The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1861-05-16


"The Capital has never been threatened by
us. 1t is not now threatened. 1t is beyond
and outside the limits of the sovereign STATE of
Virginia. The North has not openly and &C
cording to the usage of civilized nations, declar
ed war on us,and we make no war on them, hut
should the soil of the grave Of Washington be
polluted by the tread of single man in arms
from north of the Potomac it will cause open
war"
The above is the substance of manifesto put
forth few days since by Gen. Cooke of Vr-
ginia. It is of a piece with the general tactics
adopted by the secessionists. They constantly
declare that they are not making war do not
propose to, and all they want is to be let alone.
This was the cry when the batteries We're being
erected all around Fort Sumptor, and floating
batteries were being builtaIl with an eye sing lie
to the final event, the bombardmeut and capture
! Of the Fort. They were allowed 10 carry on
their work and preparations for months with
out any moestation because they were not ma
king against the United States. All they
wanted was to be let alone, and they were let
alone until they had their preparations all made
and then they opened their fire upon Fort
Sumpter, and finally took it. Still, they made
no war upon the United States, according to
their own account.
The same course was purs ned at Fort Pick
ems, only they were not let alone quite long
enough, They got together an army Of five or
six thousand men at Pensacola took the U. S.
/ Navy Yard and several Forts, and went sys-
tematically to work to reduce Fort Pickens.-
They erected batteries, dug entertainments, and
planted cannon. And all this time they were
declaring that they made no war on the United
States, and protested strongly against any rein
forcement of Fort Pckens; any movement on
the part Of the United States Government to
strengthen the garrison or furnish them pro-
visions would be considered declaration of
war. But Fort Pickens, thank Heaven, has
been reinforced, and put beyond any attempt
of the Rebels
And now the entire force Of the Confederate
States is being concentrated in Virginia, in the
immediate vicinity Of the National Capital, with
the avowed purpose of attacking it as soon as
they can perfect preparations. Yet Gen. Cooke
comes out with the declaration that The Cap
ita has never been threatened by US" (the
Virginians) but all this time Virginians al busy
raising, equipping and drilling armies, captur-
ing U. S. arms whenever it can be done The
U. S. Arsenal at Harper's Ferry has been ta-
ken, the U. S. Navy Yard and Government
stores at Norfolk have been taken and are now
held by Virginians and Union men everywhere
in the eastern portion Of the State have been
mobbed, lyuched and driven cut of the State,
and yet according to this Gen. Cooke, Virgin
ia makes no war on the United States, and on
ly wants to be let alone-until the rebels are
all ready to attack the capital of their country
in their own way.
But the closing clause OF this manifesto of
this Gen. Cooke, is the most arrogant and i'll
sulting "Should the soil of the grave Of Wash |
ington be polluted by the tread of a single man
in arms from north of the Potomac, 1T VIII cause
open war" Talk of a man from north of the
Potomac pOltutiRg the soil of the grave ot Wash
ington. 1t needs an army OF armed Northern
patriots aho are ready to lay down their lives
for the principles for which Washington fought,
tors and Larricdes. Do the Southern traitors
claim as their special birth,right the grave of
Washington? Why have not the patriotic
women of the whole county raised the means
and bought!the grave of Washington? And has
not the greatest share of that purchase money
come from the Free Nerth The accident of
location gives those traitor Virginians no spe-
cal right to the grave of the Father of his coun-
try Ali true and loyal men who love the
principles and revere the name of Washington
may claim right in his grave and tread its
soil without polluting it. But are these Virgin
ians now in arms for the ayowed and express
purpose of destroying the Government that
Washington and his compatriots established,
such kind of men ? Let their acts answer.