The heart of the country was beating restively at delay, and popular feeling, as it found its voice through the press, thundered anathemas, and clamored for a forward movement. Nothing but prompt and decisive action would satisfy the people that the government was sturdily bending its whole energies to strangle the monster treason in its youth. The people had not yet learned the first great secret of success—how to wait. They saw the ship of state struggling fiercely amid the rocks of an untried ocean, and worshiping the flag at her mast-head, grew clamorous for its protection. Every newspaper, and almost every household, had its own ideas of how this was to be accomplished. The government, unused to war, and anxious to gratify the spirit of patriotism that had supported it so nobly, was ready to answer the rash clamor; and so this long, loud cry of ignorant impatience became words of fate, and ended in giving us the defeat of Bull Run. The people, the generous loyal people, ever dissatisfied with anything but lightning speed, in peace or war, clamored for action, and must be appeased. Under this pressure, events forced each other on, culminating in action. Though an act of secession had been passed by a State Convention, held at Richmond on the 17th of April, it was professedly to be submitted to the people of the State of Virginia for their approval on the 23d of May; and though it had been determined by the United States Government to take possession of, and fortify the Virginia hills, in front of the capital, it was deemed advisable to await that event before making any military movement into that State which could be interpreted into an attempt to influence or control the popular vote. The conspirators, however, without waiting for any ratification of their secession act by the people, immediately made a conveyance of the State to the Confederate government, and claimed its protection; thus effectually leaving the “mother of States” to associate with the disobedient daughters. In consequence of the action of Governor Letcher, Confederate troops from Georgia, Mississippi, and other Southern States, were sent rapidly into Virginia, and located at various points, where it was deemed that they could be of the most use, and best serve the interests of the Confederacy. The result of this movement could easily have been foretold. The election was held under military _regime_ and terrorism, and loyal men, having been warned of the penalty of voting against secession, either feared to do so, or neglected to vote altogether; a majority was secured for the ordinance, and Virginia, “mother of Presidents,” had taken her second grand step in the downward path of disunion.