MESSAGE OF THE GOVERNOR OF VIRGINIA, AND ACCOMPANYING DOCUMENTS

Richmond: William F. Ritchie, Public Printer, 1861. Original printed wrappers, stitched, later staples. Pages [i]-lv, [1 blank], as issued. At head of title: "Doc. No. 1." Wrappers chipped at blank extremities. Wrapper title: "Governor's Message." Except as noted, Very Good.

The separately issued printing of Governor Letcher's Message dated January 7, 1861, after South Carolina had seceded but before the Deep South States did so later in January.
Governor Letcher states: "The country is torn by dissension... Surely no people have been as blessed as we have been, and it is melancholy to think that all is now about to be sacrificed upon the altar of passion." He urges a Convention of the States to seek compromise, and denounces "the cotton states," which "seem to be looking at their own interests alone." South Carolina has "determined upon her future course, without consultation with any one of her slaveholding sister states." This indicates "a determined purpose to coerce Virginia and the other border states to follow her example." But Virginia, a powerful Upper South State, should seize the opportunity to "mediate between the contending parties."
OCLC 436148575 [3] [as of October 2016].