Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-05-07
why Virginia Seceeded.


"The wanton and unprovoked attack upon
Fort Sumter was made for no other purpose
than to create feeling of insane fury in
Kentucky and the rest of the Border Slave
States. Virginia seems to have been fool
enough to let the guilty device succeed, so
far as she is concerned. How is it with Ken
tuckyT'
We make this extract from the Louisville
Journal and must correct our contemporary
Virginia was not induced 10 take her present
position by the attack on Fort Sumter. Iii
true that she required as a condition of her
remaining in the Union. that the military
status should not be disturbed by the Fede-
raj Government; in other words, that Fort
Sumter should not De reinforced. She was
anxious to avoid hostilities, and to preserve
the Union. IT, this end she labored, and by
giving the Southern seeded States to under
stand that she sympathized with them to the
extent that she would not permit them to be
overrun with Federal troops; and the Fede-
raj Government to know that she was sincere
ly attached to the Union, which she had
been chiefly instrumental in forming-she &C
cupied proper position to mediate between
the government and its seeded members,
and to restore the Union, if such a measure
were possible. To this end, she commission
ed one of her most distinguished citizens
one who had held the highest offices
in her gift and in the gift of the
nation, to represent her at the Federal
Capital. Her views and purposes were made
known to the Buchanan Administration. and
an assurance was given that the said status
should not be disturbed. When the Lincoln
dynasty came into power, it perfectly under
stood the position of Virginia, and it gave us
clearly to understand that il would do even
more than its predecessor had done to pre-
serve the peace-to-wit: would evacuate the
only Fort that threatened any difficulty.
But, after dilly-dallying for some weeks,
whilst engaged, as the sequel showed, in pre-
pairing large re-inforcements to be thrown in
to the beleagured forts, it suddenly faced
about and assumed a warlike attitude. Vir-
ginia, seeing the difficulty with which the
subject was enviroled, and perceiving that
rumors of extensive military preparations
upon the part of the government were des-
troyiDg the effect of her peace policy, sent a
commission, composed of three distinguished
citizens. to learn the intentions of the Adj
ministration-tO know as she had right to
know whether it was. in good faith, cooper
ating with her to preserve the peace and re-
store the Union. These gentlemen were de-
layed in their journey. but reached Washing
ingtou and had their interview with Lincoln
Just before the fight at Fort Sumter. His
august majesty snubbed them partially, indi-
eating plainly that he Intended to retake the
| forts and public property, despite the pro-
| test of Firginia,-that such was the doctrine
| of the Inaugural, which they were
fools not to understand. This was Lincoln's
laid and comfort" to Virginia in her efforts
| to restore the Union. The attack on Sumter
| followed Immediately, but, even after that. the
substitute of Mr.. Harvie, embodying an Or
dipance of Secession, was Uoted dOiOn by q
large nojorily. Then followed the Presidents
| Infamous Proclamation, indicating purpose
| to subiugate the Southern States. 1t was this
that did the business IN Virginia, not the at
| tack on Fort Sumter. 1t was this that swept
away the last refuge of the Union men of
| Virginia They could not maintain their
| ground in the face of this Proclamation,
breathing nothing but vengeance, subiuga-
| tion and war. They conld not, and would
not, longer support a government, that, in
| the hands of men who had deceived and be
trayed them, was to use all its power to CON-
ouer free people. The position of
Virginia was a grand and glorious
one. She labored for the Union m
till all hope had fed. Whilst she could do
so with honor, she plead with Lincoln to re
frain from violence, and indicated the only
means that could restore the Union and avert
war. But. deaf to her entreaty and remon-
strance-disregarding the counsels of the
State that had furnished Washington, Jeffer-
son, Madison, Monroe, Harrison and Taylor
to occupy the Presidency, their shallow.
pated successor appealed to the sword, aud
Virginia could not, without undue humilia-
ton, refuse the arbitrament. She has drawn
her sword only when ali diplomacy tailed
in defence of herself and In vindication OF
the great principles Of free government.
Driven, she may have been, but .'dFagged''
she has not, nor will she ever sheathe her
sword while foe treads upon or menaces
her soil. She has indicated her consistency
and patriotism before the world, and if it de
wolves upon her to maintain her proud po-
sition BY force of arms. she will do 20.