The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-04-19
Stirring and Decisive News-virginia Sc
observation-disclosures and the Line Of the
Potomac to be the Hattie Field.

Stirring and Decisive News-Vfrginia Sc
gton and the Line Of the
Potomac to be the Battle Field.
Virginia has seeded. She has taken this
dreadful leap in the dark, and terrible to her,
we fear, will be the consequences. A revolu-
tionary army, under Governor Wise, is sup
posed to be moving upon Washington; the
federal forts and other property in North Caro-
lima, it is reported, have been seized in the
name of the State; and from these and other
Southern reports it is morally certain that Wiz
ginia will very soon be followed by North
Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky and Arkansas.
The number of States thus arrayed on the side
of the Southern confederacy will be twelve,
with apopulation exceeding ten millions
Delaware stands unquestioned in her loyalty,
Maryland is apparently immoveable, and
Missouri, we dare say, from her peculiar posi-
ton and from her preponderating Northern
and European settlers, will hold fast to the
cause of the North. Thus the flag of the
United States and the North will have popu-
lation exceeding twenty millions to uphold it;
while the defensive cause of the seeded
States, with about half this aggregate popula-
ton, will be encountered with that fearful item
in sectional war of over three millions Of
African slaves. A brilliant spontaneous mani
festation of the Union loyalty of Maryland
occurred at Baltimore yesterday. A body Of
secessionists on Federal Hill tried the expert
ment of hosting the secession flag and firing q
secession salute; but with the frat discharge or
two of their cannon, the Union operatives from
the neighboring foundries and workshops turned
ont and quickly dispersed the revolutionists
From this significant incident, aud from the
Union serenade to Governor Hicks and his
Union speech the other evening, we confidently
believe that Baltimore and Maryland will stand
the tug of war for the Union.
This gratifying attitude Of Maryland keeps
open several railway lines of communication
with the North, to say nothing Of the military
advantages of the water line of Chesapeake
Bay. Hence, If the Southern invading army
are not in Washington before tomorrow morn.
ing, the probabilities are that they win not
very soon attempt its occupation. The Massa-
chusetts regiment, the New York Seventh regi-
ment, and the troops pouring In from Pennsyl-
give General Scott an available defensive force
for the federal capital of at least ten thousand
effective men. Governor Wise and Major Ben
McCulloch will hardly venture upon the ex-
pulsion of this defensive army under General
Scott unless they can bring q force of twenty
thousand Of their raw recruits to The
conflict. The name Of Scott is in itself
tower of strength, of discipline and con-
fdence, to the troops under his command, and
his is name, too, which will be respected by
his enemies.
II appears, however, to be the settled pur-
pose Of the Southern revolutionists to expel
the administration of Abraham Lincoln from
its seat of authority. The Secretary of War at
Montgomery, in speech there on the receipt
of the news of the evacuation of Fort Sumter,
exultingly predicted that the Confederate
States would be in occupation of the city of
Washington by the LIST of May. This would
seem to indicate an extensive organization for
this object. AT all events, no man can longer
entertain any doubts Of the sagacity which
marked the precautions Of General Scott in re-
ference to Mr.. Lincoln's Inauguration, When
our vigilant old General-in- Chief first sounded
the alarm last December, the New YORK
HERALD came promptly to bis assistance, as
will be seen from various extracts which we
reproduce this morning on the subject from
our columns. For example, on the lst aud Sd
of January we suggested the concentration at
Washington Of sixty thousand men; aud again,