Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1859-08-02
The Course of the Opposition.

The Richmond Enquirer INDUCES IN some
speculatiens as to the course that Will prooaoiy
be pursued by the Opposition, in the event OF
any finchiug from the South on the part of the
Democracy and expresses the opinion that the
Opposition will assume an extreme Southern
position should the Democracy recede from the
entire and unmistakable assertion OF the rights
of the South. We confess that we fear suoh
might be the disposition Gu the part OF sonie'
but as such policy would be fatal 10 'ne Ut
ganization of National party, free from all sec
tionsl tendencies and thereby defeat the prime
ob;act of the Opposition movement, we should
regret it beyond measure and oppose II 10 Inc
bitter end. The foolish endeayor to tout Herod
Herod" has always been the grand mistake OF
the Opposition to Democracy IN the Soush, anu
while the astute leaders of the dominant party
have generally managed by artfully constructed
platforms, filed with vague generslities, to sat
isfy equally the Southern 6re'eater and the 40
clifton fanatic of the North, their opponents
have been quite as successful in driving conser'
yative men at the North from their support, oy
assuming sectional, instead of national posi-
ton on the ''gexed question" of slavery. We
care not what course the Democracy may pur'
sue in the Charleston Convention, we maintain
that it is the true policy of the Opposition to let
slavery agitation alone and take high national
and conservative ground, upon which patriotic
men of all sections can stand shoulder to shoai-
der, and cooperate cordially for the good OF the
whole country. Even if the Democracy should
recede from the entire and unmistahsble rights
Of the South, the Opposition can never assume
the sectional position which the Democracy
have occupied without classifying all their pro-
fessions. and defeating the very objects which
they have in view. The rights of the South, we
maintain, have never and will never be deserted
or compromised by those opposed to the Demoe
racy, however that party may finch from the
extreme ground it has always in reality occupied
here at the South. The empty assertion o
rights upon paper has been demonstrated by
past experience to be- of no consequence what
ever to the South, and the pledges of the De
mocracy, as contained in their platforms, hay'
been so little respected that no one imagines to
an instant that the interests of the South will b
at all effected by any assertions of right or an!
failure to make assertions at the Charleston Con
vention. The platform emanations OF Charles
ton would doubtless be of as little practical val
ne to tue South as those of Cincinnati.
We regard it as the plain and unmistakaol
policy of the Opposition to let the slavery cues
ton and all its collateral issues alone. 1t !
useless to indulge in declarations and decama
ton upon this matter when there is no practice
question before the country to excite agitation
Whenever the rights of the South are invade
or endangered, we venture to predict that TN
Opposition viii not be found receding from tn
maintenance of anything to which the South
Justly entitled but until that time arrives let
leave this sectional controversy in the hands
those who have engendered it. They have use
it to accomplish their special purposes, and |
times past it has Injured to their advantage. )
far as we are concerned we are disposed to IL
them have the control of it while longer, esp'
cially as it is just beginning to be a little trou
blesome on their hands. The Opposition hay
nothing to gain by assuming position that tn
Democracy refuse to take--of that fact they ma
feel assured.