Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1861-04-19
LARGEST cIRCUL4TIO II THE CITY.
SEE FIRST AN0 FOURTH PAGES.
THE SECESSION OF VIHGIEIA--OCK
mTTN.

~
Intelligence received in this city on yesterday
no longer leaves any doubt Of the fact that the
old and. t~ime-honorsd Commonwealth Of Viz
ginia has moved true to her Southern instincts,
and cut loose from the abolition Government
Of which ABRAHAM LIScoLN processes to be
the nominal head. This circumstance, so long
expected, and so necessary to the preservation
Of Der honor and safety, is the second great
part Of the draRa Of southern independence.
When on the 20th day Of December last, the
state Of South Carolina, high-spirited, impet-
uous and chivalrie as she is, FIRST dared to tread
The then untried path Of federal disruption,
solitary and alone, the whole country stood
aghast at the sublims a~udseity Of Der conduct.
It was the sounding Of the tocsin Of revolution,
however, which aroused Der slunbering sisters
from their lethsrgic apathy, and shook the
shsekles Of federal oppression from their limbs
ngike dew from the lions msBs." That mo-
mentous day, rendered forever illustrious upon
the page OF history, marked an era which has
resulted in the present glorious struggle fer the
maintenance Of southern rights and the per
petua' ion OF southern freedom. The eonse-
quences that hung upon that event, it would be
difficult to sxsEgerats. Six States followed the
example that had been set them, and went to
the rescue Of e'the wandering Plead" The
Confederate States now stand a monument Of
governmental perfection to attest The wisdom
Of their valiant sons.
The move taken BY Virginia must produce
the same result ultimately in the border slave
States, as that effected By the secession Of
South Carolina upon TIE Gulf States. She is
the keystone Of the arch, larger in population,
greater in wealth and influence than any
Southern state that now fingers in the aboli-
ton Confedsrscv. The other border States
have very naturally looked to her action with
the deepest possible solicitude and anxiety.
It has been universally conceded thatif Viz
GINA left the Union, we must 90 with her.
The most jealous opponent Of secession saw
no other alternative. GAS goes Virginia, 50
oithe border Ststes,' has been an acknowl-
edged truism Of the times. The advocates Of
Union staked their all upon the action which
her assembled sovereignty might take previous
TO the time assigned for the meeting OF the
Frsnkfort convention. The die has been cast,
and the Old Dominion stands forth redeemed,
regsnsrated and dissnthrslied. Is it possible
we ask, under these eireumstaBees-in the
face Of her secJssion-iespits the treacheTy
OF LHEcoLE, and bis unconstitutional proclaim
alton Of war upon our brethren Of the South
that a single man in Tennessee can still
raise bis voice to advocate further afhliation
with our enemies2 If any there be, discretion
will promt their reticencs, unless they desire
to be oveTtsken BY the fate Of the ancient to-
res, and swept before the storm Of southern
indignation aliks straw before he Winds All
possib apologies for delay and procrastina-
ton are now gone. No man can plead these
subtsrfpgss in the future unless he honestly
declares bis sympathy for the northern enemy,
or else brands himself with The infamY Of abo-
IidOnism. Men Of all parties, who have been
earnest in their protestations o. regard for
southern interests, viii now find an opportu-
nitv TO give some practical Illustration Of their
political virtue. The rugged issue has gradu-
ally been narrowed down until there are es-
ssntislly but two psrties-the advocates and
the opponents OF The ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
who favor and those who oppose the war
policy Of LINCOLN.
Our s3rires from TIE North briBg the intel
hgenee that the sbsliHsnists there are rally
ing to the stsndsrd Of the federal dynasty,
ready to furnish money and men for tAe inFa-
sion Of the South. me vslor Of our people is
unqusstioned-snd their iBvincibility is a pal
pablo fact-in case there is harmony Of pur
pose and unsuimity OF action in cur ranks.
Only lst the South be united, and she can
stand against the hireling myrnidons Of LIN
coin, uaconquered and unseathed. We can
bat anticipate bloody conflicts, Involving i'm
menss sacrifices Of life, but such was the price
paid for freedom by the founders Of American
Constitutional liberty, and such must be it's
price until the last syllable Of recorded
time" The southern people DO not fear war,
nor do they seek to shun its direful deyasia-
tons by taking refuge in cowsrdly subter-
fugss, or by doging behind legal teehnicslities
A fair field, an open fight and a Haited South,
is Ell we ask. A sectional conflict has been
prseipitatsd upon Us without any instrument
tally on our part in producing it. We must
accept it fearlessly, boldly, promptly. "UNIT-
I'D VIZ sTAsD DIVIDED We ALI"