Staunton vindicator and general advertiser. (Staunton, Augusta County, Va.) 1858-1860, 1859-05-21

oPoo1"l ACAOACHCc ~ tfCS LHteTeStS " VcetC1W
Virginia" The question was one there
fore Of interest and expendiency alone. In
that debate it was characterized and treated
as social injury, and not as a "5llghting
curse, or as "a yelloa0 .ferer and q 6lach
vomait"
But it is said again, that the signers Of
the letter expressed the ''wish" that DR..
Ruffner should snot connne" himself strict
" to the views then expressed. Our de-
sire IS to have the whole argument in favor
Ct the proposition, Sc. What proposition 7
Why simply the proposition, which went to
the expediency Of slavery IN Western Vir
glnia, not a proposition which went to the
social, moral and political denunciation Of
the whole institution. To this latter extent,
the pamphlet really goes when it speaks Of
slavery as carse more destructive III ats
effect" than "war pestilence or oppression
Of rulers, civil or ecclesiastical as this con-
Stunning plague Of slavery, as black vonllt,
and yellow fever"
The opposition have labored hard to prove
that aided in the circulation Of the pam
phlct but the effort has signally failed:
This pamphlet characterized by themselves as
i,,cendiary, has beer published, and clrcu-
lated through their leading organ. The
most offensive expression relating to slavery,
have been embodied in pamphlet gotten
up, under the direction Of their State Gen.
trail Committee" published by their orders
and on the first page in capitals, is found
the injunction, '.Read and circulate" and
in obedience to that order it has been sown
broadcast over the whole State.
Appeals have been made to the people Of
Eastern Virginia to oppose my. election,
because of my course III the reform Conyen-
ton In regard to my action in that body,
have only to say, that | faithfully repre-
sented the wishes and interests of the peo-
pie Of my district-that fully redeemed
the pledges which gave to them prior to
the election-and that my conduct as their
representative, commanded their approba-
ton Am I now to be condemned, 81
men in Eastern Virginia, because would
not surrender the rights and interests, Of
my. constituents ? III am to be struck
down Oh any such ground, will Welcome
the blow. with pleasure. As 4 representa-,
tive Of the people [ will always endeavor to
reflect the sentiments Of thos, who have
honored me with their confdsl &C ard c]o-
thed me with the representative trust.
| IF The sectional controversies which I'M
fortunately existed at the time Of the Late
Reform Convention, ere to be revived /: if |
as a Western man, am to be araigued and
condemned for my opinions aud actions at
that time, it is but right and proper, that
the people on both sides Of the mountain
should know it.:
When the work Of Chat Convention was
approved by the people, in the adoption Of
the Constitution, [ supposed, these section
al controversies were at an end, and that
9 Vrginiians, East and Vest" acere uni-
ted "in one glorious brotherhood that for
getting the past, all would readily and
oheetfully agree, chat the Union. should be
perpetual, and each section would vie with
the. other, IN abe cultivation Of kindly
feeFiag, ii the advancement Of the prosperity
of the State, the protection Of her Interests,
and the promotion Of the happiness of all
her citizens, wherever located within her
borders.
In the early days Of our history Virginia
had direct trade Of more than So. 600, 900
annually and if our State had been justly
dealt BY in our federal legislation, instead
of having diminished, that trade would have
been largely increased. For my reference
to this fact in one Of my speeches in the
Contention, have been arraigned by my
competitor, aud most unjustly charged with
hostility to the interests Of the City Of Nor
folk. Is not tie fact as [ have stated it =
Will it be pretended by any man, that the
direct trade of Virginia now, is what It was
at the .ti,ne Of the formation Of the Federal
Constitution, If not, what has caused its
destruction? Let my competitor, and those
who with HIM favor tie protective policy,
which has lad the effect Of building Up the
commercial Importance Of the North at the
expenoe Of the South, answer to the people
Of Virginia and her commercial towns and
cities, FOR this sad result Account for the
act, that almost the entire direct trade Of
the country, is centred at the North, upon
any other principle than that stated.
In 1877, it is charged that I favored
division Of the State, unless justice were
done to the west, in giving to that section
Improvements that were absolutely required
to develqpe her resources and promote her
prosperity. Am I the only man in Virgin
ia who has committed this sin It cannot
have been forgotten that many Eastern gen
tlemen in the Reform Convention, declared
they would rather see the State. divided,
than see the suffrage basis adopted As ear
y as 1916, when the Convention question was
agitated, Eastern members Of the I..eg;aIa-
ture and Eastern Editors declared they
would rather see division Of the State,
thaa see The views and wishes Of the Wes-
terri people adopted Ia 1856. it was pro-
posed in a large public meeting At Norfolk,
that Norfolk City, Norfolk CO., and Princess
Anne, should separate from Va, and unite
themselves with N. G. And why?' Be-
cause the Legislature had not granted tn EN-
such IMPROVEMENTS as their interests deman-
ded !! Such were the sentiments Of T,,as-
tern people, at the periods mentioned, and
now if I am 10 be condemned, let those con
denn me who are not as guilty as myself
AS Representative in Congress, have
on all proper occasions defended the institu-
zion Of slavery, from the assaults Of the
Abolitionists. Upon all questions relating
70 slavery, my votes will be found recorded
with my southern colleagues. Not meas
ure has been before Congress, during ny
service, having reference to the institution
Of slavery, or the rights Of the South, which
has not received nv sunDort. 20 nv collea-