The Daily Dispatch: May 24, 1861., [Electronic resource]

Abingdon, Va., May 20, 1861.

This section of the country has been visited with a fine ‘"growing rain."’ Everything looks in a flourishing condition. The wheat looks well, it is said, from York river to the Tennessee line; it is safe, unless hail destroys it.

A few days since, it being the day for Regimental muster here, Col. J. A. Campbell and three of the candidates for the Legislature-- C. S. Bekem, Esq., D. C. Dunn, Esq., and Dr. A. R. Preston--addressed the people.--Each gentleman spoke in favor of the Ordinance of Secession, and called upon the people to vote for it to a man. Mr. Bekem and Dr. Preston had been Union men as long as they could remain so honorably, but after Lincoln issued his war proclamation, they were for secession.

Judge Fulton, of the Wytheville District, arrived here to hold a special term for Judge Fulkerson, for the purpose of trying Mr. Duncan, who about a year ago killed Mr. G. W. Raine, his father-in-law. As neither side were ready, by mutual application of the parties, the trial was postponed.

After Court was adjourned, Judge Fulton and James W. Sheffey, Esq., of Smyth county, by invitation, addressed the people who were present. Judge Fulton stated that he had seized upon the cars a bag of inflammatory Union documents sent out to the people of Northwestern Virginia, and had had them burned at the Post-Office in this place. He appealed to all to be up and doing; a war stared us in the face; but be not afraid, success would crown our efforts for liberty and our homes. He asked the people of Washington county if they would submit to Lincoln? He wanted a reply. There was a general response, ‘"never! never! never!"’ That reply he said, did him good to hear. He said if there was one man in the house who intended to vote for remaining under Lincoln's Government, he wanted to see him. Not one such spoke. The Judge was glad to find none here.

Mr. Sheffey spoke at length upon the present crisis. He called upon the people to vote for the Ordinance of Secession, and spoke in the highest terms of President Davis, (whom, he said, was a second Washington,) Vice President Stephens, and the Southern Confederacy. He said that any man who, with all the light before him, would vote against the Ordinance of Secession, ought to be hung. He was not fit for Heaven or earth, and should be suspended between both, without a platform to rest upon! He said that the Ordinance of Secession was a second Declaration of Independence, and that live or die, survive or perish, sink or swim, he would support it — that he had pledged his hand, his heart, his sacred honor to its support.

To-morrow a meeting will be held for the purpose of preparing for home defence. Every man is arming himself, and getting guns for his house. The ladies are learning to shoot.

Two good appointments have been made at Abingdon--Col. A. C. Cummings, Colonel of Infantry, and Dr. E. M. Campbell, Surgeon. Both are now at Harper's Ferry, and are well qualified to discharge their duty.

Capt. Wm. E. Jones, of the Cavalry company, has been appointed Major, but it is thought that he will not accept.

We are anxiously awaiting the time when President Davis will be at the head of our Army. Washington.