Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1859-12-20
Mhat SHAH Yirginia DO 3

[h What Shall Virginia Dor
The invasion of Virginia By John Brown and
|Ik;. eoufederatss, and the demonstrations at the
IN orth consequent upon the execution OF the
feleu, have excited more serious apprehensions Oh
+ s sb4er to the Union than have ever been felt IN
rreyious crisis in the history of the country
& "A state of public sentiment has been developed
iat the North which the conservative men OF the
Sapth had not imagined to exist, and for the nFst
4 "a they have been forced to doubt whether 1t
fis possible for the two sections of the Union to
tAlwen together in unity. Recent events have
[ssayed the hands of those who were already
8 making preparations for final effort to organize
"a little band Of patriots at the South, around
'Swhom national men of all sections might rally.
Hfhey have been compelled to stand still and gaze
&with amazement and chagrin at the spectacle ex-
Inhibited in the Northern States. They had heard
before the false teachings of the BLACKLIST of the
BLACK Republicans, that there was an "irrepressi-
y BILE conflict" between the North and the South,
which must end in the determination OF slavery
ar its extension throughout the Union they have
since seen the practical result of the abominsble
doctrine in the bloody scenes at Harpers Ferry,
We have repeatedly said, and still believe.
that a large majority of Northern people disap-
prove, not only of Browns course, but OF all d.
rect assaults upou our rights. They, however,
have heretofore remained, and probably WIKI
continue, passive spectators of the growing Ia
s,,t bo;r nj A
Gushing said of Massachusetts,, in his Boston
speech, the State is Sin the hands of drunken
mutineers," while the masses of the people re-
main Indifferent, absolutely refusing, ifnot afraid,
to go to the polls and vote against the Adolf
ton crew who represent Northern sentiment ID
the State Legislatures and on the floor of Con-
gress.
In view of this state of affairs there seems to
be but one course left for the South, and that is
TO adopt every peaceable measure of defence and
protection within the Union and the Constitu-
ton, and when all these fail, to go out of the u
Mon and fight for her rights. 1t is well known
that we hold no ultra notions in regard to the
Institution of slavery, but we do think the time
men as Ingerson and Everett snd Gushing, when
the South should be united in sentiment and in
action. Action, decided aetion--such action as
viii awaken the conservative sentiment OF the
North from its guilty slunbers, and lead them
to wrest the power from the hands of the "drunk-
en- mutineers," is what is nov needed at the
South. We want no fire-eating resolutions in
our Legislatures-no abusive harangues from our
representatives in CoDgress-no intismstory ap-
peas and bitter philippics in our Southern jour
nails All these things do more harm than good.
What we want is to bring the North to its senses
and this we think is to be done by calm, delib-
crate, and concerted action.
With q view to the development of the con-
eeryatism of the Northern States the first thing
necessary is for the South to present united
front, and for this reason we regret to see the
Southern Democratic members of Congress SO
obstinate in their party organization that they
cannot invite their brethren of the Southern OPP
position into friendly conference. While they
are so unceremoniously snubbed, it is demanding
200 much to ask them to vote for the Demo
cratic caucus nominee. For the same reason we
are panied to see them denounced by their col
leagues as lending aid and comfort to the enemy
and as unfaithiul to the interests of the South
However exousable such ordinations may be II
political campaign, this is not the time, MOI
the halls of Congress the place, for one Southern
man to be charging another with disoyslty to
the South and utilization with her enemies Al
the same time we regret to see some Southern
Opposition journals advising the Southern OPP
position to vote for Sherman. They should
never do it though the heavens should fall. We
have probably as intense horror OF Democracy
as most people, but we cannot permit our party
feelings to lead US so far estrsy as to advise any
support of Black Republication in any shape OF
form. Such a course viii not be sustained by
the public sentiment Of the State, and those
Journals who counsel it are doing nothing to adj
vance the interests of the Opposition. An OPP
position party organized upon the theory thai
Black Repubcanism is not very Objectionable
thing after all, would not be very palatable to US
nor the masses of the Southern people. =
In the second place. we should favor such leg
islation as would place the South in position te
protect her citizens from invasion, whether in OF
out of the Union.
Thirdly, such legislation in regard to the free
negro population, as would encourage the wor-
thy and industrious, and throw the thriftless anc
deprsyed into the arms of their sympsthizins
friends Of the free States.
And last, but not least, such an understanding
and association among Southern people anc
such legislation as may be deemed Constitutions
and advisable, as viii lead to the commercial in
depence of the South, and touch the pocket
nerve not only of the abolitionists but OF the
conservative element Of the North"
We are satisfied that this policy carried ou
to the fullest extent, will prove regular "eye
opepern to our Northern brethren. If there j:
conservatism there let it be developed. If they
wont move themselves let the South stir then
up by such measures as we have suggested; ant
when once they are fully aroused they will fine
the conservative men of the South ready to CO
operate with them upon q national basis, mo-
only against the sectional men of the North, bu
the disunion men of the South.
The true policy of the South in the present
crisis is a matter of the deepest interest. We
have given our views briefly, and await with
much interest the report of the Joint Committee
of the Virginia Legislature on the Harper's Fer
~ invasion That Committee of which oul