Dallas Herald

Of Virginia
Like a grand Queen, sceptered and diademed, serene but severe, and moving with the dignity of ancient majesty, the Mother of States has joined the ranks of her children and wheeled into column. The glories of her old renown, her early struggles for liberty and her fierce battles with despotism, are now re-enacted in the mighty and impressive step she has taken. Acting under the mighty impulse of self preservation and guided by the loftiest affections for her offspring and her honor, she has at length seceded; and from being the last of the Southern confederacy, her nodding plume and glittering sword are now seen in the van of the battle. Where the fight rages hottest and deadliest, there will Virginia be found and her noble sons plucking the richest honors as they strike for their homes, their families and the green graves of their sires.
The Secession of Virginia will make a marked impression upon the current of events, and affect not only the progress of the drama, but decide the issue of its close. Her position, her power and her resources will change the whole aspect of affairs and the Confederate States may well feel the delirious intoxication of delight at her accession. With the secession of Virginia, Lincoln sees the glory depart forever from his house. For years, since the foundation of the government, Virginia was the last in council. In her and her noble sons the prestige of the glory always attached to the Union. The Old Dominion whose loyalty to the Stuarts withstood the upstart presumption of Cromwell and gave to the Cavaliers a home of safety and peace, while not another inch of British soil, but owned the sway of the Roundheads--this ancient Commonwealth whose loyalty and renown were thus early stamped upon her people, was the first to resist British tyranny, and if she has not been the first in the great secession movement, it was because she desired to preserve the glories of the Union and to reconstruct if possible upon a basis acceptable to herself and her children. This could not be done and she has moved and struck the enemy like an avenging Nemesis, deadly blow. With Virginia goes the power at Washington. Her children will hail her presence with tears of joy--the old mother will fold them to her bosom and shield them with her power,--her blue hills will frown back the invaders and her will not suffer her sacred soil to be polluted with the abominations of tyranny.
We see but little hope for Lincoln. He has wrestled with destiny in vain. Where the bright sun shineth present still her beauty seem. War
Our telegraphic dispatches indicate that hostilities have actually commenced and that the war between the North and the South will be prosecuted with vigor. Lincoln has called for troops to the amount of over a hundred thousand men and is determined to subjugate us to his authority, if he can. His dander is evidently up, but is likely to take an sudden fall. His position in Washington is anything but secure, Baltimore on one side, in open and active rebellion against him, firing upon his troops, barricading the streets, tearing up the Railroad track and killing his men, while on the other side, Virginia threatens him with overwhelming majorities. From his own door, he can look across the Potomac and see the Virginia troops erect their batteries and plant their cannon. He could see the flash of the guns before the shot and shells would crash and burst upon the Capitol and the White House; the blue hills that bound the Virginia horizon and the flashing waters of the Potomac tell him, 'this far shall thou go and no farther.'--Maryland in hostility against him and Virginia threatening him with destruction, common sense would dictate another flight in disguise, as the safest course for him and his cabinet. That same Scotch cap and old Military cloak may be of service again. Washington is unsafe for him.
On the other hand, our whole extent of seacoast is threatened with his fleet, and our North-Western border with a raid by his Myrmidons. Our ports are blockaded and our towns threatened, but the whole North with fifty Lincolns cannot intimidate us. We are right and fear not, tho' he outnumbers us by thousands.