Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1861-04-30
MT. SoLoN. 21st April. 81.

y ! T"
Mr.. A. NICHOLAS, s,-Dear Sir: Yours of the
10th inst, came to hand few days ago. Cir
cumstances. that have occurred since. have more
than answered one of the interrogatories you
ask with SO much apparent feeling, "Has Vir-
ginla seceded?" She has not only seeded, bnt
has on this morning, an army in the field, to de-
fend our rights and institutions, that will carry
terror to the hearts Of those who vauntingly
boast that they will ''exterminate the cause" as
you are pleased to term it, Of all the difficulties
between US. Gould you, and the myrinidons of
abolition, ,ofagrarianism and all that is abomina-
BILE IN tree government see, as have had the
opportunity within the past few days, the spirit
OF our people, your craven hearts would collapse
within your cowardly carcasses. You who pos
sess means justify it. will send your hired mer-
cenaIies to overpower as, it may be-. You may
devastate our country, burn our towns, insult
and abuse our women, but conquer us you can
never do. When our brave and gallant sons are
exterminated, if such coald be, you will find our
wives and daughters more than a match for all
tho Beechers, and Cheevers and Stoves and that
damnaoie set that you have so long paid Court
to, and encouraged, until yon have brought this
ataictiion upon the country. 81 .s
You speak of our .'institutions,' being the
cause OF this war, and you will exterminate it.
forsooth, let me tell you, sir, that it has been
the misguided frenzy and folly and madness of
your people, that has been the cause and that
people that has fattened and fourished upon the
labor OF this institution, and in yonr pharasaical
and puritanical elfrighteonsnsss. after boarding
this wealth, would say to us, ssstand aside, we
are heller than thou and cannot live under
the same government with you,a Let me say to
you, sir, that-the men of New York and New
England who, in the war of 1912, could stand
by with folded hands and see the flag of their
country trailed and trampled in the dust. and
oonyenel themselves into Hartford convention,
and refuse to furnish men and means to defend
their country and that flag from an insolent for
eign foe, can with q very bad grace now shed
tears, as you say you did, when you heard that
flag was fired npon at fort Sumter Your damna
BILE hypocrisy makes my blood boil, and in spite
Apf myself, makes me pray that we may have the
Earnestly hoped for opportunity of meeting you
70 sight OF the Potomac, and al tAose who, like
you, have been shedding those crocodile tears,
and there testing, in the sight of the ashes of
the Father of his Country, your sincerity in de-
Tending that flag. But permit me to say. sir.
that you will not be there. You, and those who
think like you, willsend as your personal repre-.
sentatiyes, the miserable mercenary foreigners.
that you can gather up in your cities at $40 per
month to do your fighting. Would to God it
were otherwise, and we could meet you all in
person, aud your boasted Seventh Regiment be-
sides, who have warmed at our fresides. slept
under our roofs, shared our hospitality. and
when it was your interest to do so, have Dreach-
ed up your conservatisIn. But enough, sir, |
have not patience to say more In the hope |
may meet you at Washington, (whatI do not
|expect,) am, sir, yours. aioa sal b9gzss $50
'.ia.s@ s5Da6 f'74esi j. MARSHALL MoCUE.