The Abingdon Virginian. [volume] (Abingdon [Va.]) 1849-1883, 1864-05-06
No.Sl

| ly wrote his father a patriotic letter, from
which We make the following extract -.
III whole heart, sotl and sympathies are
with Virginia. and the South. Come what
! will. should Virginia be driven to take up
arms In defence OF her rights shall be fonnd
marching beneath her banner against her
foes. This course will require me to sacrifice
many objects extremely dear to me, and to
forego many pleasing associations, but what
were private interestswhen public interests
are in danger, would be unworthy the
name Of q son of Virginia were 10 stand
aloof.s an indifferent spectator, whilee she 10
struggling for the inestin,able privilege Of
self government a. =
This -alIayed bis fathers fears. who had
much rather have seen his sen consigned to
the grave than to have seen him siding with
the foes of the South.
.. CHAPTER III. 49,
The Convention assembled at Richmond at
length passed an ordinance Of secession. Vir-.
GINA, after insure and patient deliberation,
snlemnlys dissolved her connection with the.
Union, and proclaimed to the world her &C.
termination to maintain her right to her s0se-
riegnty and. independence. This determine
ton was received with indignation and alarm
by the people of the town OF c.. To Octa-
yiussit was the signal to prepare to return to
his home Ia Virginia. IS ss.
Upon the arrival of the news. of the seces-
sion Of Virginia, mass meeting Of the citi-
-zens Of the town.p 6 : was held in the
town hall. Many, denuncatory speeches
were delivered, and many infammatory APP
peals were addressed to the people by the
more prominent and ultra gentlemen of the
town., amongst whom was Mr.: HerndoB.
the father Of Lille Octavius, though sell
dom honoring such demonstrations with his
presence, had concluded to be present upon
this occasion, in order to discover the bent
of the popular feeling of the place in re-
gard to the action. which Virginia had first
taken in reference to the great question that
wars agitating the country. He listened with
Indignation to the slanderous imputations
cast upon his native State and her loyal sons.
lie could lily bear to hear the many able
and upright statesmen of Virginia denounced
as a band of unprincipled traitors. Without
amy regard for his own personal safety he
boldly mounted the stand and eIoqaently wins
Dictated the cause Of Y Virginia, and indignantly
repelled the false and s1anderous charges Of
treason that had. beer made against the peo-
Pile Of the State
So noble and courageous was bis bearing,
and so defiant was his manner during his adj !.
dress. that no one dared to interrupt hisre
marks, or. to offer.any indignity to his person
after he had COTTON through But be knew
full well that he must hasten his departure
for the South, and that he could remain hut
little longer in c. in safety. The next
day he was avoided in the streets by those;
who had formerly esinced a great fondness
for his company. The majority treated him
with the utmost ceolness. Mr. Herndon
was exasperated. He visited Oetavius in his
room, and after on Intellectual attempt to per-
suade him to rennunce his purpose and
views, positively for bid him to enter his house
or speak to his daughter again.
The next evening. during the absence of
Mr.. HerndJn from the toWnon business. Oc-
tasius sought the PRESENCE Of Lille. She was
confined to her room by what appeared to be
only slightindisposjtien. He readily gain
ed admittanee, and at once broke to her his
Intention to leave for Virginia the next day.
He tenderly removed. his affection fer her,
and exspressed his regret that he must leave
the society Of friends who had become very
dear to hfm. lie declared the pain that it
would give him to part from her. aid after
laying the whole circumstances before her,
left it to her own decision whether size would
accompany him. She was deeplv affected
and'wept convnlsis ely, but her understanding de-
cision was, Il will go" She fully understood
what it was to incur the displeas1resof her pa.
rents and ALLEVIATE the affections. of her
friends, and what it was to give up=her ele-
CANT home and 1eayethe place Of her nativity;
but obeying the dictateso of true womanly love,
she resolved to share the veal or woe Of him
to whom she had given her heart, and who
she felt was too nohleste ever forsake her. or
10 abate.a particle of. the affection that she
was assured he entertained for her
sOctavius was aware that a warrant had
n 0prnsf