The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-05-27
Alrtlmn1ln Dispatrb.
MORNING 81 1881
FROM PORTSMOUTH.


EsT PokIshoUTH, VA, May p, 1861.
How many so-calied informed men have
read the debates in the Federal Couvent ton of
lI6I How many in the enlightened. progress
sive, intellectual and Free-SOl North have
formed their opinions of the Government of
the United StStes upon such reasoDing2 In
relation 10 the question of coercion and force,
which the vulgar and coarse grained Ape of
| Illinois Is attempting TO make a practical one,
% Mr. Madison lin that Federal CoByen ton !
observed that the more he reelected on the use
OF force, the more he doubted the practical
bilty, the Jus tice and the efficiency of IT, when
applied TO people collectively, and not indi-
yIduaily. union Of the States containing
such an ingredient seemed to provide for its
own destruction. The use of force against a
state would look more like a declaration of
| war than an inf,iction of punishment and
| would probably be cons sidered by the party at
| tackled as dissolution of all previous con-
| tracts BY which it might be bound He hoped
fhat such syten would be framed as mig 1t
| render this resources unnecessary, and moved
/ that the clause be postponed. The motion
| was agreed to, mem c1a."
But then, the ape who has been elected by
| the Black Republican yandals, wishes to tscer-
tain " " neither we have Government t.
a National, Consolidated Empire - him
| self its head-such as the Governments OF
| England, France or Russia. And in order to
| this lie has waged war not against one State,
| but several States, assuming the powers of an
| A utocr4t and a Dictator; and, tanned in his
| purpose by the demoralized sectionalism
4
pied by 4 Washington and Il Jefferson, whose
| shoes iatchet he is unworthy to unloose.
Virginia has proclaimed at the baiiot-bOx
| that she will never submit 10 such q tram D.
| ling upon the Coustitu tIon land such a usurpa-
| tlon. She has now severed herself fore er from
| the unholy alliance, and is now belligerent,
ready, aS she has ever been, to sacrifice all III
| the cause Of liberty, and the right of people
to choose their own rulers and their own form
of Government. But not only has the warn
ing OF Mr. Madison been disregarded The
voice OF Elbridge Gerry, the Massachusetts
delegate, IS now Enheeded by the ape and his
Northern horde. BE warned the Con Vention
against pushing the experiment too fur
the experiment OF eIuascula ting the State Gov
ernments, and the formation and establish
ment of a centralized and consolidated Gov
ernment. ''Some people, he said, ''will sup
port n plan OF vigorous Government at every
risk" Such are the Illinois Ape and his
equally aplsh supporters. Others of Il more
Democratic caste, - he concluded, "will op
pose it with equal determination, and
Il civl war may be produced by the con-
fiict." Such was the prophetic language of
Gerry, and such is the war now existing.
But, must back 10 the present. An ignorant
and misIed man, by the name of Charles Bal
lentine, came 10 ine yesterday morning and
begged iuterceSsion Tor him. He had been
stricken from the roll OF the Home Guard in
GUsport, for voting against ratification OF the
Ordinance OF Secession. He seemed much
gIieN Ned-Said he coua not read, and had voted
Il ticket handed him by one in whom he placed
confidence. "Do you think, said he, 81 would
fight against our people mo sir, never 81
have been deceived Perhaps there are other
cases among the - of this character.
Capt. Frost, of Company k--the Light
Guard, OF the First Regiment Louisiana Vol
unteers-met with II serious accident yester-
day, at the camp at Maniove's. He was drill
ing his company. The men were in position
10 resist Il charge--the front rank kneeling and
the rear standing. lie approached 10 give in
structOn TO one of his men in the front rank,
as to the proper position IN which he should
hold his musItet. In doing so, the bayonet OF
the lnln in the rear pierced his eye. AT first
the captain felt no inconvenience, regarding
II AS slight priclupg, and even continued the
drill, b3t, after retAnng TO his tent, SO intense
became the pain, that he WAS brought III the
city i'll hand car, and IS now at the Ocean
House. 1t is to be hoped the brain was not
netrated, as is feared, and that he viii, i'll
due time, recover.
Paymaster Peters commenced pay ing OFT at
the Navy Yard yes terday, and viii continue
day until all the employees receive their
wages. / observe that the vUiuute IN
Washington have been told they will have to
wait for their pay untl after the meeting of
Congress. / hear that things Ut the Navy
Yard are now in way 10 work well, and
that in a short time order and efficiency Will
reign. Progress has SO far been mace with
the sloOp- Ot-War Preble as TO render one half
of her port-hoieS visible. In short period
she will be raised, ana il due time docked.
Gen. Huger J saw yesterday. He visited
the Navy I ard, and viii assume the COM
sprightly, active, and energetic looking man,
aud 10 doubt VIII tulfiii the public expecta-
tions which his reputation as Il soldier justly
warrants.
Col. Jas Gregory Hodges, formerly in COM
mand Of the 81 Reg ginent Virginia Volunteers,
left here to-day to report in Richmond He
is n young man, animated by noble emuIa-
ton, and bears with him the good wishes of
the whole comm unity. He is a native OF this
city, and 10 doubt feels that its honor and
reputation are now allied with his own. lie
will bear himself Well wherever his lot may
be cast.
Lieut.. Col. Vincent, with the Mon tgomery
Guards and Dayis Guards, are now encamped
| at ST Julien, the farm OF sam uel NJ. Wilson,
Esq, President of the Seaboard Road. These
companies marched from the Depot 10 the
camp ground i'll 43 Minutes, q distance Of i J
miles.
Private Hunt, of the Gulf City Guards,
the sentry who shot Lieut.. Storrs, has been
rernanded for trial before the CircuitSuprene
Court. -tr...r..e
1t is said Lieut.. 0tey, V. NJ. L.. fired the
first shot at the Monticello, and Capt. Lamb
of the Woods Rifles, fired the second.
The day is bright aad warm, and the city
and locality comparatively quiet. [ have as
certained, since writing the foregoing, that
the injury sus tanned by Capt. Frost is not of
so serious a nature as at first apprehended -
He is q present not likely 10 lose his eve, and
Will probably be out IN "a few days.
OLD DOMINION.
Correspondence Of the Richmond Dispatch.
AFairS in Old Louisa