Year: 1861

1t is certain that the city of Richmond stands
in very great danger. Here in Richmond there
are those who would not have the fact alluded
to, lest the enemys attention should be attracted
to it. But, while we play this ostrich part, the
eyes of the whole North are fixed on this one
point. Among all the newspapers received in the
last few days from the foreign and hostile coun-
tries banded against US the other side of the
Potomac, there is not one that does not urge the
sending of twenty thousand of the best troops at
Washington TO seize this city. Here, says the
Northern press in chorus, here is the civil, mill
tary, political and financial center of the great
State; seize Richmond, and she will, for time,
at least, be paralyzed in her members. and our
submissionists will take advantage of the panic to
cause the rejection of the ordinance of secession,
so that Virginia shall be after all. While
we talk Of the occupation of Alexandria the de-
fence of Harpers Ferry and Norfolk. they think
only of Richmond and, if they strike at ALL it is
reasonable to suppose that they will make blow
at the heart.


And if they come to Richmond, VIC may be
well assured that they will come the same way
F., that the enemy came before-the British-by
York river, and by no other way. There is the
assailable point; the map shows that +; expert
cnce and history have made the fact public to all
/ the world except ourselves. a march by land
| from Alexandria, through difficult country, and
over the most warlike population of the Cont
nent, is dreamed of by nobody but ourselves.
The route by Aqua Greek can be cut short al
Fredericksburg by few hundred pounds of pow
der under the bridges Of the Rappahannock, to
look no further n or did the enemy come up the
narrow and imperfect channel of the James when
they came before, nor will they come up it now
But they will DO as they did, and will always
do in future, sail or steam through the deep and
straight York, disembark their troops in a little
more than days march of the city, and tak'
the chances of resistance. ANY number ol
steamers can be loaded with men and artillery al
Washington, and come out to the mOutl
of the York, at least, without more troubl,
than on a morning excursion. There, il
is true, resistance will commence. W.
hear that the Notifications of the rive
have closed it; we hope so-let every one hops
s0--for IL has been fourteen months since the
Legislature appropriated million TO the fortif
cations of the State; and at this moment the pru
dent course is TO hope that il has been well spen
on York river, where it will he all well needed
If the enemy succeeded in passing them. it ha
only ane trouble more, and that Is grand battl
with all the forces that cur Generals can brinj
into field below Richmond. which will be deci
: sive of our fate That it will be sanguinary an'
desperately contested, can scarcely be doubted b.
! ; any one. Few will desire to return from tina
scene if the battle is lost. for who would care t
live and see what would happen in his home mex
dayI Our men would certainly fight; our cener
. ais are men of conduct; perhaps we would con


centrate such numbers as TO oyerWhlm the invader


even if he brought the flower of the Foiera


army i'm the van of hi. Wide Awakcs and Dea


Rabbits. But the stake is so tremendous that n
chance should be thrown away. Richmond mu:


he kept nj all hazards, and energy may render At


tack on it only victory for us bearing fruits 8


bright as defeat would be deadly.