And how as to Virginia? Why,
all the counties of Virginia east of the Chesapeake are ours. All that
vast portion of Eastern Virginia north of the Rappahannock is ours also;
but still more, all that great territory of Virginia, from the mountains
to the Ohio, is ours also, and, not only ours, but, by the overwhelming
voice of her people, has formed a State government. By their own votes
they have abolished slavery, and have been admitted as one of the Free
States of the American Union. (_Loud cheers._) And where is the great
giant State of the West--Missouri? She is not only ours, but, by an
overwhelming majority of the popular vote, carried into effect by her
constitutional convention, has abolished slavery, and enrolled herself
as one of the Free States of the American Union. (_Cheers._) And now as
to Maryland. The last steamers bring us the news of the recent elections
in Maryland, which have not only sustained the Union, but have sent an
overwhelming majority to Congress and to State Legislature in favor of
immediate emancipation. (_Applause._) Tennessee also is ours. From the
Mississippi to the Cumberland and Tennessee Rivers, from Knoxville, in
the mountains of the east, to Nashville, the capital, in the centre, and
Memphis, the commercial metropolis in the west, Tennessee is wholly
ours. So is Arkansas; so is Louisiana, including the great city of New
Orleans. So is North Alabama; so is two thirds of the State of
Mississippi; and now the Union troops hold Chattanooga, the great
impregnable fortress of Northwestern Georgia.
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