The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1861-05-21
| GREAT SCARE AT RICHMOND.
Fist Families Frightened into Fits!

Last nights southern mail, which brought
us the Richmond newspapers, shows that that
city is 10 state of the utmost alarm, from
apprehcnsions Of an early attack by the fed
eral troops. Terror inspired by the supposed
the competence Of their leaders, doubt az to
the result of the battle, and overmastorlng
anxiety to inspire the public mind with sense
Of peril and to summon it to degree Of ener-
gy corresponding to the great emergency, are
the feeling that now predominant at Rich
mond and cause the editorial pages Of its
journals to bristle all over with exciting arti-
cles, which seem as if written by publicts
with their hair standing on end from electri-
fying terror. Nothing but quotations can
convey any adequate idea Of the nervous ye-
hemence Of these articles.
at is our duty" exclaims the Richmond
Examiner, at the beginning of its leading ed
i,orial Of Monday, "to announce that Virginia
will certainly and speedily be invaded by tie
army Mt Washington. This announcement is
not made at tho result Of reasoning, spccnla
tion or appc ayance, but as fact certainly
known, and o. which all who are concerned
in Virginia she lid be msde aware Of. 1t is
ssLlied in ne cabinet ,1unciis of Abraham
Lincoln at Washington; forces are now Or
gan zed for the effort under the direction OF
General Scott" The Examiner proceeds to
give whole lumn of reasons in support OF
lis opinion, and then goes on 10 paint in lu'
rid and direful col)rs, the consequences OF
failare TO win the approaching battle.
A great deal Of painful distru-t seems to be
felt at Richmond rs to the competency and
efficiency Of the State government and mill
tary officers. The Examiner says this is not
a time to critciso those who hold the powers
of the State in their hands, for it is impossi-
bic, by legal means, TO change them. "But,"
says the Examiner, al our rulers are imbe.
Giles or traitors, If our Generals are tmid o.
tuvuuPctcu,, tncn tr nre lost
people" Doubts Of their leaders appear not
only il such expressions at those now quoted
out still more paiuly in sepcrato article do
siderating the immediate presence Of Jrtf.
Davis at The scene Of action. From this ar.
ticlo we mike the following extract:
The presence Of Jefferson Davis in Rich
mond would be worth an army of fifty thou
sand mon. He is the man for Tho hour He
would be obeyel. He could inspire conf
d"nce AMI o'de', and energy evcryw here.
With cheers, or troops viii dgbt,snd perhaps
win tie battle, - i lin victory would
he ura. and cHau u.c>ne cerlaiut-
w ncet a =" ol....)nary so,ernm"n' and
-Hroln'; yrv 'ader. ;yHsn The absolute
ruin Of tbe entire popw1tia. crl t." deoth
er'ie # all hGt is best aaI JrdUest in
nation are he stakes IN tie great game Of
c,oa accr, legaL forms and calculating eeoao-
my are simply 'fiotic Energy hat cara for
nothing but the States safety ia now the
greatest Of human virtues in government
This is to say, the condition Of things a.
Richmond is one Of such extreme peril that
the only sure hope Of rescue is in military
leader of desperate energy, who would not
scruple to trampe under foot all legal forms
and assume the tyranicsl authority of An ab
solute dictator. To Ibis complexion has it
already cone-that the people who, n few
days ago, cast off the mild and just authority
of the federal government, are now Wiling
to surrender their liberties into the hands Of
a reckless military chief rs the only means Of
security N. Y. World.