Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-05-22

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The New York EDeniag Post declares;
II is plain that Davis. Intended Abe ere on
Sumter 70 be followed by an Immediate rush
tended to nse such troops az bis fellows In
Virginia could get together there. If the
convention had been able 10 pass q secession
ordinance ten days, before N did, this plan
would have been feasible. Davis would
have hurried by rail 10 Richuhond or Har-
per's Ferry, and at once precipitated such
/ forces as he found ready, upon the then
nearly defepstless capital.
Bot the Union men IN the convention
made an unexpected resistance. They b1ould
declare their sentiments-whieh consumed
hours precious, and not 10 be regained by
the conspirators. They fought treason inch
by inch, and by their slow retreat defeated
4 Davis. "Let me know what Virginia will
do2n implOred Governor ickens, telegraph.
ing the attack on Sumter to Letcher, who
could only answer bitterly The conven-
ton must decide" When the convention
did decide, by a forced vote, in secret ses-
sion, IL was already too late.
On the other hand, 90 confidently did the
conspirators rely on the prompt action of
their followers in Virginia, that when Floyd,
last year, under their orders, made his grand
distribution of Government arms to the
Southern Rrsenals, he sent none to his own
State, nor to Kentucky. The last they did
not trust.
They counted on the large supply known
TO be stored at Herpers Ferry and in the
Norfolk Maynard, wherewith to arm the
traitors of the Old Dominion. These were
within easy reach, and would be seized, so
they hoped, the moment they were needed.
But here again they were foiled. General
Scott bad the nipples taken from the arms at
Hsrper's Ferry a month before the Secession
of the State; and when the rebels moved on
the two arms depots, each was destroyed
before their eyes.
This was a fatal blow TO them. To day
the great cry of the Richmond papers is for
arms. 'Any thing will do to kill a man"
shouts the Examiner, in desperation, ga PEN
knife has been known to do its work more
effectively than O revolver" And all over
the State the cry of the traitors is for arms.
Thus the progress of treason is checked,
and in great part by its own blunders. Thus
is accounted for the haste Davis was in to
possess Washington; useless TO him, except
as the capital of a nation which he intended
to rule as dictator. Thus we see why he
could not carry out his proclaimed intention.
And his failure accounts for the very de-
cided change in the tone ofthe rebel leaders.
Mr.. Walker is reprimanded for making an
unauthorized statement. Letcher assures
the Government that he has no intention of
attacking Washingtons aud the journals
which rejoiced indiscrtetly in the contem-
plated capture of that city now take back
their b~oastings, and ask to be let alone.
They want a breathing spell. They need
time to send q supply of arms to Virginia.
But meantime they can not afford to wait.
The Government can. Already the export
of provisions from Virginia is prohibited by
Letcher. The army of traitors is consuming
the substance of the Old Dominion like an
army of locSsts. Their supplies from the
North and from abroad are cut of. They
must move, and they dare not.