Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1860-02-10

lission between the State and Federal au-
thorities. With the shedding of blood, it
would become more difficult to restrain. the
passions of either section; and civil war once
commenced, its flames would spread over
the whole country. Whether you would
condemn orapproye this separate action of
few States it would be impossible to iso-
late yourselves from it's consequences. The
Federal government could not compel the
small State of Florida to remain in the u
Mon after this event by force. but through
an exterminating war upon the entire South:
Commune periculum,
Una salus ampobus, crit"
Whatever we may think about it now when
no passion disturbs the balance ofjudgement
mo Federal army, recruited from the sympa-
thizers with John Brown, could shed the
blood of our brethren in any slave State, in
this quarrel, without universal rising of
our people. Every man, young and old in
this county of Albemafle, would be ready
to resist their passage through our borders
to the death; and if'they went to sea, there
would be some of'the sons of liberty from
our mountains to welcome them to the shore.
The truth is, that those who are calculat-
ing upon submission, have not appreciated
the length and breadth, the height and depth
OF that love OF constitutional liberty which is
the passion of our people. The ech-
oes OF those immortal words with which our
revolutionary patriots thrilled the world, are
yet ringing through these hills. We would
be false to the traditions and memories of
patriotism, false to the princi Piles of liberty,
false to that glorious sentiment which our
fathers first baptized in their blood and then
emblazoned with their fame, upon the arms
of our State. not only to express their own
love of freedom, but to cherish it's flames to
the latest generation of their posterity, if in
this trying hour of our history, we did not
take council Of our honor and our duty, and
not of our danger or our fears.
Mr.. Chairman, [ venerate the Constitu-
ton of my country, and with my whole
heart love the Union which it established.
But when hear these sacred names invoked
to excuse the enormity of Northern injus
tlce, or to cover the reproach of Southern
submission, know that the lips which thus
profane the hottest sentiments of patriotism,
were never touched with fire from those hal
lowed affairs. Our fathers worshipped hber-
ty ages before this Union was formed, as
will their sons, trust, ages after it may
have persisted. TREY worshipped her in
rude and infant colony, amid the privations
of the wilderness and the ever impending
danger of savage warfare For her sake
they severed bonds of love, and hope, and
strength, and glory, by which through CEN
turtles, their very heart string has been wo-
ven around the homes, and sepulchres, and
throne of England. For her habitation, they
built this magnificent temple of Union, and
hung its walls with the beautiful and maies-
tic images of common country. But had
they lived to see the goddess of their idola-
try. driven by impious hands from her own
favorite shrine, they would have followed
her retreating steps, though she led them to
the waste sands of the desert or the barren
rocks of the OCEAN. And for you, their child
rem, l trust | may say in words which I
have uttered before, that this Union cannot
endure if it is to be preserved by submission
to fixed policy or injustice, and acquies-
cence under an accommodating burthen of re-
proach. We are wiling to give much for
Union. We will give territory for it; the
broad acres we have already surrendered
would make all empire. We will give blood
for it; we have shed it freely upon every
field of our country's danger and renown.-
We will give love for it; the confding, the
forgiving, the overlooking love of brothers
and freemen. But much as we value it, we
will not purchase it at the price of liberty or
character.
Liberty is security against wrong. So
long as Northern sentiment upon African
slavery remains unaltered, the Constitution,
as it stands, furnished us no permanent Sc
curity against Northern injustice. Upon
the election Of Black Republican Presi-
dent, the Supreme Court will be the only
remaining outwork of our constitutional in
dependence; and that if not stormed by legis-
lation, must crumbie as rapidly as human
life. Cannot our people be reused to the fact
that we are unable, through the Constitu-
ton, to maintain our rights? Without some
change in its provisions, they will soon lie
at the mercy of Northern power, to be de-
Tended, if at all. by Southern swords. Nav
that Providence which has guarded us
through all the past, protect US in the future
inspiring the South with wisdom and firm
ness, and the North with moderation and
justice. A private citizen, who has no wish
but to enjoy unmolested and transmit unim-
paired the liberty to which he was born, I
offer for my country the prayer of the old
Roman
''The honor'd gods
Keep Rome in safety; and the chairs of Justice
Supplied with worthy men plant love among us
Throng our large temples with the shows of peace,
And not our streets with war!"
E,6MztHD E1SSEnNA