Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1856-10-22
Dissolution OF the Union.

It has of late become lamentably common to
hear men talk flippantly about q dissolution OF
the Union. Those who take the trouble to
think upon the subject, however, will mud that
disuuion is no remedy for any of the evils we
vet suffer. Is the-institution of slavery assailed
by q portion of the Norther people?-it will be
assailed with ten fold greater force and effect af-
ter dissolution than it now is. In a word, there
is no evil which we experience that would not
be aggravated instead of remedied. This fact
seems apparent to us, and hence nothing short
of such a degree of insult and oppression from
the North as would Justify a resort to the most
desperate measures, even the sacrifice of life IT.
self. can induce us TO unite in a disunion crusade.
Our grievances are not vet Of this character.
True, Seward and Burlingame taunt the South,
and tell us that we cannot be kicked out of the
Union, and some of our fiery chiyalry regard
this as q sufficient cause for instant secession
But are the people of the South mere children,
to 20 off in a milf on account of the vain boast
ings of o few fanatics. Seward and Burlingame
cannot, indeed, drive us out of the Union. The
men OF IQSlT CldSS COuSGituIc, VIZ uuSb, - oi-eh
proportion of the Northern people, and until the
contrary shall be proved by the enactment of
some fragrant law by Congress, embodying
Northern sentiment, we will not give up the
confederacy with all its countless blessings
Even the election of Fremont will not, in our
opinion, constitute per Sc a sufficient cause for
secession. If he is elected, it may be, although
constitutionally, by an actual minority OF the
Northern people, and we have no idea of sever
ing all connection with the majority, because
the minority have under the peculiar circum-
stances of the canvass succeeded in electing their
candidate.
We deprecate the election of Fremont, be-
cause, besides being discreditable in itself to the
country, it will probably result in outragcs upon
US, and ultimately in disunion; but our fears
may be disappointed, and we prefer not to rush
into disaster in anticipation of an adequate
cause. We have no doubt that some Southern
men who insanely desire a dissolution of the
Union. really wish to see Fremont elected
They fatter themselves that the entire South
would then unite with them in carrying out
their wild schemes. Of this class is Mr.. Keitt,
of South Carolins, who breaches up diSunior
under pretence of advocating the election o.
Buchanan. But Mr.. Keitt win find himself dis
appointed. He has calculated without his host
The people of the South have more interests
than one to look to, and while they will unite tc
o man to resist outside aggression upon the In
~stitution of slavery, they will not abandon eve
rything in order to accommodate the caprice o.
South Carolina politicians.
1t is remarkable that the most rampant adyo'
Gates of disunion are found in those sections o
the South which suffer least from Northern ag
g~ressions. Gov. Wise tells US that he would a:
soon own o thousand dollars floating down the
Ohio on a chip, as a negro worth that sum, and
living anywhere on the banks of the river. The
Governor thinks disunion the proper remedy fol
this state of affairs. We hear no such senti-
ment, however, from the people Immediately in
terested. 1t is left for gentlemen from AccomaC
and South Carolina to feel so keenly for the
rights and interests of the border citizens.