Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1859-05-17
control whinh had been claimed under the pow.

control which had been claimed under the pow
er of regulating commerce among the States
upon the limits of Congressional power Win re
erence to the common territories OF the Cnlol
ON sll these questions, the supreme judicial tri
burial ofthe U. s., by its solemn and irreversloi
judgments, surrounded the rights and institution
of the South, in the only points in which the1
have ever been supposed to be open to invasion
with an impossible wall of defence.
He who would, under these circumstances
indulge any serious apprehension of encroach
ment, either from Congress or the other States
on the rights and institutions of the South, mus
be very credulous or very timid man. Sucl
man, as DR.. johnson said of the nopope'y
larmist would have been apt to cry fire in th'
midst of the deluge. | trust, fellow.citizens
there is no son of Virginia who. would go far
ther in defence of the Constitutional rights O
the South, in case of any real danger, than
would. But as l cherish her honor-as l value
her rights, loathe and deprecate all simulated
pancs to "fright her from her propriety"-tt
seduce her from her ancient loyalty to the cause
of pure and uncorrupt government, and to enlis
her in obedent service of the party that woul6
practice upon her fears only to betray her prin-
ciples and interests. ~tE
Fellow-oitizens, there is one real, one pressing
one overshadowing and imminent danger which
threatens the whole country. 1t is the danger
to the public liberty-to public morals-to oul
free institutions Reconsideration the wide
spread corruption and abuses which have inva-
ded every department of our national admins
tration. To reform these abuses, to purify the
government from its pollution, to bring it back
to its accountability to the people,-to replace
the public liberty upon the firm pedestal OF the
public morals-to "drive the money changers
from the temple"-this is high and holy work
of patriotism, which demands the united and
best exertions of all for the honor and interest
of all.
It is the common cause of good men and pa
triots everywhere-in the north, the south, the
east, the west. Shall we permit ourselves to be
diverted from so vital and exigent work as
this by the stale device of the adversary In at
tempting to SOW divisions among the friends OF
honest responsible government, by the revival
of extinct and pestilent sectional issues for which
there is no existing foundation,-by the absurd
cry of fire in the midst of the deluge of corrup-
ton which overwhelms the land. -
We have recently heard most honorable and
truthful voice from the North,* speaking in the
name of numerous, enlightened, and patriotic
body of our fellow-citizens there, declaring
their willingness and earnest desire to sink,
henceforward and forever, these very mis-
chieyoas and dangerous issues in our nation
al politics. From opportunities of information
which a late visit Of wholly private character
to that portion of the Union afforded me, sin
cerely believe that this is the unequivocal and
deeply felt sentiment of large majority OF our
fellow-citizens in the entire north. Shall we
not accept this peace offering, and bewilling
with them, to oonsign to the tomb of the capu-
lets-a tomb alas that already contains so ma
ny victims of unnatural strife-an ill-omened
controversy, which, by the impunity it has hith-
erto ensured to unexampled official abuses, has
brought into the EXTREMIST peril those glorious
institutions which the wisdom and valor OF
northern and southern men united in establish
ing and which their descendants are alike in
terested in defending and perpetuating.
At all events, fellow-citizens, you are engag.
ed in ncole effort to vindicate the honor and
liberties of your country. II is an effort worthy
OF the ancient fame of Vlrgina-of the best days
of her patriotism and renown. The spirits OF
her great men, who consecrated their lives to
the cause of constitutional freedom, look down
with approving smiles upon your struggle
There can be no purer, no higher glory than to
be the saviors, OF else the martyrs, OF the pub
lie liberty.