THE ATTEMPT TO COERCE THE COTTON STATES IMPELS
VIRGINIA'S SECESSION
James Ford Rhodes in his history of the United States, referring to the
eventful year of 1861, says:
"There were at this time in the Border States of Virginia, Maryland,
Kentucky and Missouri unconditional Secessionists and unconditional
Union men; but the great body of the people, although believing that
the wrongs of the South were grievous and cried for redress, deemed
secession inexpedient.... All denied either the right or the
feasibility of coercion."[399]
What was the pith and potency of this anti-coercion sentiment among the
people of Virginia?