers and fathers are now and have been, from the commence- 
 ment of this atrocious war, in the field defending the freedom and 
 protecting the persons and property of these extortioners, they would 
 feel the necessity of doing something for their relief., 
 iv 
 
XX vi Doc. No. 1. 
 
 Mothers, respectable in appearance, of refined manners, who have 
 evidently seen better days, have come to me with children in their 
 anus, and whose husbands w^ere in the field, and have appealed to me 
 to secure them some place where the}^ and their little ones could be 
 sheltered from the storm. They had been turned out of their houses, 
 and were unable to secure others in which to live. Rents had in- 
 creased, and they could not pay them out of the small pittance re- 
 ceived by their husbands for their services. Avarice clutched every 
 cent that could be had, in the way of increase for rent, bread and all 
 family necessaries; and the wife of the soldier being outbid, she had 
 of course to surrender her home. This should not be. The soldier's 
 family should be protected and provided for, and he should have it 
 to say, when he returns, the government has protected those who 
 were dearer to me than life, while I have been absent fighting its 
 battles for freedom. If he is assured his family is protected, he will 
 fight cheerfully for his country, and will bless the country and up- 
 hold its institutions when peace shall be established. In all after 
 time, as a general principle, he will be found a true and loyal citi- 
 zen, faithful to the governments, state and confederate. 
 
 A single example will show w^hat enormous profits are being made 
 in one branch of manufacture in our state. I have it from undoubted 
 authority, that a cotton manufacturing company has already divided 
 seventy-five per cent, of profits, and will divide twenty-five per cent, 
 more at the close of the year — making a clear profit in twelve months, 
 of one hundred per cent, upon the capital stock. Other branches of 
 manufacture are doubtless paying profits equally large, exhibiting an 
 unhealthy condition of things, that requires the application of severe 
 remedies. If the extortioner will not release his gripe, let the legis- 
 lature so frame the tax bill as to make him contribute a fair propor- 
 tion of his enormous gains to the support of the government. As 
 long as he can make such profits, the war is a blessing to him, and 
 its termination the last thing he desires to see brought about. He 
 thinks alone of his gains — not of his country nor his country's cause. 
 
 The conscription bill, in its operation, takes possession of indivi- 
 duals, and puts them in service in our armies, without their consent. 
 If the persons of men can be taken for the service of the country, 
 why cannot property and the enormous profits of the extortioner be 
 taken possession of in the same summary mode, to aid the country's 
 cause? Is property acquired, or profits wrung by the extortioner 
 
Doc. No. 1. xxvii 
 
 from the necessities of the people, more sacred than the person of 
 the citizen ? The personal liberty of the citizen rises far above all 
 questions of property, or pecuniary profits, under our government. 
 
 The law presented at your last session is in most respects^a good 
 one ; and I recommend that you take it up, amend it as you may 
 think necessary, preserving the principle on which it is founded, and 
 pass it. I am of opinion it will produce good results. 
 
 The prisoners captured bij the state line. 
 
 One hundred and eighteen of the prisoners captured by the state 
 line in the brilliant affairs at Prestonsburg and Pikeville in Kentucky, 
 arrived here on the morning of the 27th of last month. I have had 
 preparations made for their safe keeping, and I have announced to 
 the president of the United States the terms upon which exchanges 
 can alone be made. In the mean time I have placed in the peniten- 
 tiary, and put at hard work, Capt. Gramm and Lieut. Wade, who 
 are to remain at hard work as hostages for Capt. Duskey and Lieut. 
 Vanner, now in confinement in the district penitentiary at Wash- 
 ington city. 
 
 I have also placed in solitary confinement Captain Thomas Dam- 
 ron and Lieutenant Wilson Damron, and privates John W. Howe, 
 Isaac Goble, David V. Auxier, Samuel Pack and William S. Dills, 
 who are held as hostages for the gallant Zarvona, who has been in 
 confinement since July ISGl, and who has been treated (if the half 
 I hear is true) with a brutality unparalleled in the history of civi- 
 lized warfare. Five others, deserters from the confederate service, 
 have been turned over for trial. The other prisoners are confined 
 and treated as prisoners of war, not to be released (with my consent) 
 until some general rule shall be ado[>ted in regard to prisoners and 
 private citizens, which shall be just and honorable to the people of 
 Virginia, and which will preserve their rights in future. 
 
 I rejoice at this capture, made by General Floyd, as it furnishes me 
 the opportunity to demonstrate that Virginia is a sovereign state, with^ 
 the power and the will on the part of her executive to defend the 
 officers holding her commissions, and protect her citizens. If the 
 state line shall accomplish no other result than it has effected, it will 
 have established its reputation for valuable service, and will have 
 secured an honorable place in history, connected with this war. 
 
xxviii Doc. No. 1. 
 
 I invite your attention to the report of Major General Floyd, here- 
 with communicated, and I commend it to your consideration. It will 
 doubtless prove highly interesting to the general assembly, and will 
 satisfy them that the state force has accomplished valuable results — J 
 
 results showing it deserving of the fostering care of the legislature. ^ 
 It has captured stores and other property equal in value to near half 
 a million of dollars, and has effected the demoralization of the op- 
 posing force, and inspired a wholesome dread amongst them. This 
 raid has been pronounced by the enemy one of the most destructive 
 they have suffered ; and Major General Floyd deserves the thanks of 
 Virginia for the judgment in its conception, and the skill and energy 
 he has displayed in its execution. Give him his ten thousand men, 
 and he will do more for western Virginia than any other eommander 
 is likely to accomplish, for the relief of that section of the state. 
 Colonel Clarkson and his gallant boys are not to be forgotten. 
 
 The state rn7\^ers. 
 
 Under the act organizing tlie companies of rangers, the term of 
 service was declared to be twelve months. In the month of August 
 last I directed all the companies to report to Major General Floyd. 
 This gentleman had, at the request of the general assembly, been 
 commissioned a major general, and I deemed it advisable, therefore, 
 to place all state forces under his command. The term of service of 
 some of the companies has expired ; but regarding the defence of 
 western. Vii'ginia as of the utmost importance, and knowing of no ( 
 
 means of defence likely to prove so successful, I have retained them. 
 Under all the circumstances, I thought it advisable to await the as- 
 sembling of the legislature, when such action could be taken as 
 would bo considered wise and proper. So long as the state line shall 
 be kept up, I consider it judicious to retain the rangers, to act in 
 concert with the forces of the state line, and to be under the com-^lii 
 mand of General Floyd. It is, however, for you to determine whe-l(^lj 
 ther they shall be disbanded at the end of twelve months, or whe-Xx^ 
 ther they shall be retained in service for a -longer time. 
 
 The report of the adjutant general. 
 
 I commend this report to your consideration. The necessity of 
 onranizinff a force for home defence, at this time, will strike the minds 
 of the general assembly. It is of the first importance ; and I com- 
 mend its suggestions to your consideration and approval. They ap- 
 
Doc. No. 1. xxix 
 
 pear to me in all respects to be eminently judicious ant! proper, under 
 the circumstances; and emanating from so experienced an officer 
 they are entitled to great consideration and favor. 
 
 Ordnance deparfment. 
 
 The report of the ordnance department is herewith presented, and 
 shows that the valuable officer at the head of it has discharged his 
 duty with that fidelity and ability w'hicli he has always heretofore 
 exhibited. He has rendered valuable services from the beginning of 
 the war to the present time. His attention, his energy, industr}'^ and 
 practical judgment have been fully developed, in this important posi- 
 tion, and the state owes him a large debt of gratitude. 
 
 The quartermaster generaVs deimrtment. 
 
 The duties of this department have been discharged with consum- 
 mate skill, ability, industry and fidelity. Col. Smoot has been in the 
 service of the state since the war commenced ; and a more untiring 
 and laborious officer I have never known in any service. His busi- 
 ness has been managed with system and order; his accounts have 
 been regularly settled to the satisfaction of the auditing board ; and 
 he has been prompt in the execution of the orders which have been 
 from time to time issued to him. His purchases for the state line, 
 in price and quality, will compare most favorably with those made 
 for the confederate government, by its officers and agents, during the 
 same period. He and his subordinates deserve well of the state. 
 
 Free negroes and slaves. 
 
 I suggest whether it would not be wise to enact a law requiring 
 all free negroes now resident in those portions of the state which 
 have been overrun by the enemy, to be removed and put to work 
 upon the fortifications. In their present position in the peninsula 
 and other portions of this commonwealth, they have it in their power 
 to do us serious mischief, not only by tampering with our slaves, but 
 in communicating valuable information to the enemy. The slaves 
 ought also to be removed at the same time, and employed in like 
 manner, if the owners would consent to the arrangement. I advise, 
 therefore, that you pass a law authorizing confederate commanders 
 to arrest the free nc^groes, list them, and deliver them over to the 
 proper officer of the confederate government, for this or any other 
 
XXX Doc. No. 1. 
 
 service in which lal)or is required. Tliey will receive good wages, 
 and be provided with rations. When the danger passes by, they can 
 return to their homes. 
 
 Many reasons could b«; urged in support of this suggestion, but 
 I do not deem it necessary to present tlieni, as they will readily occur 
 to the minds of the members of the general assembly. Suffice it to 
 say that there is a strong necessity for some action on this subject, 
 and it ought to be taken at the earliest practicable moment. 
 
 Dcafh of H(m. Win. Ballard Preston. 
 
 Since your adjournment this distinguislied gentleman has departed 
 this life, and one of your eai'liest duties will be to select a successor 
 to fill his place in the Confederate States senate. 
 
 Mr. Preston was a gentleman of the most estimable character, of 
 brilliant talents, highly imjiroved by cultivation. In the domestic 
 and social circk^s he was an ornament. As a statesman, he was libeial 
 in his views, ardently devoted to his country and its welfare, but with 
 his whole heart he loved Virginia. Aiound her his affections were 
 entwined as the tendrils of tiie ivy encii-clo the majestic oak. 
 
 During tlie session of the conventiou, and his service in the provi- 
 sional congress and in the confederate senate, it was my good fortune 
 to see much of him, and to confer freely with liim on questions of 
 the utmost importance to our beloved commonwealth. His views 
 were presented with singular clearness and force, and our interviews 
 were alwa3^s pleasant and profitable to me. He recognized Virginia 
 as the noble mother to w^iom he owed his allegiance, but never for- 
 got his duties to the confederate government. As an orator he had 
 few equals, and was ]'emarkable alike lor the grace and elegance of 
 his elocution. He was a pure and good man, and in all the relations 
 of life, public and private, he perfonned, faithfully and unostenta- 
 tiously, his duties to his family, his friends and his country. He has 
 been called I'rom the theatre of action at a most interesting period in 
 the history of our country, and well may Virginia mourn over the 
 loss of so cherished and valued a son. 
 
 His race has been run ; the goal has been reached, and he has gone 
 to the grave, adorned with the highest honors that his state could 
 confer. It is left for us to emulate his virtues, to imitate his exam- 
 ple, and profit by, the lesson his life inculcates. 
 
Doc. No. 1. xxxit 
 
 Representation in the leghlature. 
 
 It is necessary that some action shall be taken by you at this ses- 
 sion in regard to representation from those portions of the state 
 under the control of the enemy. An election for governor, lieutenant 
 governor, attorney general and members of the general nssembly, 
 will come off* in May next ; and unless some legislative action is had 
 now, the counties in the enemy's possession will have no opportunity 
 of voting. This result should not be permitted to occur, if it can 
 possibly be avoided. I suggest, therefore, that you pass a law simi- 
 lar in its provisions to the ordinance passed by the convention on 
 this subject. It is but just to our gallant soldiers that they shall 
 have a voice in the seh^ction of their state ofHcers and representatives 
 in the general assembly; and it is equally just that the loyal men of 
 all the counties of the connnon wealth shall be represented. Our 
 action should show that we do not intend to abandon any portion of 
 Virginia; and our legislation can certainly be so shaped as to indi- 
 cate this purpose in the most distinct manner. The citizens in the 
 enemy's lines, whose loyalty to the commonwealth has been so tho- 
 roughly tested for the last eighteen months, have a riglit to expect 
 that they shall be allowed to enjoy all the rights and privileges which 
 legislation can confer. 
 
 Mai'yland. 
 
 I do not despair of Maryland. Iliave strong fjiith and an abiding 
 conviction that this state is destined to constitute a part of the South- 
 ern Confederacy. I believe now, as I have uniformly believed, that 
 a decided majority of her people are with us in feeling and in senti- 
 ment, and when they shall be permitted to give a free expression of 
 their sentiments, they will so declare. Why should they not? Their 
 interests and the interests of Virginia are identical. The ties of con- 
 sanguinity and of marriage, of kindred institutions and similarity of 
 pursuit — every tie indeed that is calculated to unite and bind people 
 together, exists between Maryland and Virginia. The land of Car- 
 roll and of Howard, of Ringgold and of Watson, will seek an alliance 
 with congenial spirits in the Southern Confederacy. Her proud spi- 
 rited and patriotic daughters would repudiate with scorn any other 
 association for their fathers, husbands, brothers and sons. And how 
 could these daughters, who have exhibited such interest in the south- 
 ern cause, and have uniformly shown such sympathy and manifested 
 
,♦> fKxxii Doc. No. 1. 
 
 such kindness and attention to our brave soldiers whom the casual- 
 ♦* ties of war have thrown amongst them, ever assent to any otlter 
 association than with their noble southern sisters ? The destiny of 
 Maryland is with the south. That destiny will be accomplished. 
 
 Conclusion. 
 
 May the Supreme Ruler of the Universe, who has watched over 
 us with such benignant care; dispensed blessings with so liberal and 
 generous a hand ; crowned our arms with such brilliant success, and 
 preserved us from the horrors of subjugation, still protect and defend- 
 us against the wiles and machinations of our unscrupulous enemies, 
 and in his own good time, establish our independence. 
 
 Respectfully, 
 
 JOHN LETCHER. 
 
 
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