Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1861-07-27

Inauguration. gave no troops to the
cause Of the Union. The Border States,
so-calIed, were not uniform in their nc
ton, some of them being almost . ma
iority for the Union, while in others, -,
Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee
and Arlxansas, the Union sentiment was
nearly rcpressed and silsncsd.
The course taken in Virginia was the
moet remarkable, perhaps the most Inn
portant. A convention, elected BY the
State to consider this very question Of
disrupting the Federal Union, was in
session ut the capital Of Virginia when
Fort Sumter fell. To this body the
people had chosen large majority Of
protested Union men. Almost imme-
diatcly after the fall Of Sumter, many
members Of that majority went over to
the original Disunion minority, and
with them adopted On ordinance for
Withdrawing the State from the Union.
Whether the change was wrought by
their great approval Of the assault upon
Sumter, or their great resentment at the
Governments resistance to that assault,
is not definitely known. Although they
submitted the ordinance for the ratifi-
cation to vote Of the people, to he tn
ken on day somewhat more than
month distant, the Convention aud the
Legislature, which was also in session
at the same time and place, with lead
ing men of the State, not members Of
either body, commenced acting a. If the
State were already out of the Union.
They pushed military preparations Wig.
orously forward all over the State. They
seized the United States Armory ut
Harpcr's Ferry, and the Navy Yard at
Gosport, near Norfolk. They received,
perhaps invited, into their State large
bodies Of armed troops, with their war
like appointments. from the so-called
seeded States. They formally entered
into treaty of temporary alliance and
cooperation with the so.called Confed.
crate States, and sent members to their
Congress at Montgomery. And, finally,
they permitted the insurrectionary gov
crnment to be transferred to their Cap
ital at Richmond. The people of Vir-
ginia have thus allowed this giant insur-
rection to make its nest within its bor-
dcrs, and the Government has no choice
left but to deal with it where it found
it; aud it has the less regret, as the
loyal citizens have in due form claimed
its protection.
These loyal citizens this Government
is bound to recognize and protect, as
being Virginians. In the Border States,
so-ca|lcd, and in fact the Middle States,
there are those who favor policy which
they call EARNED neutrality that is.
arming of those States to prevent the
Union forces passing one way, or the
Disunion forces the other, over their
soil. This would be Disunion compile.
ted; tignratively speaking, it would he
the building Of M impossible wall along
the line Of separation, and yet not quite
an impossible one, for. under the gnise
Of neutrality, it would tie the hands of
Union men, and freely pass supplies
from among them to the instruction
ists, which it could no. do as an open
enemy. At a stroke, it would take all
the trouble off the hands Of Secession,
except only what proceeds from the ex-
termal blockade. It would do for the
Disunionists that which Of oil things
they most lesirc-feed them we'll, and
give them Disunion without struggle
OF their own. It recognizes no fidelity
to the Constitution. no obligation to
maintain tho Union; and while very
many who have favored it are doubtless
loyal, it is nevertheless injurious in eff
feet, and embarrassing to tho action of
the Government. ~
First, call was made for Is, 900 mi
litia, and rapidly following this, proc
lamotiom was issued for cl0sing the ports
of the insurrectionary districts by pro-
ceed;mgs in the nature Of blockade. |
So far, all WIS believed to be strictly
legal. At this point, the insurrection-
lists announced their purpose tn enter |
uron the practice OF privateering. Other |
calls were made for volunteers to serve |
three years, unless sooner discharged,
and also for large additions to the reg
ular Army and Navy. These measures,
whether strictly legal or not. were ven- |
tured upon under what appeared q pop
Mar demand and public necessity. |
Trusting then. as now, that Congress
would readily ratify them, it is believed
that nothing has been done beyond the |
Constitution or the competency Of Con. |
gross.
Soon after the frst call for militia, It |
was considered duty to authorize the
Commanding General, in pr,per cases.
A. =