The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1865-06-27
Suicide of RHfiin.

II will be remembered th at in
April 1861, Edmund Ruf1in. Of Vir-
ginia, proce eded to Charleston and
claimed, and WAS granted, the honor
Of firing the first gun against Fort
Sumpter. A few days since this Ed
mund Ruifin committed suicide, leav-
ing behind him a declaration that he
preferred TO die by his own hand ra;h-
er than live under the governme Of
the United States. Alter the evacu-
alton OF Richmond il was noticed that
bis spiri Is were very much depressed,
and after that occurrence he spent
most of his time alone in bis room
writing what proves to be his DRY
of his times. From a memorandum
in his diary it appears that he had in
tended TO take his life on the day of
Gen. Lees surrender, but was pre-
vented by the presence of visitors.
Thus has passed away another Of
the original secessionists. He will be
known in history the man who fired
- drst aun of the GREAT e;"il war
which ended in the destruction of his
native State, the section whose cause
he espoused, the system of society
under which he was reared, and every
interest which he held dear. When
he fired that gun, all Charleston
shouted for joy; and as the wires bore
the lidings over the South, men who
had anxiously awaited that signal gun
for twenty years, hailed With wild
enthusiasm the era Of glory and indie
pendence. But in the four years
Of war that followed that opening
gun, every voice which then rung
out SO joyously was brought to utter
the sounds Of grief, and every heart
which then bounded with delight
was sooner or later filed with agony
unuiterable. The best and bravest
| persisted on the battle. field the youth
who we're TO have composed the next
generation were snalched from their
mothers by the memorable eonscrip-
ton; the suffer ings Of poverty were
endured by those who had never
known wants. and all for nought.
When such was the downfall of so many
bright hopes, it was fitting that he
who was proud Of the honor Of inaug-
urating The movement should, upon
viewing the destruction which be had
assisted in bringing upon his country,
end his life Of treason by the violence
Of his own hand.
The fate of the most distinguished
4 leaders Of secession will be likely
hereafter TO deter statesmen Of disap-
pointed ambition in this country from
/ trying The remedy of treason. New
er was the downfall Of cause attend.
ed with more COMP, tie wreck OF the
fortunes and hopes Of its leading adj
herenls. While many have fallen on
/ the battlefield, not few have per-
ished ANONYMOUSLY in private brawls
or by their own hand. Those who
are LETT are to experience for the re.
mainder OF their lives, a fate compar-
ed with which death might wei! be
preferred. Those who may be per-
mliied to remain in their own country
viii hnd themselves strangers at their
old homes and objecis Of charity 10
those who we're formerly their depend
euis. Others have already oommenc-
cd their weary exile, hencefor,h 10
wander through The earth With the
mark Of Cain upon their fOreheads.
And The great leader Of all, who sank
The lowest Of al, PAGES bis quiet cell
haggard aid worn, slone Nith Bis own
thoughts. The shOIe history Of tbe
secession movement Is a lesson noi
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