New-York daily tribune., 1861-05-27
THEY MUST FrGuT:

The news of Gen. ScOtts demonstration on
Virginia was flashed all over the SOuth--so far,
at least, as New. Orleans, ard Jefferson, Missouri
--on Friday last 1t will no longer be possible
TO make even the crazest and most benlghted
traitor believe that President Lincoln is trembling
n the White House, and anxOusly looking for
chance to escape into the FREQ States-that Sec
retary Cameron is begging jeff. Davis to consent
TO an armistce-that Gen. Scott has lost his
faculties, and doesn't know which way to turn
that Washington is invested by tie Secession
forces, and the women aud children ileoing for
their lives, &C., &c. All these stories are ex-
tinguished, aud the inventive genius OF Secession
fabricators subjected to terrible clog by the na-
ked undeniahe fact that the Union Volunteers
have deliberately crossed the Potomac in force,
have captured Arlington IIghts and Alexandra
without contest, and are pushing out strong
patrols if not detachmeuts toward Manassas Gap,
and threaten 10 advance on Winchester turoing
the traitor advanced post at HarPcr's Ferry,
and cutting its communications with CulpepPer
Court.House and Richmond; while that post is
strongly observed if not Immediately threatened
from Cbambcrsburg and Gen. Butler mcnace'
Norfolk, Petersburg, and Richmond, from his i'm
pregnable stronghold, Fortress Monroe. So much,
the Secession oracles can hardly disguise from
| the bndest deyoteos Of treason; and it sweeps
away the refuge of lies in which they have been
| Iuxuriating since the Full of Sumter.
| Now, the Southern lcvies ore brave but i'm
petuous; they do not take kindly to discipline;
they are better adapted to any other ordeal than
that involved in patent adherence aud sel-saerl-
! fee TO lost or falling cause 1hrce-fcurths Of
! them enlisted for dash at Washiogton, in the
undoubtiug belief that they would capture that
city within month, and that jeff. Davis would
be quietly established there before tho ith OF
July.
VIII such men be content 10 cover Richmond
instead Of mcnncng Washington VIII il do to
let the Cotton States fully understand that the
main Secession army has its choice between fsht-
ing Gen. Mansfield on the psios of Fairfax And
pushing Gen. Butler back into Fortress Monroe
and investing him there yet dares launch de-
cided blow al neitherl If it has to do this, then
treason is far weaker and more forlorn in Vir-
ginia than we have supposed it. Rely on it, the
gage 60 emphaticaly thrown down by Gen. Scott
must be taken up. The Grayson Daredo'I',
the " Itawamba Irrepressbles," the Tishemin-
"go lnsncibles, and other birds Of like feather,
will insist on a fight; aud if a fight is not bad,
The rebels rM kno,c hOt hsy are beaten.
, OF course the risk of Offering battle to the
main patriot army near Washington, brave
a. the leading traitors doubtless are, they may
well shrink from. But treason is rot safo
game any how, sld this is no time 70 hedge. II
they can surprise our outposts by night attack,
inhcting considerable damage aud receiving some
what less--if Gen. Butler can bo drawn into 4
trap aud roughly handled BY twice or thrice his
force-or il Gen. Johnston can advance from
| Harper's Ferry, taking the Pennylyai ian, ut .
disadvantage, or cooperating with q minight. In
surrecton in Baliimore-thi necessity Of a more
decisive action may be obgiated; but II DAVIS
aud Dealregard have $4,000 men i'll hand they
must strike bow this week or virtually con
fees their cause hopeless We look for
stirring work since their loss Of prestige by in.
acton can be little less disastrous than the losa
| Of. battle.