Governor John Letcher calls Virginia's Legislature into special session

Nov. 16, 1860



Shortly after the election of Abraham Lincoln as President, Virginia's Gov. John Letcher called the legislature into special session, partly to consider how Virginia should react or respond.  The legislature acted quickly upon meeting on January 7, 1861:  They endorsed Letcher's plea for a national convention, proposing a date of Feb. 4 (this became the Washington Peace Convention); it also called for elections to a state convention to consider secession, to meet on Feb. 13; finally, the legislature adopted the following resolution:
"That if all efforts to reconcile the unhappy differences existing between the two sections of the country shall prove to be abortive, then, in the opinion of the General Assembly, every consideration of honor and interest demands that Virginia shall unite her destiny with the slave-holding States of the South."

Virginia Governor John Letcher




Whereas at the last session of the Legislature a large amount of the public business was left in an unfinished condition for want of time to complete the same, and whereas since that time a contract has been entered into by the James River and Kanawha Company for the sale of its entire line of improvement with all its franchises and immunities, including the large interest held therein by the Commonwealth, and with stipulations for the completion of the entire work, and it is necessary that the contract if approved should be ratified by the General Assembly to give validity and force to the agreement so made—and whereas in consequence of the appointment of Electors, a majority of whom are known to be favorable to the election of sectional candidates as President and Vice President of the United States, whose principles and views are believed by a large portion of the Southern States to be in direct hostility to their constitutional rights and interests, and in consequence thereof great excitement prevails in the public mind and prudence requires that the representatives of the people of this Commonwealth should take into consideration the condition of public affairs and determine calmly and wisely what action is necessary in this emergency, therefore, I, JOHN LETCHER, Governor by virtue of the authority aforesaid, do hereby require the Senators and Delegates of the two Houses of the General Assembly of the Commonwealth to convene at the Capitol in the city of Richmond on Monday, the 7th day of January, A.D., 1861, at 12 o'clock M., to legislate upon such subjects as they may deem necessary and proper. JOHN LETCHER.













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Source: New York Times Archive; see also clipping from online version of the paper.

Date added to website:  January  8, 2025.