What a spectacle does the grand old Mother of States now, present!
Overrun by hostile armies, her mountains and plains saturated with the lifeblood of her sons, and all this by the hands of those whom she led through the wilderness of their national infancy to civilization, liberty, and that very Union which they converted into an engine of despotism, and are now employing to effect her ruin.
Within her borders was the first settlement of Anglo Saxons on this continent, founded by a man who gave to
New England, as well as
Virginia, its name; a few miles nearer is the old
Capitol in which were passed the famous resolutions that gave such an impetus to the cause of American liberty; not far distant is the memorable battle-field where was decided the issue of that great contest, in another spot recline the bones of the
Washington whom she gave to that cause, and whom they call the Saviour of his country.
Each and all of these sacred spots is trampled down by an invading horde from States on which she has conferred so many blessings, some of those States a very part of her own territory, which she gave away to the
Union.
Almost in sight of the old Church where
Patrick Henry sounded his clarion cry, ‘"Give me Liberty or give me Death,"’ they are gathered to trample down and degrade the old Mother, and imbrue their hands in the heart's blood of her children.
Who could have believed that human nature was capable of such a crime?
