, 1861-05-13
4 GREAT SCARE AT RICHMOND.
Flrat Families Frfg d tened into Fits

Last nights southern mail, which brought
us the Richmond newspapers, shows that that
city Is In state Of the utmost alarm, from
apprehensions Of an early attack by the fed
ilnninence of the danger, m,sgiy1Dgs as'to
the competence Of their leaders, doubt as to
the result of the battle, and overmastering
anxiety to inspire the public mind With sense
Of per2l and to summon it to degree Of ener-
~ corresponding to the great emergency, are
and canse tbs editorial pages Of its -usna1s to
brist1e all over with exciting articles, which
seem as it written by pabllets with their hair
standing on end from eiectrifting terror.
Nothing but quotations can convey anY ade-
quate idea OF the nervous vehemence Of these
articles. 80
ut Is our duty" exclaims the Richmond
. Ena,ainer, at tha beginning Of its leading edit
osil ct Monday, to announce that Virginia
will certainly aud speedily be invaded by the
army n Washington. This a7nouncem. mt is
not made IS the result Of reasoning, spe.u!ar
ton or appearance, but as 1act certainly
known, and of which all who are coneernedin
Virginia should be made aware of It Is eet-
tie, in the cabinet couocIls Of Abraham Lin
coin at Washington; forces are now organiz-
ing for the effort under the direction ofGen-
eral Scott" The Ezansiner proceeds to give a
whole column OF reasons in support Of its
opinion, and then goes On to paint fn, Iurid
and djreful eolors, the consequences of1a fall
ure to win the approach ng battle. =:
a great deal o1 PAINFUL diBtrust seemB to be
/, felt at Richmond as to the competency and
efficiency OF the State government add
military officers The .Eraninsr says this ia
not time to criticiae those who hold the
| powers of the State in their hands, for It is
| Impossible, by Legal means, to charge them,
"But. - says the Ekdnaiszer, +" If our rulers are
"jmbeciles or t1a,tore, if cur generals are
"timid Of incompetent, then be snraof it we
"a1e lost people" Doubts OF their leaders
appear not only in such expressions as those
rate article deslderatipg the immediate pres
ence OF JEFF. Davis at the scene OF action,
From this article We make the following ex-
/ tract:
Tha presence Of Jefferson Davis In Richmond
| would be worth an army OF fifty thousand ruen
Ae il ths man for this hour: Hs would be obeyed.
Ey everywhere. With cheers, our troops will
light -xnt perhaps win the battle; but with, him
victory would te cure, and chance become GER
We need Il revolutionary government and rev.
olutienary leader, WAe.tAs a6seIute ruin of hs
entire population aad tie death or szite c al thai
grsat gafas e1 eisI ,ear, lga' ors md calculating
economy arr sin ply idtotsc Energy that cares I'll
nothing but the States safety IL nnv the greatest
| Of human Virtues In government.
Thst Is to Say, the condition Of things at
Richmond is one Of such extreme peril tbaa
the only cure hope Of reacue Is In military
ieader of desperate energy, who would no|
ecruple to tralnple under foot all legal forms
and assume the tyranical authority OF xn abso
/ 1ute Dictator. To this complexion has It al
ready cume-that the people who, few daYl
ago, cast of the mild and just authority of tht
isds5sa goxe1Tnsms9s a5s w. n9w S Filling 70 sqt
loss military chief as the only maans Of secu
| rity-N r Hp1jd,