Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1860-12-18

HW %ftf.l .JtctQJ0s',
Mr.. Eaitor:-The Presidentia cvhsses is
passed, and with 1T has loon.s;s.s.np a claCa on
the national horizon as darA u the SHADES of
erebus. What true-hearted Americal q gaze
on the gathering storm with !. -a.,.g of inde-
pendence, and in the mad pbreLzy of sectional
strife exclaim, "Let it come-W4 sie prepa cd
for the wOrst!" Shall this noble tenlple of fx,e-
dom fall and bury beneath it's ruins ne last fon
hope OF the down trodden millions of hu9ope2-.
Shall the goddess of Liberty be forced to leave
our beloved land to search, In vain, for g people
worthy to worship at her shrine, and leave us to
struggle with all the consequent evils OF anar-
chy, or offer up our worship at despot's throoo
instead of the altar of freedom2 Cannot the
field of Guilford, the plains of Yorktown, the
summit of Bunker Hill, reeking with the bloo5
OF our ancestors, stay the waves of sectional ia
naticism2 Cannot the voice of Washington,
speaking through his Farewell Address, calm the
elements of popular excitement-make us one
people again, determined to preserve and per-
petuate the noblest institutions that were ever
created by human wisdom? Will not the A
merican people pause in their mistaken zeal for
freedom and the rights of man, ere they strike
the fatal blow that will extort from them the
sad but truthful sentiment of Madame Roland
"Oh Liberty Liberty how many crimes are
perpetrated in thy name."
1t is with the deepest anxiety, mingled with
feelings of dependency, TINT witness daily the
growing spirit OF sectional feeling. Men who
were but few weeks ago calm and conserva-
tive in sentiment, are now vociferating equality
of the South in the Union or dissolution of the
Confederacy. Could the fiery and impetuous
feelings OF the South be restrained and reason
and patriotism again assert their supremacy and
the North be brought to realize the ruin which
is impending over the country, the Union might
yet be saved. The fate or destiny of the coun.
try is not beyond the reach of Cancellation and
fOrbearance. But unless the public mind can be
tranquilized and brought to consider dispassion-
ately the crisis, it cannot be done. Secession is
growing into household word, and those among
US who cherish it most do not seem to know
that it implies revolution. 1t imports not only
a change of government, but almost invariably
brings with it a train of evils, a series of calam-
tiles that the patriot and sage would shudder to
contemplate. Rome lost her freedom and in
dependence from internal dissentions. She loved
Caesar more and Rome less. The sequel was
told on the bloody fields of Pharsaa and Phil
lippi. The republics of Greece, after culmina-
ting in all that pertains to individual happiness
and national grandeur, buried their greatness
and freedom in the strife of civil discord, and in
the end became the servile worshippers at
throne OF despotism. England, also, in the wild
frenzy of fanaticism, offered up her Charles as
a victim on the SO called altar of freedom, and
then, in spirit OF degrading servility, recog-
nized the iron rule of Cromwell France, too.
had her revolution, which not only brought
Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette to the Guillo-
tine, but resolved the government into anarchy
and confusion, and society into its original ele-
meIts OF chaos and consequent self-preservation.
and stained the page of her history with the
darkest deeds that was ever perpetrated by na-
ton claiming to be civilized. The spirit of lib
erty which the Girondists inspired in short
time assumed the widest fanaticsm, and be-
meath the whitening, blasting elements of popu-
lar lcentiousness, the soil of France was soon
crimson with the blood of its best citizens. The
patriot Lafayette became impotent to do good;
the genius of Mirabeau could no longer con.
troll the dark storm that was sweeping over his
unhappy land with such desolating effect; and
after reign of Terror that has no parallel in
the worlds history, they hailed with enthusiasm
the rising power of Napoleon, and again well
coined the despotism they had so vainly tried to
annihllate. The history of the world furnishes
many instances of the dark and trying ordeals
through which nations have had to pass by
recklessly rushing into revolution, and most
forcibly illustrates the great truth that govern
ments should not be changed for slight and tran
slent causes. The United States, from the in
cePtion oI tne government to the present time
In rapid growth in the development OF all the
elements OF wealth, stands without parallel on
the page OF the worlds history In three quar-
ters OF century we have grown from small,
obscure nation, to one of the great powers of the
earth; and whilst under the genius of our insti-
tutions we have enjoyed undivided happiness as
we'll as national prosperity-our commerce whi-
tenlng every sea, protected by the flag of the
Union emblazoned with the Stars and Stripes.
furnishes guarantee of what we may be in the
future by adhering firmly to the government so
wisely devised by the sages of the revolution
1t Will prove fatal chimera to indulge the hope
that one or more of the Cotton States NAV se-
cede and the Confederacy remain unimpaired.-
Let one star be struck from the flag of our coun-
try, and ere long that bright constellation, EN-.
6iematlc OF our greatness, will cease to exist
Should this event occur tie problem of man 3
capacity for self government would then be
solved. Posterity would execrate our memory
as we'll as weep over our folly for having de-
prived them of their just heritage of freedom, tor
which their torefathers had toiled and bled on
the battle field. May we adopt the sentiment so
eloquently expressed by one of Americas most
distinguished bards. ss.sr e+4ast2 s.pe
..a THE UNION. ~. st...
"Our hearts, our hopes, are all with thee,
Our hearts, our hopes, our PRAYERS our tears
Our faith triumphant DER our fears N .fxau