The Burlington weekly hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington [Iowa]) 1860-1876, 1861-04-27
IN. Y. Herald, April Esd.
The Great COnflIct...Where shall the
First blows Fail!

The secession OF Virginia has cleared the skies.
treacherous enemy has deserted our ranks,
who, while she remained, was incessant in her
efforts to encourage the rebellion, to shield its
outrages, and to arm the traitors, with an assur-
ance that she would join them at the right mo.
has been embarrassing to the utmost of her pc "
or by feigned loyalty. She has now elected
to make her soil the battlefield.
If secession is incomplete without Virginia, we
crush it in its great leader, who brings it d.
rectly within reach of our blows. In debating
terms to Virginia, we can do it 10 the whole
Union. We can dictate these at Richmond in SIXTY
days, if zee ,riR. We can now make the war
short one. 1t should be ended in one campaign.
A column Of $4,000 men should, at the earliest
moment possible, march form Washington to
Richmond. Another, equally strong, should pro-
coed from James River to Fort Monroe. Rests
lance to two we'll appointed armies would be i'm
possible. Once at Richmond, we should hold
5oO.O 900 slaves, rated in Virginia to be worth
s400, 0O0, 900, as hostage for the good conduct
of the enemy. Shonld We be forced to extreme
measures, alfthe other States would take warning
by the example made of their great leader. If Mr..
Lincoln does not now strike an effectual blow,
npon him will rest the responsibility OF prolong.
ed and cruel war. In Virginia, as the head and
front of secession, we have position the most
vulnerably to attack. We hold complete control
of all her outlets to the seas. From Fort
Monroe expeditions can penetrate by water far
into her interior. Washington will soon be an
immense fortified camp. Expeditions can pene-
trate the State from Pennsylvania, at numerous
points on the North and on the West from the
Ohio, should not that section prove loyal, as we
firmly believe and hope it will. Threatened on
every side, she can concentrate no large bodies
of troops, if she had them. II she had such,
she could not keep them on the field tor want of
means She has money in her treasury She
cannot borrow dollar, nor can she raise any
considerable amount by taxation.
At the very moment we are striking blow
at Virginia, w9 should fit out a large naval and
military force to operate against the Cotton
States. Both Charleston and Savannah might
be threatened and captured by a force landed at
Port Royal, deep setusry about equally distant
from these two cities. The capture of the city
of Mobile, which is almost entirely unprotected,
would be all easy matter. New Orleans might
be threatened or assai!ed at the same time. Such
an expedition would keep President Davis and
all the forces he could raise at home, and con-
stantly on the lookout for his winged enemy,
which beyond reach of attack, could select its
own time and place to deal deceive blow
Such force would compel Virginia to fight ost
her own battles single handed.
Another point of great strategieal Importance
is Cairo, at the confluence of the Ohio and Miss
ssppi Rivers. This commands completely the
States of Missouri and Kentucky, and portion
oil Tennessee, and would be an admirable base
of operations for force sent down the Missss-
ippi Upon this point large force should be
Immediately concentrated, amply supplied with
materials and munitions of war.
Now that we are in for fight, let US finish it
at blow. The first thing is to know where we
stand, to learn who are our friends and who our
foes We want no relations that can embarras
the unity of our purposes or plans. We are IN
finitely stronger with Virginia an open enemy,
| than treacherous ally. If Kentucky, or Mary
land, or Tennessee are not heartily with US, let
them follow the example of Virginia. We want
| friends who will be holding one of our hands
| while we are striking them with the other. We
| not only want to ha, the issue sqaarely present
| ed, but we want the battle fought with the an
tagonsts ranged under the appropriate banners.
We cannot admit the right Of secession, be-
cause ne cannot admit proposition atGt anuotoes
our o,c,a destruction. If the will of particular
commuHity, or individual, is paramount, then we
accept anarchy as our necessary condition. We
never can admit such proposition. We will fight
to the last man and the last musket first. Meth
CIR will we admit slavery will be equally as dtsir
| able as freedom. When slavery assumes hos
ti!e atutuoe, anu 10 hSn'fAiS w. P"' N"'' o
our necks, we will put forth all our power to con
fine it within its present area, anc If no other re
sort is left us we will proclaim freedom in it:
! place Mr. Davis has taken the initiative, anC
invites pirates and prvateers to prey upon our
private property. We will show him that we car
retaliate with tho1sand fold force, and remove
from our system element which has brought
upon us our present misfortunes, which has al
ways been source Of discord, and which must
always continue to be SO while it exists.-lN
Times