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Laconic correspondence.--Soon after the passage of the Virginia Ordinance of Secession, Governor Letcher sent the following despatch to the Mayor of Wheeling:

Richmond, April 20, 1861.
to Andrew Sweeney, Mayor of Wheeling:

Take possession of the custom-house, post-office, all public buildings, and public documents, in the name of Virginia. Virginia has seceded.

John Letcher, Governor.

Mayor Sweeney replied in the following laconic style:

Wheeling, April 21, 1861.
to John Letcher, Governor of Virginia:

I have taken possession of the custom-house, post-office, and all public buildings and public documents, in the name of Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States, whose property they are.


The correspondence here closed. Mayor Sweeney continued to hold possession of the Federal property until the organization of the new State Government at Wheeling. Governor Letcher made no further attempt to seduce him from his allegiance.--N. Y. Evening Post, July 3.

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