Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1860-08-14
NO. XXXIV.

NO. XXXIV.
tons are judged of, not by their essential expe-
diency, but by the quarter from which they
come. OF what use is it, then, for the Republi-
can party to spread forth in their platform an
elaborate array of measures and principles, 80
long as sectional division exists in our politics
which makes one-half of the country look with
suspicion and distrust upon every movement of
the other2
Nor is this all The tendency of this sectional
excitement is to repel wise and good men from
the sphere of politics, and thus lower the tone
of government. Men endowed with statesman
like powers will not take part in an agitation
which dwarfs the understanding while it in
flames the passions. The consequence is, that
while we are rapidly increasing in wealth and
all the indications of material civilization, and
surely not declining in virtue and intelligence,
the series of our public men marks descending
scale, and the standard of Congressional debate
is constantly lowering. Intelligent foreigners
who come among Us are puzzled to account for
the singular fact, that 80 few men of superior g.
bility are taking part in the government of the
country. Indeed. the virtue and the intelligence
of the country are fast ebbing away from. the
sphere of politics, and its vices and passions are
usurping their places.
THIS AGITATION UNNECESSARY. rs
! The pro-slavery and anti-slavery agitation
which has been 80 long convulsing the country,
is as unnecessary as it is mischievous. The
more conservative portion of the Republican
party have tacitly acquiesced in the fugitive
slave law in the existsnse of slavery in the Dis
trios of Columbia, and in the right to carry
slaves from one State to another and they have
always disclaimed any right, or intention, to in,
terfere with slavery in the States themselvea7-
Re Subject Of @aeSy in the territories and the
power OF >Cd6gress OVER it. there, are the only
pointsfME leave for discussion and difference.
If govsr6nent be.R practical art, as surely it is
If the object D government BE- MOTTO enunci-
ate prince les, but to provide for~each emergen-
cy a4it arises-all this excitement, and all this
conflict are terly purposeess and idle. We
have been fa6ifar with slavery long enough to
know by~hadlsxs it is regulated and controoll-
ed. Experience Rnd observation have shown
that slavery is dependent upon conditions of soil
and climate, and lies beyond the reach OF politi-
cal combinations These will not force slavery
into regions where it is not profitable; nor will
they exclude it from regions where 1t Is prottta-
bic. At this moment no one will question the
correctness of the statement that there Is not q
foot of the territory of the United States, the
condition of which in reference to slavery is not
already fixed by law, and there is no place with
in the Federal domain, upon which the abstract
theories of the extremists of either section, in
regard to the exclusion of slavery from the ter
ritories or its introduction into them, can be
practically applied. The whole question OF
slavery in the territories, as now presented is an
abstraction pure and simple, incapable OF prac-
teal application, and prolific of serious mischief.
It has already produced sectional alienation, and
now menaces the integrity of the Union.
REPUBLICANS RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS AGITATION.
To create and maintain this unhappy agita-
ton, North and South, Democrats and Repub-
licans-we need not stop to inquire in what
both contributed in times
past but at this moment the Republican party
are mainly responsible for its continuance. The
great object which they proposed to accomplish
was the admission of Kansas as tree State.-
This was the excuse and justification for the
formation of a purely sectional organization
This element gave them their great strength IN
1856. It was for this that many moderate and
men in the northern and middle
States gave them their votes at that time. But
that object is now accomplished. No one
doubts that Kansas is to be admitted as q free
State. The Democrats have lost the stake for
which they played 30 desperate game. What
need then is there for the further continuance OF
sectional agitation, and for keeping it up by
mediate end do they propose to accomplish =
What tangible object have they in viewa They
have not now that moral element which gave
them strength in 1856. They can now take no
higher attitude than that of combination OF
ambitious aspirants and greedy offce-seekers,
who, having tasted the sweets of power, and its
substantial rewards, in many of the States, are
painting for the more splendid prizes of a nation
al victory, and for that purpose are diligently
Il Eroo oofco hofo xuhich
true patriot should wish to have extinguished.
QUALIFICATIONS OF MR. LINCOLN.
So far as the claims and qualifications of can
didates are concerned, wesurely need not shrink
from comparison with the Republican party
For the first time in the history of the country
a great party has nominated for the Presidency,
a man unknown, even by name, to majority of
the people. Mr.. Lincoln, we admit, Is res
pectable man, respectable lawyer, and as
popular speaker, of probably more than average
ability but what meagre catalogue is this OF
claims for the highest office! Nothing whatev-
or is known of his executive or administrative
capacity of his views as to the great
questions of foreign and domestic policy which
are likely to arise in the conduct of the Govern
ment-nothng as to his knowledge of the great
interests and relations of the country. He
served but single term in the House of Rep
resentaves, and there earned no conspicuous dis
tinction. His nomination was extorted from
the Chicago Convention by the force OF local
pressure, and presents the most glaring example
of the ptiful doctrine of availability that the
political annals of this country have ever shown.
His claims for the Office of President of the u
nited States rest upon the facs that In popu-
lar contest before the people of Illinois, with Mr..
Douglas, he sustained himself with energy and
fair ability Nor need we do more than advert
to the fact, which is another illustration of the
sectional character of the Republican organiza-
ton, that their candidate for the Presidency is
taken from the extreme Northwest and their
candidate for the Vice Presidency is taken from
the Northeast. What means can they have for
knowing or ascertaining the qualifications Of
persons to fill the Federal Offices in the South
ern Statess
Mr.. BELL AND Mr.. EVERETT.
The candidates presented by the Constitution
al Union party have every possible claim upon
the confidence and support of the American peO-
pie. There is little need of setting forth these
claims in detail and by particulars, for to sup
pose any one ignorant of the merits and services
of John Bell and Edward Everett, is to suppose
him ignorant of the history of the country du-
ring the last thirty years. Both have been dis
tinguished and influential members of both
branches of Congress. Mr.. Bell has been Speak
er of the House of Representatives and Secreta-
~ of War. Mr.. Everett has been Governor of
Massachusetts, Minister to Great Britain, and
Secretary of State. Both are men of great po-