Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1860-03-06
Staunton Spettator.
TUESDAY. MARCH 6, 1860.
The Opposition Movement.
STANTON VA.

The movement of patriotic and conservative
men against the Black Republican and Demo
cratic parties, both of which are alike sectional
and tending to disunion, is gathering strength in
all quarters, and is destined we trust, to become
a power that will be felt in the land. We laid
before our readers last week toleraby full re-
port of the proceedings of the Virginia Conven-
ton, held in Richmond on the 22nd ult., and
publish on the first page of to-day's paper the
able and patriotic address to the people, adopted
by the Convention. This admirable paper is
from the pen of Robert E. Scott, of Fauquier,
one of the ablest of our public men, and sets
forth the views and the principles of the Wings
of the State in clear and unmistakabie TERMS
The Convention adopted the suggestions OF the
National Wing and American Executive Com
mittees, only SO far as to send delegates to the
proposed National Conventions setting forth,
however, fully and distinctly their own princi-
pies and opinions to be read and known of all
men with whom they might choose to co-ope-
rate, or who might desire to cooperate with
them One objection to the plan of the Nation
al Committees was the proposition to express a
preference for two candidates for the Presidency,
which suggestion it was considered inezpedient
to adopt, as likely to lead to feuds and dsaffec-
ton among the friends of particular gentlemen
1t was, therefore, wisely concluded to leave the
selection of candidates to the sound discretion Of
the National Convention, with the confident be-
lief that the choice of that body will be such as
to command the support, not only of the people
represented in the Virginia Convention, but Of
the united opposition throughout the Union.
Of our own Convention, we say with pride
and pleasure, that it was glorions reunion OF
men of the right stamp-men of patriotism and
ability-who felt the Importance and the mag
nitude of the work they had assembled to per-
form, and who addressed themselves to it with
calm deliberaton and the strictest decorum.-
The work was well done-"decently and in Or
dern-in such manner as to command unver-
sal admiration and respect. The twelve hun
dred delegates in the body took counsel together
in fraternal spirit, for the good of the whole
country.
Conventions have also been held in New Jersey
North Carolina, Tennessee and Kentucky, all
breathing the same spirit of patriotism and de-
votion to the Union and the Constitution. New
Jersey, like Virginia, expresses no preference,
willing to fight the battle under the lead Of any
sound national man. North Carolina prefers
Graham first, and Washington Hunt, of New
York, next. Tennessee goes for her own cher
ished son, John Bell and Kentucky for the ven-
cradle statesman, John J. Orittenden. The res
olutions adopted by the Conventions in all these
States do not differ substantially in the princi.
pies which they enunciate; and all are distinct
and emphatic in the expression of their attach
ment to the Union of the States end just in
terpretaton and strict fidelity to all the guaran-
tees of the Constitution as the bond of yet
more perfect Union. With such objects, and
under the lead of such men as the crisis has
brought to the van, we may hope that the
movement will meet with such favor in all
quarters as will soon embody the conservative
elements of the whole country into solid and
irresistible column of opposition to Republican
ism and Democracy. So may it bel