Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1861-08-10
yircinia---What is she Doing?

1t is not every Virginia newspaper or virginia
nublc man that will do justice to North Carolna,
but this shall not prevent from doing justice to
Virginia. What is Virginia doing? One of the last
Of the States to dissolve her connection with the
corrupt and despotc government of Lincoln, she is
first in this war for Constitutional liberty At least
forty thousand of her sons in the ranks, prepar
ed to meet the invader at any moment, while her
militia are drilling once week, thus providing
nurseries for more volunteers. Blockaded, annoy
ed and seriously injured on her sea coast with rank
treason in a portion of her northwestern territory,
she bears up and bears on against the common foe
with an energy and directness of purpose and &C
ton which would have reflected credit upon her,
even if her people had been united as one man IN
their resistance to arbitrary power. Wounds and
treason only stimulate her to renewed activity and
zeal Her sons crowd to battle as men crowd to a
festival while young and old Of both sexes who
main behind, untirng in their for the sick
and wounded. As one evidence out of many Of the
attention bestowed upon the wounded make the
following extract from letter addressed by the Rev.
A, w. Mangum to the Salisbury BaHRer dated
Manassas, August l, 1861:
al know it is the custom Of correspondents to ex-
aggerate but / speak the plain truth when say
that the citizens of louisa C. II. cannot be sufi
GENTLY thanked by for the exceeding and unceaS-
ing favorS which many of them beStow on those
whom they have received from the bloody hospitals.
There is but one limit to their kindness and that is
their ability They even forget or disregard their
own affction in their work of mercy for the relief
of others As our friends must struggle in fields of
blood let us thank kind heaven that they are near
such noble and charitable homes. | am told that
other places in Virginia evnce the same uncalcuat
ing devotion to their defenders. From the young
and beautiful to the aged and venerable ALL all are
extending hands and hearts to help and bless"
The same is true as to Suffolk, Norfolk, Ports
mouth Petersburg, Richmond, Staunton, and indeed
every portion of the State. But especially is it true
of the ladies of Virginia who seem to live only for
the army. Hundreds Of them are necessarily en-
gagged in preparing and furnishing delicacies for the
sick-in nursing the wounded in their houses-in
making clothing for the troops, and in contributing
to render as comfortable as possible the brave de-
tenders of our liberties. We can conceive of no
work more holy The Southern soldier in this war
can call God 10 witness that his cause is just lie
is contending for life, liberty, and happiness, not
merely for himself but for all others whom he has
left behind him. He is no mercenary in any sense
all he asks is to be clothed and fed to have his fam
~ cared for while he IS away, and to be kindly
treated when sick or wounded. A "cup of cold wa
ter given to such mankind ministrations to him
while PROSTATE with disease or from wounds recev
ed in his countrys service, will be rewarded here
and hereafter.
The ladies of Virginia, and the people of Virginia
are doing their whole duty. When the war ceases,
and when the thousands of the Confederate States
who have been thus kindly cared for shall return to
their homes they will bear testimony to their child
rem and their children's children that Virginia, in
the great contest of 1861 for civil liberty was truly
nursing mother" to the afflicted soldier; and
that the bravery other vas if possible eclpsed
by the benevolent and selfsacrifcng disposition of
her daughters. We trust that the battle may be
kept from our doors; but if Virginia shall be
Carolina, our people will emulate the conduct of
heir sister State and devote themselves as one body
10 the common defence. Such people can never
be governed by usurper, much less conquered
The subjugation Of Virginia and North Carolina
would simply imply humiliation. They will never
submit to Lincoln's goyernment--they will never
unite themselves again with the non-slaveholding
StateS-they will never again be bound by the Con-
stitution which Lincoln has broken-nerer! neUer!
They have said it. and they will seal il with their
last drop of blood.