The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-05-06
The Demands Of the Hour.

IT Is evident now that the Government at
Washington is contemplating the total subju
CATION OF Virginia. by re- taking the NAVY
Yard and Harper's Ferry, and by occupying
Richmond and other places which offer strate-
gic advan tages, with the Federal troops
Nor is this all. While the volunteer forces
OF ths North con tain few regiments of men
taken from the respec table classes in society.
the great proportion Of those who have en-
listed are Of the most la wless and abandoned
eharacter-such as have long been the terror
OF the "solid men, of Boston, New York and
Philadelphia. Whole regiments of these des-
peradoes have been rallied, hot by the call of
patriotism, but by the prospect of piunder-
and they spring forward TO the ranks, fired by
the anticipation OF soon ramping and revel-
ling in the field Of lust and pillage.
This war will act as a safety-valve to the
great cities of the North, by Kidding them of
thousands OF those who are designated by
their own editors as "the dangerous classes"
with population 30 dense as to make the
problem Of support a difficult one, even in
prosperous times, now that trade is suspended
ana commerce dead, a countless number of
men are thrown out of employment, who can
readily be induced to swell the invading army
70 any magnitude that may be demanded !;
and In the sunny South-fayored of Heaven
above all lands In climate and produc tive.
nsss-these hungry and hostile adventures
fancy they see the Ell Dorado in which they
may glut their brutal passions whether for
revenge or rapine.
When such armies as may be gathered upon
our borders are actually mustered there, no
power Of their own Government--no power
but that Of God-can restrain them from the
raid Of robbery and blood which they mediate
on the South. And now, in this condition of
things, we say our own people cannot be too
fuily aroused to the magnitude of their re-
sponsibilities and duties. They cannot be too
thoroughly impressed with the urgency of the
call made upon them by all that is dear in the
memories Of the past, and in the hopes Of the
future. There is no wisdom in shutting ones
eyes against the truth there is no courage in
undertaking the strength of the enemy there
Is no patriotism In boasting of what we are
ools to do. All wisdom, courage, patriotism,
now lies In true realization of our position,
and deathless determination to meet it
like men. The day for declama tion-if ii ever
existed-is now gone ! the day for hearty en-.
ergetic, united action is come. In a cause SO
sacred as ours-contending, as We are, for con-
sututional liberty, and for all that is mos t
dear TO man-it becomes every one to conse-
crate himself, In some way, to the service OF
his country. BY our generous contributions.
by our cheerful readiness to bear arms, and to
make whatever sacrifices Of time, ease or con- |
venience which may be required, let US in adj |
vance DO so prepared for the impending con.
nict, that when 1t comes, the day of battle |
will tx the date of our first victory
1t may be that all Of our resources win be |
needed, then let no man withhold any aid |
which he can possibly tender. Let every |
man resolve to do his whole duty. and then |
the brightest page of virginia's history will
yet be written
Relying on the justice OF our cause as in |
volving issues greater even than that Of our
fatners OF the Revolution, and appealing, as
they did, to the God Of Battles. though the
contest may be a long and hard one, in the end
We must conquer.