Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1860-05-18
The Opinion of a Distinguished
Southern Statesman.


private letter published below, the opinion,
in the present important crisis of our polit-
ical affairs, Of one Of Virginia's most distin-
guished sons, as well as an honored and
trusted statesman of the South-a gentle
man whose political sagacity, whose calm,
discerning and far=seeing intellect, rank him
With the FIRST men of the nation; and whose
reputation, both state and national, cannot
fail to exert benefcialv influence ia these
troublous times.
We sincerely trust he may speedily carry
out an idea indicated in this extract, and
give us. with permission to lay them before
the public, his reasons for the positions as
sumed below. We are well satisfied that
they would accomplish pablic good, and
60 far to harmonic throughout tho South
the discordant elements which at this time
hang SO portentously over the destiny fthe
Democratic party. We take the liberty Of
laying the extract before our readers, al
though the letter from which it is taken is
private, but shall withhold the name of the
writer for the present:
''In this letter [ must confne myself to
brief statement of my opinions upon the
points suggested, reserving my reasons for
some future occasion, if it shall become nee
essary to ASST n them.
First, | still approve the doctrine of
Congressional "Non-Intervention" on the
question of slavery II consider it the only
safe position for the South.
Second, I disapprove Of the course phr-
sued by Alabama and other Southern States
in seeding from the Charleston Conven-
ton. do not pretend to question their
motives, but | consider their action ill-ad-
visea. Their proposed meeting in Rich
mond can have no other effect, Gin myjudg-
ment,) than to divide and distract the South
still further, and render our defeat in the
Presidential contest, certain"
Thus is it, that Southern Statesmen, one
by one, are boldly asserting their adherence
to the compromises Of the country and de-
claring their convictions that in non-Inter-
vention lies the security of the South. It
is the position the South herself sought and
obtained, by various Legislative enactments.
and it is that which honor and interest de-
mand she shall now maintain. It is yet
fresh in the mind of the intelligent reader,
that in 1647, David Wilmot brought for
ward the ordinance of 1887, which he de-
sired should be applied to all the Territory
that might come into our possession from
the conquest Of Mexico. 1t is well known
that the Territories remained unorganized
for several years in CONSCIENCE of the dis
cussion Of the proposition, aud that not un-
til 1850 was quiet restored to the country
by the adoption Of the great compromise of
that year-the North aE1 the South accept
ing the doctrine of non-l Intervention en-
braced in that adjustment. The Democratic
party then opposed the Intervention propo-
sition of Mr.. Wilmot to prohibit by Congress
sional enactment slavery in the Territories,
and planted itself firmly and squarely upon
the idea Of no mere Congressional interior
ence with slavery in the Territories. Thus
great parties ratifying the action Of Con-
gress in the meantime-when yet more
significant demonstration in behalf Of non
Intervention was given to the world by the
resembling Of the Intervention Legislation OF
1920, and the full and complete declaration
Of the doctrine of Popular Sovereignty in
the passage Of the Kansas Nebraska Bill.
This act was simply an Interpretation Of the
Compromise of 1850, as is fully attested by
the following extract from the report Of the
Committee on Territories, made January
4th, 1854:
"From these provisions it is apparent that
the Compromise measures of 1850 affirm,
and rest upon, the following propositions
First, That all questions pertaining t.
Slavery in the Territories, and the new
States to be formed therefrom, are to be
left to the decision of the PEOPLE RESTING
therein, by their appropriate representatives
to be chosen by them for that purpose.
Second That ''all cases involving title
to slaves" and questions of personal free
dom," are to be referred to the adjudica-
ton of the local tribunals, with the right Of
appeal to the Supreme Court of the United
States.
Third: That the provisions of the Con.
stitution of the United States, in respect
to fugitives from service, is to be carried
into faithful execution in all ''the original
Territories" the same as in the States"
Now, is not this imperfect resume a clear
establishment of the fact that the Demo
cratic party and the South are committed
to the doctrine of Nom Intervention
mitted, too, from their own choosing, and
are bound by every consideration Of honor
and fairness to faithfully abide by it. We
repeat, the Democratic party has adopted
into its creed the principle of Non-Inter-
vention, and it is violation of plightcd
faith to attempt to depart from it at this
time. So long as the laws remain upon the
statute book, by which the Wilmot Proviso
was defeated, the adjustment measures Of
1850 enacted. and the Missouri Compro.