Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1850-09-30
F. j. ALFRED, EDITOR.
sTAUN ON i:
.yY0ssegssy Morning, Sept. 80.
What will the South Do9

H the South will improve the opportunity tn,
temporary settlement Of the late exciting contro
versy, will afford, of preparing, in some man
ner, 10 resist the aggressions of the North upon
Southern rights she will be but performing what
is her duty and what will be TO her future vel
fare. To believe that the difficulties are settled
finally and forever, it, in cur humble opinion,
an error, and may be a fatal one. "The snake
is only scotched-not killed''-and soon its hiss
ing may again be heard-its forked tongue will
again be splitting its venom, as soon as Seward;
Hale, Benton, Giddings, and others of like kid
ney can see their way sufficiently clear. The
South will hardly be so supplemented as to Sit
calmly down, and with folded arms cry GALL
is WE'LL" now that our difficulties appear to
have been settled. II will not be well-it can
not be well with the South, as long these
Northern agitators and Negroes tealers are per-
mitted TO make war upon Southern rights. 1t is
true the South wanted repose-her people de-
.manded settlement Of the questions, but not at
the expense of right and justice-and now that
quiet is to be partially restored, at least, it is
very pertinent TO inquire-What will the South
do =! As wise men-as lovers of the South she
will"improve the time thus afforded and prepare
for the next onslaught. In the recent contest
the councils Of the South were divided, and in
stead of that concert of action which is SO essen
tial to success, she had to contend with foes from
within and without. Such things ought not to
be permitted to exist when Southern rights are
in jeopardy, and we hope the South will profit
by this page in her history. We have expressed
the hope that the measures adopted by Congress
will prove satisfactory to the Union, and that
henceforth!the bitter waters of sectional strife
will cease 10 flow but we are apprehensiye that
the North will not cease inermeddling with ouf
rights and though the Fugitive Slave Bill is now
the law of the land doubt arises in the mind
ofthe entire South, whether the North, in good
faith, will carry out the provisions of that Bill
and at this ourgNorthern brethren need not feel
offended. Let them revert to the history OF the
past and they will see nothing but a recaptula-
ton of their own oftarepeated injuries and ag-
gressons- let them look around and see in
their midst those who owe servitude to South
ern men, and the cause for doubt will be appa-
rent to all, even lift should not be acknowledge
ed.
What the course of policy for the South to
pursuesunderithe present circumstances; IS, we
will leave to ADLER pens and wiser heads than
our own, to determine. To sit calmly down and
wait the issue of events, would be the madness
of folly-this was the course suggested with re-
gard to the ssWilmot"-wait until it passes the
Congress, said the timid-but the Legislature OF
our own State said, and said nobly, Virginia
would resist its passage Eat all hazards and to
the last extremity''-other Southern States spoke
in like firm and decided tone-these resolves e.
WINGED the spirit and temper of the South, and
show ed her stern determination. Sensible mem
at the North, may have foreseen the consequen.
ces that would have ensued in determination
10 prosecute the unholy work, and they may
have honestly strove to have averted catastro-
phe which would have whelmed us all in one
common ruin-but what care the Stewards the
Hales, and the Bentons, for the safety and the
peace of the Union Else, why not as patriots
and statesmen, aid in putting to silence that
miserable Abolition Faction whose delight it Is
to agitate, that they may profit thereby Until
these bold, bad men are silenced, the American
people will know no peace. The South has a.
gain conceded to satisfy these Northern mad
caps-let this be the last concession-it the Un'
ion is shattered to fragments, let it be shattered
ere the South yields up her rights-it is folly to
be cIngng to Union in which the rights OF all
are not respected
In what we have said, we wish not to be I'M
derstood as opposing The measures adopted by
Congress for the settlement of the vexed quex-
tions-we believe nine-tenths of the people are
satisfied with the terms Of the settement-but
we have the right to warn the South and to cal
attention to that which may bs to her future adj
vantage.
hon ic