Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1861-06-06
How They Talk at Richmond.

We have the Richmond Examiner Of the 3lst
of May. The editor Is evidently chagrined at
tbe shape things were taking, and mortifedlat
the occupation of Alexandria by the Federal
tooops. We publish entire one ofthe editorials Of
the Eraminer, which will enable our readers to
see how they feel at Richmond:
Attack is always easy and defense generally
difficult So long as the South retreats the North
Wills advance, and up to the present moment
the provisional army Of Virginia has done moth
ing but retire in mastery manner on the ap.
pearance Of the enemy.
The capture of Alexandra has exercised a
powerful influence on the sentiment Of the
North and the South. Up to that moment the
Administration of Lincoln despaired of realizing
their calculation for the war. They com.
menced it under the supposition that such an
enormous force would rush on the South from
the Yankee States at the fret signal, that Vir
einia and the other Border States would be
overwhelmed before their preparations for re.
sistance would be completed or even commenced.
But the volunteer movement Of the North never
came up to the mark they had made for it. Du.
ring the first week Of the war II was prodigious.
But Northern sensations do not endure, and this
one fell off with amazing rapidity. Latterly few
new regiments appeared, and most Of those that
offered we're 30 badly equipped that they were
necessarily sent back. The capture Of Alexan-
dria, the passage Of the bridge and the rive:
without trouble or danger. and the retreat Of
our troops without any other shot than that
| fred by one brave and deserted man, have
changed the whole public sentiment Of the North.
| The invasion Of the South they now think safe
and pleasant business. They have only
10 come and conquer; the only resistance they
now expect is that of the women they will ont
rage and the shop doors they will break open
Under the influence OF the news from Alexan-
dria, we may expect to see the war fever OF the
North break out in greater strength than ever.
We shall hear Of another great upheaving Of
| it's dangerous classes, and more fervid declama.
ton from their DEVILS pulpit Cities to be ts-
ken without bloodshed, houses to be plundered
without fear Of sheriffs, glory to be gained with
out expenditure in cof6ns-these allurements
attract our enemies as an open hogshead Of su.
gar draws the swarm Of summer flies. All their
steps have an air of renewed vigour since that
strange and unhappy event.
Alexandria, it Is said, was strategically indie.
fensible. But for the South, 1t had better have
been burnt to ashes than fall prey to the
| Northern horde Of robbers that now hold pos
session OF it. Had q few hundred oply Of Yam
KEGS been killed In an attack upon It, the gain Il
our cause would have been az great as the losl
was signal. IL would then have been guessed
and calculated that this business of invasion did
| not pay, and that the debit Of kicks was great
er than the credit Of coppers. But, as things
have gone for the last six months, the pleasure
and profit has been entirely their own.
II the South desires to check this invasion,
its troops must resist everywhere, with success,
or defeat, but at least with sanguinary determi-
nation. That Is not all. We must attack to
defend. So long as the people Of the North fine
that they have nothing to do but to send all the
troops they can raise to Virginia, take Southern
cities, occupy Southern villages, outrage South
ern families, fine Southern citizens, and reaI
fields of green wheat to make fodder for theil
horses, as they have done in the neigbborhood
of Hampton, they will carry on the war till 1t il
time to send the drummers Of the Fall trade tC
succeed these other drummers OF their Spring
invasion. But let them taste on their own ter
ritory the sweets of q summer campaign; lei
them know by some personal experience Of thei
own what il is 10 have communications cut up
business interrupted, fields ravaged and houses
opened BY the hostile hands of rude soldiery
and the truth will make better progress in th,
North than If advocated there with the elo-
quence Of Chrysostom and the courage of st
George. The best point for the defence o
Richmond is Washington; the fields where th,
victories Of Virginia must be won are in Mary.
land; the countries whence the invasion of th,
South is to be successfully repulsed are callet
Ohio and Pennsylvania. tl ,r