The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1861-05-08
Hon. John Rel for the South.


i of the Speech of Hon John Bell, Hon. Edwin Ewing,
ard others, in public meeting, They come cut boldly
for united south The editor of the Nashville Banner
too who fought to the lost repudiated the old union
and like and royal man. stands by his own PEG
pie. From the Banner and Patriot, (late Union,) we
make extracts:
Hon John Bell spoke for about threequarters of an
hour stating in effect that far present duties and
responsibilities concerned the past is sealed book
The time for action and unity OF action III the south had
arrived and he for standing by the SOUTH and de-
Tending the SOUTH all the SOUTH against the unnecessary
aggressive cruel unjust and wanton which being
forced upon He recounted at length the efforts
which he had made in the past and especially with the
present administration this war; and the hopes
he had cherished for the preservation of peace; but
those hopes had vanished and duty was to de-
fend ourselves and to make cause with all our
sister slayeholding States against common invading
| foe He advocated strong and effective military
league union among all slaveholdEg States for the
successful prosecution of the He declared that
Tennessee had in effect dissolved her relations with
the federal Union and though he had hoped andlabored
the last preserve the Union FIRST and second if
separation was inevitable to make tpeaceabe he now
abandoned all such hope, and his voice clear and
loud to every Tennesseean-to arms to arms! He
c0unSeed the most effective and energetic public and
private measures to secure the best organisation possible
Of the military strength of the State.
Mr.. Bell was followed by Hon Edwin II. Ewing, who
declared that in his opinion the union between the north
and the south at an end forever, and he had no
hope Of its restoration. He regarded this of
subugatiOn, and he would never consent to such dOmi
nation attempted to be established over US. lie
was for most vigorous prosecution of the war. He
denied that the federal administration is the United
States of America or that Washington the rghtful
seat of government The District of Columbia was
carved of southern territory and they ought
be permitted to hold island in country. He
for unity of action among all the States of the south
under any military leader who best qualified to lead
I IIp said that thOuph Mr. InffprSOD Davis had
not been favorite with him politician he believed
him to be able and competent military commander
there is in the SOUTH and he was for marching under
him. any other man. against the invaders Of southern
soil His cry was ito arms! to arms not only to resist
the invasion Of soil, but that Of any of the
southern States He had no thouget of accepting the
poor privilege of being swallowed up at last.
Hon. Andrew Ewing followed declaring in the strong
est and most emphatic TERMS for resistance to the at
tempted subugaon of the south. He for the whole
south standing as a unit.
VIRGINA-The following extract of letter, dated
Farmyille Virginia, April 18th, received by gen
tleman in New Orleans and published in the Crescent
from which paper extract having IN midst many
persons from that section Of the State it cannot but
prove interesting to them:
'With emotion Of almost fearful JOY have read the
proceedings of the FirgnanS at their meeting at the
St. Charles hotel, on the 18th. Thank God, Virginia
is more free. Her people have been all right for
the convention move Old Virginia is now on her war
path. Her stride is that Of giant in his rage. She
blood in every step she takes Never have you
witnessed such free enthusiasm to do or die. The
governor cannot find employment for all the companies
rendered Over sixty thousand men have offered and
been accepted and Others told wait short time
We are all a unit now east and west. Augusta Rock
lngham and LOudOun have each two thousand yolun-
teers in the field and will send as many more on ten
day notice. The Lynchburg boys passed here yester
IL, l,,,.l / i r
of the Rifles, the Artillery, and the Home Guard, all
bound for the Potomac. Three companies 90 today
from Prince Edward and two tomorrow from Cumber-
land Our railroad has notice to prepare tomorrow for
four thousand coming down the Tennessee railroad from
western Virginia
The scoundrcS attempted to burn GOsport navy ward
but did not do ore fourth the damage they intended
They left fifteen hundred cannon unhurt, and millions
of dollars worth Of stores Of all kinds
You have seen that Harper's Ferry is taken by the
State troops, together with the machinery and nine
thousand stand Of good arms Virginia now has an
abundance Of arms. The committee has been buy
ing secretly for twelve months Even our own people
did not know until last week how strong Virginia was
in arms, and particularly in rifed cannon. She has
seventyve Of the latter and engineers now erect
ing batteries Of them along the Potomac to command
the river.
Just here a secret. Lincoln will not be in Washing
ton twenty days from to-day. You have seen how
Baltimore acted on Friday last.
Eiceprcsdent Stephens arrived at Richmond yester-
day. Two thousand South Carolina and Georgia troops
arrived at Norfolk last night All the volunteers north
Of James river moving towards the border. Take
all these facts together and you may guess the object
The Petersburg troops the first to reach Norfolk
too late, however, to prevent the escape of the Paw
nee. twenty-five hundred abolitionsts are now in
fortress Monroe and there they will stay for some time
we have bigger game to fly at just now Our old
all the State who cannot leave pour out their
money like water to help those who can Men Of sixty
years freely volunteer in the ranks and companies
here have reuseda good many of that age The women
old and young work night and day, and hundreds of
free negroes have offered their services build batteries
and detences Of all kinds, and they promptly ac
cepted for they work well Can such people as the
Firgnians be ever saRugacd? Just say the sons of
Virginia in New Orleans that they need longer blush
for their mother, God bless her
Col. Robert E. Lee is appointed commander of our
forces host in himself and said by old Scott to pos
sess more military genius than any in the country
He is grandson OF Harry Lee of the LEGION" Nearly
every Of Virginia in the army and navy has resigned
and come home to rally around and defend her.
s.
CALL OF VIRGINIA TO ARMs.-Ordinance of the State
Virginia State convention has passed
the following ordinance, and given it publicity for the
knowledge of the people:
Be it ordained That the governor of this common
wealth be- and he is hereby authorised and required to
call into the service of the State many volunteers
may be necessary to Tepe invasion and protect the cit
zens OF the State in the present emergency which voun
teershe will receive in companies and organise into reg
ments brgades and divisions according the force re-
CURED and the governor shall appoint and commission
the general field and staff officers of said volunteers and
proceed to have them organised and instructed And
that he shall Immediately invite all efficient and worthy
Vrginians and residents Of Virginia in the army and
navy OF the United States to retire theTeom and to
enter the service ef Virginia assigning to them such
rank will not reverse the relative rank by them in
the United States service and viii at least be uivaent
thereto.
And in accordance with this, Gov. Lcteher of Vir-
GINA, las issued the following proclamaton:
BY virtue Of authority vested in the executive by the
l. John Letcher governor Of the common
wealth of Virginia do hereby order that each volunteer
company, equipped and armed, whether of infantry, T
artillery or rhemen in the counties lying west of the
city of Richmond between Richmond and the Blue
Ridge, and in the valley Of Virginia from the county Of
to$he Tennessee line, establish forthwith
on the lines Of speedy communication rendezvous and
hold themselves in readiness for immediate orders
Telegraph send by to the executive the names
of captains number Of men, and description of force
1t is further ordered that officers of all grades on the
line Of the Potomac river rerdcr obedience to the or
ders Of Gen Philip st. George Cooke, who has been
assigned the command of that section Of the military
operations of the State bounded by said river