Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1860-12-11

custody of the officer, or after he had bean res
tored to his master, and making the general gov
eminent responsible for the value of the sa Va
that may DO rescued, and holding it as charge
against the State that shall permit this law to bo
thus violated within its territories then suppose
in reference to the territories, there should he
wisdom and patriotism enough, in both sections
of the country, to restore matters to the condi-
ton they. occupied prior to 1854, by re-establish
ing the Missouri compromise line; don't you
think, my good friend, you could then be per-
suaded to agree, that all the Southern States,
except South Carolina, Mould agree, even with
out the restoration of the Missouri line to remain
a little longer in the Union, although South Car
DINA might have assumed that she was too good.
and high toned, and chivalric to remain where
Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Maryland, North
Carolina and Missouri would be proud to stay,
and if South Carolina should be deaf to all re-
monstrances, and insist that she would stay out
after that, don't you think she ought to be left
to share the fate she had invited and coveted,
and prOvoked2
All this, have strong hope may be accom-
plshed if understandable tanae-is allowed; q
suitable spirit is adopted, and proper course is
pursued; but do not think it can be done by
the system of bullying and bravado that many
of our leading men seem to have decided pas
sion for. The North and the South are equally
brave. A brave people, like brave man, will
always despise and defy bully, and there has
been too much OF that game played on both sides.
| believe in the patriotism of rejecting men of
all parties and of both sections, and am conf
dent in the belief that each WILL in the spirit that
animated our fathers for the sake of the Union,
surrender much that has been claimed on both
sides before they will pull down this great Tenn
nla of Liberty on their own heads
I will not stop to inquire which section would
suffer most from rupture of the Union, because
do not calculate its value by dollars and cents:
it is enough for me to know, that both would
sustain calamity that neither time, nor labor,
nor money, could repair. But to accomplish any
thing, reason and persuasion must take the place
of threats and taunts and ordinations and re-
ordinations. How all this is to be brought a.
bout is another question, which | leave to those
who are in power to bring about; but have an
abiding trust and confidence in the same Good
Spirit that has directed Us through every trying
difficulty, that the way will be prepared to save
the great, glorious, thrice blessed, and God-like
work of our Fathers to US, and to our children
and to oar ohildren's children.
One thing, my friend, you may be assured of,
that when the necessity shall arise for Virginia
to take up arms against the Government of the
United States, she will require no other State to
set her an example of what it becomes her hon.
or to debut she will neither be "hitched on
nor "dragged into" any rebellious or reasonable
movements by the most spoiled child in the
whole family. Virginia made the Union-it is
chiefly the work of the hands of her children,
and she will adhere to, abide in, protect and
preserve 1t.
One word more Are we to have a State
Convention2 l hope not; there is no sufficient
for GNpv no NH in mi md 10
in condition for q Conventions it is in too
excited state for such deliberaton as the pub
lie interests demand; (and artful means have
been used to make it so,) and the state of your
own mind serves as evidence of that fact.
Men are not made wiser, or more temperate,
from being sent into convention, than to any
other deliberative body-such as Congress or the
Legislature; nor have we any reason to suppose
when party spirit runs as high as it Goes now,
that wiser and better men would be selected for
such place and for such purpose; and would
you ordinarily trust, or do you know anybody
who would be willing to trust, the existence or
destruction of this National Government of ours
to the hands of those who fill either of these
departments. The world was not made in an
hour it is not likely to be destroyed in day
There is no occasion for such remarkable haste.
Nobody proposes to fire our dwellings, or steal
our substance away from us; there is plenty of
time before us. Let US, then, be patient, be
wise, be moderate; give time for the passions
excited by the late election and the scenes that
now surround US, to calm down. Let us act like
men, and not like children. And, above all, let
US take time to ascertain facts, and not be led
away from the path Of duty and honor by the
ten thousand misrepresentation that are scat
tered broadcast over the country, for the pur-
pose of inhaming popular passion.
1t takes a great while to build up a govern
ment, and it requires vast deal of labor, re :
Election, foresight, knowledge, wisdom and expe-
rience to form government that will prove q
satisfactory substitute for the one you propose
to discard. Do you feel sure that the State is
prepared at moments notice to bring all these
various and essential elements to bear upon this
subject? If you are, am not and as there is
less danger to be apprehended from cautious de
| liberation, than from impetuous haste, beg you
to unite with me in urging the people of Vir
ginia not to be in too great hurry to destroy,
or hazard the loss of what all the world will
never be able to give them again.
! am your obed'nt serv'nt
/ and friend,
/ JNO. M. Bolts.