Letter from John Letcher to Mississippi Governor John J. Pettus; March 15, 1860

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Letter from John Letcher to Mississippi Governor John J. Pettus; March 15, 1860

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People

Crutchfield, Oscar M., 1800-1861 Davis, Shelton C.Gordon, William F., Jr.Letcher, John, 1813-1884 Memminger, C. G. (Christopher Gustavus), 1803-1888 Montague, Robert L.Pettus, John Jones, 1813-1867 Starke, P. B.

Organizations and Businesses

Virginia. Executive Department Virginia. General Assembly Virginia. General Assembly. House of Delegates Virginia. General Assembly. Senate

Occupations

Virginia. Governor

Places

Richmond (Va.)South Carolina Virginia

Page 1

EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, RICHMOND,
March 15, 1860.

To His Excellency
John J. Pettus
Governor of the State of Mississippi

SIR,

In Pursuance of a Resolution adopted by the General Assembly of Virginia, I have the honor to transmit herewith, Resolutions declaring it inexpedient to appoint Deputies to the Conference proposed by the States of South Carolina and Mississippi.

Very respectfully,

John Letcher

Page 2

RESOLUTIONS
In response to the request of South Carolina and Mississippi, for a Conference of the Southern States.

Resolved by the General Assembly, that we have received, with deep sensibility, the communication-ions which South Carolina and Mississippi have made to authorities of this Commonwealth, through their commissioners, Hon. C. G. Memminger and Hon. P. B. Starke; and we hail with lively gratification this renewed manifestation of fraternal regard and affection which has heretofore characterized, and, we trust, will continue to characterize the relations of South Carolina and Mississippi with Virginia.

Resolved, that we perform a pleasing duty in recording and communicating to the authorities of South Carolina and Mississippi our high appreciation of the ability, dignity and courtesy with which their commissioners have discharged the important duties of their mission.

Resolved, that the General Assembly of Virginia, recognizing in our present relations with the non-slaveholding states an imperative necessity for decisive measures, does not yet distrust the capacity of the Southern States, by a wise and firm exercise of their reserved powers, to protect the rights and liberties of the people, and to preserve the Federal Union. For this purpose, we earnestly desire the concurrent action of the Southern States. But the General Assembly respectfully submit, for the consideration of South Carolina and Mississippi, and all our sister states of the South, that efficient co-operation will be more safely obtained by such direct legislative action of the several states as may be necessary and proper, than through the agency of an assemblage which can exercise no legitimate power except to debate and advise.

Resolved, therefore, that, in the opinion of the General Assembly, it is inexpedient to appoint deputies to the conference proposed by South Carolina and Mississippi.

Resolved, that the Governor of this Commonwealth be requested to communicate the forgoing resolutions to the Governors of the states of South Carolina and Mississippi, and to the Governors of the other Slaveholding States.

Resolved, that the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Delegates transmit to the Hon. G. G. Memminger and Hon. P. B. Starke a copy of the forgoing resolutions.

Agreed to by Senate, March 6th, 1860.
SHELTON C. DAVIS, C. S.

Agreed to by House of Delegates, March 8th, 1860.
WM. F. GORDON, J_R., C. H. D.