Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1850-12-02
MR.. sTUART's LETTER.
WASHINGTON, Nov, IS, 1850.
Gentlemen

| Gentlemen,
! / have the honor 10 acknowledge
the receipt OF the invitation which you were
kind enough to send me, on behalf Of the citi-
| Zens OF Augusta, to attend the mass meeting
| which it is proposed to hold at Stapnton on the
25th inst. | rejoice that such a meeting has
been called, and look with much interest to the
result OF its deliberations. In The present condi-
ton OF public affairs, it is peculiarly proper that
the people should meet together, without respect
to party, IN primary assemblies, to give express
sion to the true public sentiment of the Country.
They have already delayed it too long, and suf-
Tered politicians, men more interested i'll their
| own advancement, and the success of party ma
neuyres, than in the welfare of the Country, 10
speak and % act for them, and to put our glori-
Gus Union in peril. The people have been qui-
city pursuing their ordinary vocations not
dreaming OF danger, whilst the country has been
pushed to the very verge of civil CONFUSION
and disunion. 1t is time they should throw off
their apatdy. They must awake to just sense
OF the danger which surrounds them, or it
will be too late. They have escaped so many
perlls in times that have passed, that they are
slow to believe that they are, as it were slumberc
ing on volcano.
wish could be present at your meeting, to
speak to toe people face to face and try and
| rouse them to a sense of their resronsibility-
The near approach of the session of Congress,
and the pressure OF official business in antcipa-
ton OF that event, will, however, prevent my
personal attendance. must beg yoa therefore,
liz my behalf, to say to the people of Augusta,
that verify believe that the integrity of the u
MON, and the peace of the country will mainly
depend on the course which the people of Vr-
ginia may adopt in the present crisis. If they
give countenance to the wild and wicked spirit
of Disunion which stalks undisouised thro'
the land. they will find that they have abandon
ed what has Justly been termed the Palladium
OF our liberties Imay be supposed by some
persons to use language which is stronger than
is warranted by the occasion. But assure you
am given to dependency But cannot close
my eyes to facts, which !, probably, have
better opportunities than persons in the interior,
of knowing. There has been melancholy
change in the feelings of the people towards the
Union in the few years which have elapsed since
l represented the Augusta District in the House
of Representatives. Then we all cherished to-
wards the Union a feeling of reverence akin to
| that which we feel for our mothers. L partool
of the sanctity Of religious sentiment And
when John Quincy Adams:--a man venerable
for his years, his station, and his private virtues,
dared, even in pursuance of the mandate of his
constituents to present. for the consideration of
the House OF Representatives, a proposition 10
dissolve the Union, it was received with burst
of Indignation which was echoed from all parts
of the country, s. nothing but his advanced age
= the assurances which he gave of non concur
renee in the prayer of the petition, saved him
from the disgrace of a public censure or expul-
sion from his seat Little more than seven
years have passed away, and now we find men
in all parts OF the Union, openly advocating its
dissolution Pamphlets are written and widely
disseminated to promote that end. Newsrp-
pers have been established at the seat of govern
ment to widen the breach. And in both branch
ches OF the National Legislature, members are
found openly advocating the overthrow of the
Constitution as it descended to us from our ia
there. DO these things bode no evil :? Are
these times Tor the people to forget that "eter-
nal vigilance is the price ef liberty ?" Let the
idea go abroad that Virginia sanctions senti-
ments like these, and our Union is a rope of
sand The only safe reliance that can see is
for Virginia to assume her old position of
mediator and pacifcator. Let her speak in
language that cannot be misunderstood Let
her blend kindness with frmness. But let no
lingering daabt remain as to acr loyalty to the
Union.
Near twenty years ago, the Union was in
danger, General jackson who was then at the
helm of State proclaimed that it 'tmust be pre-
served" As soon as he assumed that position,
old party dimes We're obliterated and Wings and
Democrats with equal zeal rallied to his support
Piles pledged herself in solemn assembly, 10 sus-
tain hirn, and she was prepared to redeem the
pledge at every hazard.
After the lapse of score of yearsa still ereatar
s. more wide. spread feeling of dsloyalty to the
contederacy, threatens its existence. General
Jackson slurnbers in his grave, and at this mo-
ment men are plotting, almost over his ashesthe
disruption of that Union to which his best affec-
tons We're so entirely devoted And in the
md no So,,flh o1io IF
who are laboring without cessation, TO sap the
foundations on which it ress.
rejoice, however, to assure you, tina. YOU
have; a man at the head of the Government. not
less denoted to the Union than Jackson, and not
less determined to use all the po7rers uested in him
by the Constitution to ana'ntoin it, He Justly ap-
precates his obligations TO maintain the intecri-
ty of the Constitution, and to see that the laws
are faithfully executed. lie wiH kno, no dis
tinction betareen the North and the So,ah Jut qriH
enforce obedience to the laws eDerWrhere 1t re-
mains to be seen whether the people will sus-
tain him.
We have recently seen an illustrious example
of the surrendero of partzan prejudces and feel
ings on the altar OF patriotism, in the Senate of
the United States. What patriot did not feel
proud satisfaction when he beheld CLAW and
Cass, andsWebster, and Dickinson and Foote,
the champions and leaders of their respective
parties, forgetting their ancient feuds and stand
ing shoulderto shoulder, doing battle for the
Union
The names appended 10 your invitation, en-
bracing prominent men of both political parties,
give me the assurance that kindred feeling of
patriotism, which rises above all party, prompts
the movement in Augusta. Let it spread thro'-
out the State, and the Union is safe: The Nash
vile Convention now looks to Virginia to lead
off in the march of secession. The friends cf
the Union lock to her to bear their standard IN the
perilous conflict Let her true sentiments be
spoken and cannot doubt on which side she
will take her staud. But if she leaves politi-
clans to speak for her, no one can feel assured