Edwin D. Morgan rebuked (nice ganmors(?), Governor)
From The New-York Times January 22, 1861:
THE LEGISLATURES OF NEW-YORK AND VIRGINIA.; GOV. LETCHER ON THE NEW-YORK RESOLVES–THE HOUSE OF DELEGATES VOTES TO RETURN THEM TO GOV. MORGAN. Gov. LETCHER, of Virginia, sent the following message to the Legislature on Jan. 17:
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT
RICHMOND, Jan. 17, 1861.
Gentlemen of the Senate and House of Delegates:
I have received a communication from His Excellency, EDWIN D. MORGAN, Governor of New-York, inclosing a preamble and resolutions adopted by that State.
The first resolution declares “that the Legislature of New-York tender to the President of the United States whatever aid, in men and money, he may require to enable him to enforce the laws and uphold the authority of the Federal Government.”
This I understand to be a declaration of their readiness and willingness to sacrifice the men and money of that State, in the effort to coerce the Slaveholding States into submission to Federal authority.
The Governor and Legislature of New-York ought to know that the sword has never reconciled differences of opinion. Military coercion can never perpetuate the existence of this Union.
When the affections of the people are withdrawn from the Government, an attempt at coercion can have no other effect than to exasperate the people threatened to be coerced. Blood shed in civil strife can only enrich the soil that must speedily produce “a harvest of woe.”
I cannot suppose, from what has occurred, that the President of the United States would be inclined to adopt a policy, which he must see and know could not fail to result in bloodshed.
I am satisfied that prudence and patriotism would induce him to reject all counsels and measures which would be calculated to bring about so great a calamity.
I have no idea, therefore, that he will accept the tender which has been to inopportunely and so ostentatiously paraded before the country.
Nothing that has occurred in the progress of this controversy has been worse timed and less excusable. If the Governor and Legislature of New-York desire to preserve the Union, a tender of men and money under the promptings of passion, prejudice and excitement will not produce the result
At a time like this, when the horizon is overcast with clouds, when darkness and gloom are gathering close around us, and when we behold nothing but danger on all sides, some little wisdom, discretion and prudence are expected from the representatives of the people. They ought, at least, to refrain from adding fuel to the flame that burns with the utmost intensity now. It would have been far better that these resolutions had never been adopted.
In 1798 and 1799, the action of Virginia was marked by calmness, dignity and an earnest desire to preserve the Union, without prejudice to the rights of the States. No feeling of resentment towards the other States was manifested by those great man in that day of peril and trial. No effort was made to produce estrangement between the different sections of the country, or to inflame popular prejudice. Their example is worthy of imitation when events are hurrying us on so rapidly into the dangers of civil strife.
Nothing but a sense of duty has induced me to transmit this preamble and resolutions to the two Houses of the General Assembly. The threat which is conveyed in them can inspire no terror with freemen.
JOHN LETCHER.
The message and accompanying documents were laid upon the table and ordered to be printed, after the manifestation of opposition to printing the New-York resolutions. …
During consideration of the New-York resolutions and Governor Letcher’s message in the Virginia House of delegates:
Mr. ANDERSON did not know how to characterize these resolutions or the insolence of the Governor of New-York in sending them here. They have seen the action of this Legislature to resist any attempt at coercion with all the power of the State, and yet, in the face of that action, New-York thinks proper to pledge herself to the Federal Government to supply all the men and money they can raise for the purpose of subduing the Southern States. Why is such language used, but to intimidate Virginia? …
After debate and parliamentary maneuverings a motion by a Mr. ANDERSON was passed:
Mr. ANDERSON submitted a motion that the Executive return the New York resolutions to the Governor of that State, with the request that no such resolutions be sent to this State in future. …
1) The entire article is at The New York Times Archive
2) We’ve posted previously about how touchy Virginia and its governor, John Letcher are about the idea of the North coercing southern states that decide to secede. My question about New-York’s action: is it just New-York trying to push its weight around or more a concern with the extremely restrained “action” of the Buchanan administration, or both? I obviously don’t know the answer. Once again it seems the nature of our federal system is producing interesting actions and reactions
