Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1856-08-20
Thn Crisis.


The Crisis.
The present condition of affairs in this country
excites the alarm and should arouse the ener-
ges of every thoughtful patriot. Atnoprevious,
period in our history has the danger of disrup-
ton and anarchy been so fearfully imminent
and it requires no prophetic vison to toresee IN
the future al tho horrors of civil war-diSas-
trous, bloody, exterminating war, unless the
same over-ruling power that has presided over
our destiny thus far, sees fit, in his mercy, to a
vert the terrible calamity, and preserve our free
institutions Time was when we would not
could not believe that this glorious Union OF
States, framed by the wisdom and cemented with
the blood of our faith ers, could ever be rent in
twain but that time is past Then, we heard on
" the mutteringS of the distant thunder, and
saw only the little speck of cloud in the horizon
which we hoped would soon scatter, and give
place to the uninterrupted sunshine OF peace and
prosperity. The present aspect of the heay-
ems prove that these hopes were delusive. The
little cloud has gathered into vast, lowering
overhanging mass, charged with desolation and
ruin, and threatening, ut every moment, TO pour
down upon us the tempest OF its wrath. The
little whisperings of disunion that yesterday mon
feared speak above their breath, have increased
in volume and power, and to-day the hoarse
voice of treason and the wild ''shrek" of tanati-
cism is heard from one end of the nation TO the
other. We shall never entirely despair of the
Republic, while there is one little band left to
keep its tottering timbers together, but in
all seriousness and sober earnestness we de-
clare our belief that such perils never encom-
passed it before.
How are we toweather the storm and restore
harmony and good feeling. We are on the eve
ola great political revolution, and upon its result
depends the perpetuity of the Union Every
day renders it more apparent that If the contest,
in the approaching election is narrowed down
to Buchanan and Fremont, as Southern Demo-
Gratis are most unwisely endeavoring to show
will bethc case, the battle becomes purely Sec
tional and the election of Fremont in such con-
tincency will be inevitable The north will
almost en- anasSe for the Northern candidate,
and the Southern Democracy will lind themselves
unable to turn wheel. No sane man can
doubt that the election Of Fremont would decide
the South and be the signal for dissolution, and
we are forced to the conclusion that the election
of Buchanan, as the Southern Sectional candl-
date would be be equally repulsive to the North,
and sooner or later, bring about the same result
And vet, Southern men, who profess to have at
heart the perpetuity of the Union, are laboring
to bring about this purely sectional contest by
declaring that Mr.. Fillmore is out OF the ques-
ton. BY pursuing this course they are doing
the Democratic party no good, and strengthen
ing Fremont at the North every day. This
game has already been carried so far that we
consider Mr.. BUchauau's chances at the North
next to nothing. Without the North, the South
ern States that he may carry will be OF no avail
and it becomes question for serious reflection
with Southern men what is the path of duty In
such an emergency
To our mind the path is plain. Willard Fill
more, it cannot be denied is the obstacle in the
way of Freesoil success. Take him Oft the track
and the North triumphs in the sectional contest
At the North he has been steadily gaining
ground, while Mr.. Buchanan has been deoreas-
inc in strength and in many of the States, we
consider it incontroyortbe that the contest will
he between Fillmore and Fremont His chan
ces Of success at the North are infinitely better
than Buchanan's, and with the aid Of the South
his election would be sure. Is it not. the duty
Of conservative, national men Of all sections to
rally around the only man who by any possibil-
itv can defeat Fremont and whose national po-
sition would render him acceptable to both sec
tons of the Union. Elect Fremont and the u
Mon is dissolved beyond question; elect Buch-
apan. as the Southern candidate, and the North
will be doubly exaSperated and over bearing;
elect Fillmore, the candidate neither of the
North nor the South, but of the whole country,
and agitation viii at once cease, peace and pros
nerity will again dwell in our borders, and the
fell spirit of dsuuion be exercised, we trust for
ever. Sectionalsm will have received blow
from which it will find it impossible to recover.
We appeal to the sober, second thought" OF
tie people, then, and ask them to beware lest,
in tho blindness of their devotion to party, they
reject the last chance for the salvation of the
Union. Pause and reflect, whether in this a
farming crisis it is not the duty of true patriots
to forget party obligations, and come to the res
cue of the only candidate in the field who occu-
pies high national position.