The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-04-16


OF THE WAR NEWS IN vIRGINIA-The opening
of the war between the federal government and
the authorities at Montgomery brings the ques-
ton Of secession in practical form before the
Virginia Convention and the people Of Mary
land, Kentucky, Tennessee and Delaware. The
Virginia Convention is composed, a. it appears,
almost entirely of old fogies, who, Upon their
organization, resolved themselves into,a debat-
ing society, and have since continued to emit q
continued stream of talk. They were readyto
discuss anything in the world. except the mat
ter Immediately in hand, and they would have
gone on for q year or two talking about the
tides, the Thatcher comet, the next eclipse, the
quadrature OF the circle, or anything else.
Now, however, they must act The
President of the United States, exer-
Ching the power wberewith the con-
sttution clothes him, has called upon the
States which adhere to the Union for certain le-
vies Of troops, and the question as to whether
or not Virginia will furnish her quota must be
passed upon by the Convention. At the same
are pressing the Old Dominion to come over to
their side. For our own part we firmly believe
that Virginia win not secede, aud II is almost
needless to state that the other border States
will follow in the wake Of the Old Dominion.
l. is more than probable that these
States will maintain position of armed neu-,
traiity- defending themselves against any ag.
gressions Moth or Southland inhibiting the
transportation of troops through their terri
tory. If the border States Semain in
this position of observation. preserving
jealousy the integrity Of their soil, the war be-
tween the North and the South will be short
one. The North has the ships, the military
supplies, and the army and munitions of war.
That the South is in no condition to make
offensive war there can be no doubt whatever
The South has men enough, but no money where
with TO carry on great conflict In the North
we have at least two hundred millions of dollars
hard cash, which could be placed Immediately
at the disposal Of the government. Men also
are plenty, and there is evidently an earnest iu-
tention to support the government and to pre-
serve the integrity of thu republic among all
parties. Provided that the border States set
up an impossible barrier between the Northern
and Southern armies, military operations
against Washington are altogether impractical
BILE, aad the Northern generals will be masters
Of the situation. With ships-oi.war TO operate
upon the Southern cities, from Charleston
around 10 the mouth Of the Mississippi; with the
closing OF every port Of entry between VIII
mington and Galveston: with vigorous opera
tons against The forts and arsenals OF the United
States, which the government most certainly
have the right to repossess, there can be no
doubt that the cotton States would In very
short time be glad to disarm and talk matters
over. IA things stand now, the government
has bat one course to pursue. The motto Of
John Hampden, mo steps Backward has
been adopted by the Lincoln administration,
ana the policy of the government meets the
approval Of the people of the great central
States, which. after all, must rule. Ma
poleon said that Providence was al
ways on the side Of the heaviest
artillery. We have not only the heaviest artil-
lery, but we have likewise the longest purse
and tina, is the prime requisite in modern war
fare. Il is fortunate for ua Of the Empire City
that we will be removed from the horrors of
war: and although We will be obliged to bear
"a expenses, the result will be on the whole
pccuniarily beneficial 10 the commercial metro
polls.