Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1859-12-15

For moro than month past Virginia has
been under arms. Her volunteer fjrccs from the
Ohio to The Chesapeake have been in camp at
ChaTestown praCticing the sciencesof war To
Jay State troops TO the number of twenty five
Companies parade, march and countermarah,
osiensibly TO guard four men in chains and in
lil, who are to be led to execution on Friday
81. Guards are stationed at every street corner and
cross road Picket guards are patroliDg the
country, Military discipline is kept up as if
encompasssd by besieging army. And yet
dispatches say the town is quiet and ;here are
20 more rumors or excitement Why then this
ptotractcd military display by the Governor of
yirsiuiai
The answer is patent Actions speak louder
than words. In this case they confirm each
other. Tho Executive Of Virginia threatens
treason to the Union in a contingency of which
lie feels certain. lie seizos the pretext Of John
Browns foray TO discp pino the mill ary Of the
State. Hence every rumor is magniiied' every
report of rescue officially endorsed. An old
man dies on the scaifold surrounded by three
thousand men under arms. The jail and the
gallows are made the school Of the volunteer
soldier, and he is practically taught the Grt Of
war for weeks together The whole movement
has an eye to future service in Southern Con-
federaey. There is method in the madness Of
Wise "a well as Brown. and the alleged treason
Of the latter is usei as a cloak for preparing for
the greater treason boldly threatened by tue
Executive langman. More cotton AMI hemp
ropes will be needed in Virginia before 1861,
, i. il other aud greater traitors Than John Brown
E asa hia comrades get moiely Of their deserts
The late letters and public messages of Gov.
Wise fully sustain the conclusions drawn from
his military conGuct. In letter of Nov. 25th,
to VIM. Scott Esq, OF Georgis, Gov. Wise
says--"we are srming and have need 10 DO 80;
and the Southern States had all better be I US.
ing"~ In his frat message 10 the present Viz.
ginia Legislature, he says
Irepeai
lst Org1nize and arm.
% Demand Of each State in the Uniou what
position she means 10 maintain Tor the future
IA respect 10 slavery and the provisions OF the
Constitution ard laws of the United states,
and the provisions o. State laws for its proieo-
lion in our Federal relations; and be governed
uecordinr, to the manner in which the demand
ehs be- answered. Let US defend cur own
posilion, or yield at once. Let us have action
and not res0ves-dttilitive settlement and no
llore temporizng the Constitution, and no more
compromise.
in his message number two to the same body
Gov Wise urges o reorganization of the Mill
tia system, and submits minute plan for al
efficient and general organization of the entire
forces of the State. lie recommends that the
hest and most approved arms be proyided-tha
all the old arms bc altered or exchanged ant
directs depois of arms and fixed ammunition a
numerous eligible points. lie would also make
the Military Institute part of the regular sys
tenn sabiect to the orders OF the Governor
alone, Increase the State Guard, and provide
military patrols for police purposes.
IS further evidence Of waIike intent need
cd The Legislature is promptly sccondins
the Executive. In the Senate, Dec. 9th, th'
initiative was taken touching the military sug
gcstions of ihe messages even to catering th
smooth boro muskets in the ArmOry at Rich
mond aud Lexington into percussion rifle
muskets and of improving the entire stock o
arms in the hest practicable manner"
! Fortunately for the peace and good fellowship
Of tie States and the country, the madcaI
Governor OF the Ola Dominion struts and bus
ters on his last political legs, and on the lst o
january, 1860, his aceptre Of power will depart
Doubtless forever There is hope that common
sense aud common decency will mark the new
Administration Of Gov Lolcher.