Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1860-10-23
The Subject of DisuniOn.

It is very evident that movement is already
making to 'preciptate" the country into all the
horrors and evils of Disunion, in view of the an
ticipated election of Lincoln, as President of the
United States. 1t is our duty, first, to see what
these movements are Other matters for con
sideration and reflection will then follow.
Alabama, it is known, has passed law. bear
ing directly on this subject, and to come into
play this Winter, if Lincoln should be elected
and it is believed that the members elect of the
South Carolina Legislature, are in favor of Sc.
cession at once.
The Governor of South Carolina has issued q
proclamation calling an extra session of the Leg
isature of that State for the purpose of electing
Presidential Electors, and, ''if advisable to take
action for the safety and protection of the State
The Governor of Arkansas, Elias N. Conway,
has Issued proclamation to the militia of the
State, directing them ito prepare for trouble
and danger" In this document, which appears
to have been written after the stereotype forms
used in 1914, Governor Conway announces that
''the peril OF the South" comes not from the
North, but from the Vaccinations of Great
Britain.
The Richmond Enquirer, in predicting dis
solution of the Union as inevitably consequent
r.
ing extraordinary language:
Virginia can no more prevent the dissolution
of this Union after Lncoln's election, than she
can prevent that election. She will be power
less to prevent civil war, with all its attendant
horrors. Any one of the Southern States can
and some Of them aoil1, involve the whole coun.
try, North as well as South in the nternecine
strife of bloody and desolating civil war;
Virginia will, by majority of her people, de
eide upon resistance, while large minority may
desire to postpone resistance for the overt act !:
but, hitched as she is to the Southern States
she will be dragged into common destiny with
them, no matter what may be the desire OF hel
people. We believe that large majority of the
people of Virginia, if the opportunity of State
Convention was allowed them, would vote fol
immediate resistance, and for a common destiny
with the Southern States; and with this belief
we would advise the slave States not to hesitate
to strike an early blow from the fear that Vir.
ginia may hesitate in her duty to the South"
We will add, that We do not believe that q
majority OF the people of Virginia are in favor Of
"Disunion" or resistance" at this time, or sim
ply in anticipation of the untoward result of q
Presidential election
The Charleston Courier, moderate and con-
sentative paper hitherto, declares that with Lin
coins election, 'the Union is doomed" We
mention this, to show the Northern people the
feeling in South Carolina, even amongst those
who have heretofore resisted extreme measures
and how the feeling is running and extending
There is no doubt but that this is a real crisis
in our affairs. Patriotic, interviewing, conser-
vative men, should now, more than ever, earn
estly labor to prevent measures which NAV
"precipitate" US into untold evils. Now is the
time for tue exercise of wisdom and prudence
Alexandria Gazette.