Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1849-12-10

upon the probable consequences OF submitting to
the unauthorized exercise Of power in given
c,se The fruits of it are plain; they are ruInous
and never-ending aggressons.
The loyalty and devotion oil Virginia 10 the Union
are known to the world. They are written upon
the enduring pages of our country's history. She
was among the first to strike for constitutional I'D
erty: she will be the last to abandon 1t. ne grea
compromises upon which ii rests she oiered ana
she herself suffered the chief sacrifceS 10 secure
its permancncy-she has given with iibe1alty,
which at This dav can scarcely be reccnclled with
the dictates of wisdom lu all things touching the
honor and glory of the coniederacy, her hand has
never been closed except upon the sword.
She cannot submit to this usurpation oil authority;
this violation of her rights; this wanton degrade
ton. Let US insist that the question be settled now
and forever. Let us have no palialaves, no decep-
tive truces, no delays which only give strength to
the spirit of aggression; no compromises which
leaves the question open for future aaJustmeht.-
Let it be settled as to every foot OF territory be-
longing to the United States, or which may here
tor be hers, by a compact as solemn and lnvioa-
BILE as the constitution itself Any thing short OF
this is certain ruin to the South-it IS annihlahon.
II conflict must come, let 1t come now. we are
strong in reaIity-stroDger still in comparison with
those whose hands are already raised against u.s.
A few more years of acquescence and supineness
will bring about necessity Of absolute SUBMISSION
to every wrong which oppression or contempt
might heap upon our country.
virtual surrender of the entire South to the African
race. If slavery is to be confined to its present
limits, with girdIe Of free States surrounding US,
from the Atlantic to the Gulfof Mexico, "a very few
wears in nations history. will be sufficient to drive
the white man beyond its limits. The sturdy Ia.
boror the stay and support Of every community,
would soon leave the country swarmlng with ne
eroes for residence in another land. The master
Too, would soon leave, finding it impossible to re-
main. This view is no matter Of conjecture mere
w; simple rule oil arithmetic VIII tx the tact and
she time OF its consumnaton, taking basis OF the
calculation the census OF the last thirty years
Such are the fruits which the northern tanaticlsn,
viewed in its most favorable aspect, must produce
TO the South The consequences to the North viii
he little less disastrous The great American sta
pies must be cut short-the foreign commerce sus-
tanned by them will disappear from the seapofts OF
our enterprising neighbors-their manufactures,
should they be continued, must find market abroad
In unprotected competition with the labor OF Europe
The thrift and prosperity which now so PIE emil |
nently ehal acterize the working classes OF New |
ENGLAND and the North would vanish away; and
the mechanic and laborer would discover, when
too late that, whilst striking the manacles OF legal
slavery from the hands Of the African, he had rlv-
eted upon the necks Of his own children the bon |
dage of necessity, which no eat.hiy power coula
ever again remove.
Engiand's experiments with her West India col
onies has proved failure; this is admitted by all
1t has not elevated the character oil the negro man.
nor has it contributed to his happiness. But the
fatal consequences which certain 10 result to
England from that stupsndous folly, will, in the
round OF years, take from that colossal power the
supremacy OF the seas Ii has struck deadly blow
at her colonial trade; and this ons OF the chief
elements of her maritime superiority Shall exam
pies Of this kind teach US nothing? Is bind IA
natIcism to overwhelm all things IN its course
This, solennly believe, is the most favorable
view which can be taken of the subject, if Congress
persists in its present course OF aggression to- |
wards us.
But the widest visionary could hardly expect to
see these results brough. peaceably about HUI
lnanity itself must shudder at the bare contempla I
fon OF the slaughter most certainly 10 follow
of these niquitous schemes. We
cannot leave our homes the ashes Of Washington, |
Henry and Jefferson, may not be desecrated by the
tread Of the Africans foot. The men OF the South |
will not remain passive the sword vii! not rest i'll
the scabbard, while fanatcism is erecting at our
hearth stones an altar, upon which the victims OF
sacrifice are to be daughters and our wives.
The almost unanimous sentiment OF the save I
holding country upon this subject is not the result
of political agitation seeking for party ascendancy
1t is the spontaneous outburst OF whole people,
upon the conviction that their dearest rights are
menaced, Party prejudces and anilnosities are bu
ried every tenet Of faith and shade of political O.
pinion agree perfectly; and the novel spectacle is
presented of eight millions people, actuaed by
and obedient TO single determination, arising as
one man TO stay the hand OF usurpa.lon and wrong;
Let us trust that our brethren at the North will
understand before it is forever too late, that feel
ing of preservation and not one of silly bravado
actuates our course. Let us hope still that our
common riumphs, the memories of the past and
the bright hopes of the future which we offer to
all mankind, may stay the madness which is pre-
cipitating us into aruin from which no human pow
CT can ever grant us even the hope Of rescue.
JOHN B. FLOYD.
December 8, lS49.