Smyrna times., 1861-04-25
MlSCELLAN N EOUS.
Coercion.

N1VAk2V6s
The leading paper of the North. in on artice !
headed, "The Great Conflict-Where Shall
the First Blow be Struck 7" uses the following
language:
The secession of Virginia has cleared the
skies. A treachereus enemy has deserted our
ranks, who, while she remaI aIned, was ncessaht
In her efforts to encourage the REBEL Oh, 10
SHIELD it's outrages, and 10 arm the traitors
With an assurance that she would join them at
she right moment IN OverihrowiDge Govern
nlent which she has been embarrassing to the
utmost Of her power by tel ned loyalty. She
has now elected TO make her soil the battle
field. She could not have done US a better
s.rvice.
Ifseeession was incomplete without Virgin
la. we can crush it in its great leader, VINO
brings it directly within reach of our blows
In debating terms to Virginia, we can do 1t 10
the whole Union. We can dictate these at
Richmond in siGty days, if t0e tOiH We can
now make the war short one. 1t should be
ended in one campaign. A column of $4,000
men should, at the earliest moment possible,
march from Washington on Richmond. An.
other, equally strong, should proceed from
James Rives TO Fort Monroe. Resistance to
Two well-appointed armies would be imposs-
BILE. Once at Richmond, we should hold 500,.
900 slaves, rated in Virginia to be worth $780,
0OO,0O0. as hostages for the good conduct OF
the enemy. Should we be forced to extreme
measures, all the other States would take
warning by the example made of their great
leader. 1t MIR. Lincoln does not now strike an
effectual blow, upon him will rest the respon.
sbility of a prolonged and cruel war. Ii Mr.
Buchanan had, at the right mement, seized and
hung halfdOzen OF the traitors, treason would
have been queled, and thousands of innocen
lsvos nd tbe # buO cod IF mill n
property, would have been saved. Let MIR
Lincoln take warning by the criminal neglec
of his predecessor, and learn that in a grea
emergency, prompt action, which may involve
10000 lives, will be the certain means of saw
ing ien-fod that number, and the horrors Of
prolonged civil war.
AT the very moment we are striking blow
at Virginia, we shoud fit out a large nava
aud military force to operate again the CotIo
States. Both Charleston and Sava nnah migt
be threatened and captured by force lande
ct Port Royal, a deep estuary about equi d Il
tant from these Two cities. The capture of th
city of Mobile, which is almost entirely uuprC
tected, would be an easy matter. New Oh
leans might be threatened assailed at tn
came time. Such expedition would kee
President Davis and ali the forces he coul
raise at h1ne, and constantly on the look OF
for his winged enemy, which, beyond reach {
attack, could select it's own lime and place
deal a decisive blow. Such a force woul
compel Virginia TO fight out her own battle
single-handed, and with probably half Of hC
people loyal, against the overwhelming fore
Of the United States.
Another point of great strategical impol
lance is Cairo, at the confluence of the Oh
and Mississippi Rivers. This comma ands con
pletely the States Of Missouri and Kentuck
and portion of Tennessee, and would be q
admirable base of operations tor u force sci
down The Mississippi. Upon this point lare
fsreo should be immediately concentrate
amply supplied wt'h materials and muniliol
of war.
Now that are in for a fight, let US fini'
itata blow The first thing is to know whe
We stand, 70 learn who are our friends, at
who our foes. Wo want no relations that ca
embsrrass the unity of Onr purposes or plan
We are infinitely stronger with Virginia
open enemy. than treacherous ally. If Ke
tueky. or Maryland or Tennessee. are n
heartily with Us, let them follow the exsmp
of Virginia. We want no friends who will
holding one Of our hs nds while we are strikir
with the other We not only want to ha-
the issue squarely presented, but We want Il
battle fought with the antagonists ranged u
der the appropriate banners.