The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-05-21
Adou,ed Citizens OF Virginia.

On Thursday next the adopted citizeus Of
Virginia will have such at opportunity rs they
have never before possessed Of tcsuiying theiF
loyai,y aud fidelity !, lie State when na' re-
eaived them lat, her own fanny ioid mas
,,,o.,.s ,b.m AS her Owl children, and, when
their rights were monaced by party "hlen
aimed ut their destruction, stepped forward
aud interposed Ler own gallant breast between
,bem ard their enemies. We know that they
,ant for an opportunity to demonstrate their
love and gratitude TO this great, generous and
noble Commonwealth, and are eager to exer-
else the proud prerogatives OF freeman,
vhish che has conferred upon them IN such
way as to ius are her Inc freedom which she is
STRUGGLING to maintain against despotlc OPP
nressors. They recognize the fact that their
supreme allegiance, like that OF natiVe-bofn
citizens of the State, is due to Virginia, ana
not to the Chicago platform, which has been
substituted by the LINCOLN party for the Con-
siitution Of tho United States. 1t Is pos
sible, however that some of their num-
Der do not realize the Importance OF vot-
ing, taking it for granted that a. they
200 no opposition to the Ordinance oil De-
cession, it will pas. without their assistance.
Hut if all voters should reason III this way,
tina, Ordinance might be defeated, because, IN
the Northwest and on the borders of Pennsyl-
vapia and the Ohio river, large numbers OF
Illegal voters will probably be introduced, who
will manage, through the aid Of a few crafty
and interruptions traitors in that se"tlon OF
the State, to misrepresent, and perhaps to sti-
a., the popular voice Indeed an Influential
paper in New Yerk, formerly the organ Of the
Know Nothing party, has threatened that we
shall ba invaded on that day, and holds up to
US tho infamous menace OF BILLY WILSON and
bis gang voting at Virginia ballot-boxes upon
.hs Virginia Ordinance of Secession. More
over, il is all important that tho vote shall be
full one, 80 as to express, beyond all mis-
take. the real sentiments Of the Virginia peo-
Die, and prevent our opponents from pointing
~ q thin vote, as an evidence that the people
were opposed to accession and stad
away from the polls. For 1t can
not be denied that they will consider
crerv cote uhich is not giren for Secession q
oipen for the Union. and that every man whc
does not vote against the old Union will b
looked upon to be as much for that Union Il
the man who actually votes for it. 1t is 70
these reasons that we earnestly invoke ever.
adopted citizen, who desires to repel the In
furious intimation that he is enemy of Viz
ginia, to vote on Thursday next upon tn
question whether Virginia shall be indcpend
ont, or whether she shall be enslayed. "
know that none of them desire her to he sui
jugated and that by their votes, rs well as b
their arms, they are all eager to make goo
her cause. 1t is only by negligence that eith'
adopted or native- born citizens can possibl
come short of their duty, and therefore W
would have one and all bear in mind tn,
neglect to vote On Thursday will be equiv!
lent to an actual vote for the old Union.
know that every Virginia heart is on fire wit
love and loyalty to the State; but the time
at hand when we must all show the inwal
sentiments by those outward signs" whic
oan alone complete and consummate the gem
tneness of our devotion.