The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-06-12


A Boston paper says, "nothing can be more
gratifying to the pride OF Massfc husetts than
TO know that her troops were the first to tread
the soil of Virginia in this righteous war.
Alas, cir, you poorly remember how much
this Republic owes to Virginia, when you re-
jo,ca to see her soil invaded her sovereignty
menaced, and her people threatened with fire
and sword by the soldiers of another State
You forget. II, indeed, your binding bigotry
and hate ever permitted you to know it, that
1t was to Virginia, more than to any other
State, that we owe the Democratic form of our
Government, At the close OF the Revolution,
the Massachusetts statesmen were for estab-
fishing q Government here that should be al
most absolute in its powers that should be
monarchical in everything but its name and
they were prevented from doing so mainly by
the superior wisdom, energy and patriotism
of the statesmen of Virginia. 1t is not un-
dervaluing any other State to say that no
State in this Union has done so much for the
general welfare Of the nation as Virginia
When the young Confederation had completed
the model of splf-government drawn by the
sta tesmen of Virginia, IL found itself in debt.
and knew not how TO meet the expenses OF it's
first being. Virginia was the first to respond
TO it's pressing demands, and magnanimously
coded the whole of her immense domain be-
yond the Ohio, out of which the great States
of the Northwest have been formed. And
that its lands might be brought into market
and their sale made profit to government as
-oon as possible, she stipulated that all
States formed out of that territory should be
uon- slavehoking States as it was also the
first in exterminating the "slavs' trade, and
hat, 100, while the people of New England
were in favor Of continuing it. How was it
iii the war OF 1877 That war was fought as
much for the protec ton of the commerce Of
New England rs any thing else, and Virginia
was the first in the field, freely spending her
blood and treasure, while the people of New
England themselves refused to contribu te Il
dollar or a man to the war. In the war
OF the Revolution Virginia stript her
self both OF men and money to aid
the North. Her soldiers We're quick to
fly to Boston at The first tap oithe war
urum--they were at White Plains at Harlem
and wherever else the toe TO our country
was TO be found. And we blush to think that
when afterwards the tide of battle rolled
South, and Virginia needed our aid, we did not
a. promptly res pond as she had flown to aid
US. During the winter and spring OF 1871, she
was suddenly Invaded by two hostile arma-
ments, one lead by CORVALLIS from the Sou tn,
md the other by Philips and Arnold from
the North. Virginia had expended her re-
sources on the battle fields OF the North-her
magazines, her arsenals, her Golfers and mill
tary stations were exhausted. She called
upon us for aid, which did not give her
and how bitterly she felt The disappointment,
may be sen by reference to remonstrance OF
IN. Virginia L. gisla ture of 1881, from which
the following l. an extract:
ERE the war began, we heard the cries of
our brethren at Boston, and paid the tax due
20 distress. We accompanied our Northern
allies during almost every progressive stride
il made here danger seemed to solicit our
ardor. We oied with them "a Z pebec at Bos-
ton, at Harlem, AT White PIaius, at Fort
Washington, at Brandy wine, at German
town, at Mud Island, at White Marsh, at
Saratoga, at Monmouth, and at Stony Point
We almost stood alone at Fren ton and Prince
ton, and during the winter campaign which
followed" But when, adds the Legislature.
''ioe canae to look for our Northern allies. at
ter we had thus exhausted our powers in
dAfQ laU ylyAr 49, r. VI
felt that they were absent at Stone, at Sayan-
nah, at Charleston, al Monks Corner III Blu
lord defeat, at Lanneau's + cry, at Camden,
at Kings Mountain, at Cowpens, ana AT
GeorgeLown."
But We are not absent now. There is no de.
aging the fact that we are prompt enough
now! And the partiz, leaders OF Massa-
chusetts are dancing with glee at the idea that
her soldiers were the first TO put a hostile foot
upon the soil of Virginia, the real mo Their nor
ouly OF States and of Presidents but of the
Republic itself! We have profound respect
Tor the feelings OF a gentleman who said ia
our hearing the other day, 1" have sent two
sons away in our volunteer army have sent
them AS TO a funeralj and while this war lasts
L snail remain as mourner," But, for the
wretch who can rejoice TO see our whole coun-
try plunging into blood, and feel pride in the
thought that the soldiers of his State shall
Durn and plumber and murder the people of
Il sister State, and that Sta to- too, old Virginia
we have feelings OF contempt and sorrow
which no language can describe. If we must
have war, we need not also cea Sc to be human
If We must fight, we need not be savages A
minister in Concord, N. H, in addressing n
regiment OF volunteers the other day, said
whenever you get your eyes on slave
holder, aim at his heart" Such man would
OF course, shoot Washing ton il ne We're alive
Into what gulf of moral political and reli-
gious depravity have we plunged Does anv
man Imagine that the institutions of freedom
can long survive in the midst OF such spirit
OF wrong and violence2