The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-05-10
A soufherM View OF AAAirs..What
n Expected Of Virginia.

= Expected Of Virginia.
The success Of BEAuaEGAaD over AMBER
SON, in reducing Sumpter, at Charleston,
with an assailing force of q hundred against
one, has given rise to the most preposterous
hopes in the minds Of many Southern lead
ers. The Mobile Advertiser says, that,
following that event, popular attention
through the South was instantly and anx-
iously directed to Virginia, to see what
effect the first serious conflict between the
opposing forces would have upon the
mother of States. The Advertiser predicts
rebellion as the result; that Virginia win
soon be enrolled among the "Coniederate
States of America J" that the fires lighted
at Charleston will ignite the revolutionary
element there, and "cause an explosion
right under the walls Of Washington, which
will shake L1NcoLN's government to its
foundation, and drive him q fugitive from
his seat" The advertiser further predicts,
as follows:
Virginia up in arms, and Lincoln will then
be at once face to face with the war which he
has forced upon us in our homes; and he and
his party will be taught the bitterest repent
ance for the uncomfortable criminalty of
course which involves their country and ours
in the disaster of war. Virginia up in arms,
her legions threatening or occupying the CAPT.
tai of the United States, and peace will at
once be conquered, we believe. The fugitive
administration sheltered in some secure place
to which it will have fed, will no longer hest.
tate to recognize our independence, when the
heart of its country is menaced by victorious
armies, and its own people are crying aloud to
it to avert the horrors which menace them.
Virginia up in arms, and we command the
United States; our pathway to the central
heart of its empire is open and cannot be OBJ
structed. . s-sIF
Without stopping now to demonstrate the
extent of the mistake under which the
Advertiser labors, with regard to the tenn.
per, purposes, and power of the North, we
can't help noticing the fact that the Vir-
ginia of which it treats is not the Common.
wealth of to-day, but of near half a century
ago. From twenty to fifty years back,
Virginia did exercise controlling influence
in the government, and shape to great
extent even the legislation of States, North
and South. But that was when the Moth
er Of s tates was sustained by the sympa-
thy of the communities which had been
peopled in part by her emigrants, and had
started into existence on the soil which had
been given by her to the country. That,
too, was when Virginia was rich, and able
to boast of her superiority over most of her
sisters, as she did during the crisis of ~
when the faith of the Old Dominion was
kept untarnished amid the universal wreck;
but such is not the condition of Virginia
to-day. The children have outgrown the
mother in wealth, population and power,
nearly every one of them and the sympa-
thy and support which was formerly the
secret of her moral strength, are not mere.
ly taken from her now, but are turned
against her. Instead of being in sound
financial condition, as she was then, the
public debt Of Virginia now reaches near
fifty millions, with diminished resources, and
ruined credit. 1t is more than likely that
when the July payday comes around, Vir-
ginia will take her place on the dishonored
list of repudiating States.
Thirty years ago, the proposed secession
of Virginia would have appalled, the North
ern heart; to-day, the nominal accomplish.
ment of the fact will not give the Northern
heart single quickened Autter. Virginia
can take her course, at her option; but,
whatever that may be, it will scarcely infu.
ence, it certainly cannot alter or delay the
settlement of the present difficulties in fa-
vor of the Federal Government. Virginia
may vote herself out of the Union, but she
will never get out. The bones of Wash,
ington will never rest in soil protected by
any other flag than that, which, for near a
century, has been the symbol of the power
as well as the honor of the United States Of
America.