Charleston, May 17, 1861.
I have it on better authority than you generally get, that old ‘"Tureen"’ (Scott,) and Lincoln will, on Tuesday or Wednesday next, make an attempt on Harper's Ferry, Alexandria, Fredericksburg, Urbana, and Tappahannock on the Rappahannock, and at Norfolk, and on the York river, merely to divert voters from the polls.
I hope, however, that every voter in the State may determine to go to the polls and vote, if he never gets back home alive.
Let him go with his ticket in one hand and the sword in the other, and vote your noble old State out of a Union with men whom you can never live except in degradation.
Virginians, next Thursday is to you the most momentous day that has ever dawned upon you. It is a day for weal or woe to you and your posterity.
I feel as confident as I ever did of anything, that an overwhelming majority in favor of secession will not only effectually crush out that little detestable nest of Tories in the Pan-Handle, but will be the most energetic means of cooling down Lincoln and his tools of anything that can be done whatever.--Your Convention has wisely provided that the soldiers on duty may vote wherever they are. Let every soldier vote — let every farmer vote, every mechanic, merchant, lawyer, doctor, every one, by all that is dear to freemen, vote yourselves out of the Union of the abolition cut-throats and robbers of the North.--Never let the sun of Thursday, May 23d, 1861, go down and find you the vassals of Lincoln, who has eternally disgraced his own degraded party and section.
Old Virginia has never yet faltered.
She has always been equal to any and every emergency.
Let no small affair keep you away from the polls — let everything else be laid aside that one day. If any fighting has to be done on that day, tell the Palmetto boys to ‘"step in,"’ until you can cast your votes.
Give the good cause 150,000 majority, never return to your homes until the good deed is done, and when done, you will see the pulse of old ‘"Ape"’ will begin to beat more slowly.
One more injunction.
Take care of old ‘"Tureen,"’ if you ever get hold of him; don't hurt him, I beg of you, he is my dear old friend. This text is part of:
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The Daily Dispatch: may 20, 1861. Richmond Dispatch. 4 pages. by Cowardin & Hammersley. Richmond. may 20, 1861. microfilm. Ann Arbor, Mi : Proquest. 1 microfilm reel ; 35 mm.
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