Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1860-10-30
The Plot Thickens--.Peace or Wharf.-The
South Must Decide.

says that the evil days are indeed upon us--that
dreaded period when the great patriotic body of
the people shall have to meet face to face the
of the happiest, most prosperous and freest land
the world ever saw" is now near at hand, and
zoe mast prepare for 1T. 1t is idle to deny the
fact, and the extreme of folly to attempt to
conceal it, that the Breckenridge leaders of Vir-
ginia have determined on REVOLUTION
Citizens Of Virginia, let no partnership, no
sophistry, dim your eyes to the fact that the
torch is now preparing for your households, and
arms now Furnishing for the shock of bloody
conflict.
These are grave charges-the gravest that the
catalogue of crime contain, and no evidence
short of the most conclusive will warrant their
utterance. Such evidence is before us.
We make no reference to the open discussion
of Willoughby Newton, and the endorsement it
secured at the hands of the Charlottesville Con-
vention-no reference to the avowed sentiment
of James Lyon, the Breckenridge Eector for
Richmond-no reference to the indirect evidence
of the Norfolk questions The gravity of the
charge demands more decided and more recent
testimony. Unhappily for the country, it is not
wanting.
From mass of Virginia commentary on the
result of recent elections North, we select two
witnesses choosing them with reference to the
important points of the State which they repre-
sent and to the official nature of the statements
they make.
And, firstly, we ask attention to the following
from the home organ of Governor Smith, the
Alexandria Sentinel:
"We are truly sorry to say that the election
returns from the Northern States are as bad as
they we'll can be, and indicate the triumph of
Lincolnism over Douglas. Bell, and Breckenridge,
both singly and combined. Pennsylvania, hith-
erto regarded as conservative, heads the fanat-
ical stampede, and probably herself decides the
question.
ssThe grave times of which we have heard SO
long are aaoso athand. To submit to the sectional
yoke and the doctrines avowed and purposes de-
clared, is SIMPLY IMPOSSIBLE. NO ONE
| WILL THINK. OF 1T FOR A MOMENT. The
lines closing round and the painful issue is
now forced upon u.s. 1t only remains for Southern
ers to accept it like men, as they ao5I.a Tyranny,
| whether from across Mason's and Dixon's line,
or across the sea, is equally intolerable and
equally to be sporned. Let the Southern States
at once arouse, and call for their men of cool
head, strong hands, resolute purpose and steady
nerves to come to the fropt, The evil day, we
believe, has come"
| There can be no installing this language
It means that the Inauguration of President,
deliberately chosen by a majority of the Ameri-
can people, under the forms of law and the sane
ton of the Constitution, WILL BE RESISTED
BY FORCE-a doctrine unwarranted by reason,
law, common sense or common honesty.
The Richmond Enquirer speaking with still
greater authority, and with, if possible, more
Iexplicitness of utterance, marks out the pro-
gramme as follows:
''Virenia can no more prevent the dissolution
of this Union after Lincoln's election, than she
lean prevent that election. She will be powerless
Ito prevent civil war, with all its attendant hor-
rors. Any one of the Southern States can, and
some of them aoiW, involve the whole country,
North as we'll as South. in the internecine strife
of a bloody and desolating civil war. Virginia
will, by majority of her people, decide 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
lbe dragged into common destiny with them,
mo matter what may be the desire of her people.
We believe that a large majority of the people
of Virginia, if the opportunity of State Con-
lvention was allowed them, would vote for i'm
mediate resistance and for a common destiny
with the Southern States, and with this belief,
WE WOULD ADVISE THE SLAVE STATES
NOT TO HESITATE TO STIKE AN EARLY
BLOW FROM THE FEAR THAT VIRGINIA
MAY HESITATE IN HEB DUTY TO THE
SOUTH."-Ricdnsoad Enquirer.
Let every Virginia father, every Virginia
brother, every Virginia MASTER read this diabol-
icle plot and ask himself if this is the banquet to
which he should be invited.
The Enquirer avows that on the election of
Lincoln some of the Southern States will forth
with ''nvoe the whole country, North as well
as South, IN THE INTERNEOINE STRIFE OF
A BLOODY AND DESOLATING OWL
WARi!!"
| And the Enquirer dares to add its advice to
the slave States not to permit any fear of the
course of Virginia to prevent them from striking
AN EARLY BLOW! Do not hesitate, Dis
unionsts-be restrained by no fears as to the
course of Virgnia-strike an early blow-inau-
gurate 'civil War with all its attendant horrors"
and let no lingering fears that there is love of
Union in the old Dominion embarrass you in
your damnable purposes. Wait for no State
Convention to declare the peoples will, but
plunge at once the cotton States into the traitor
Gus vortex of bloody Revolution, aud Breckin-
ridgers will see to it that you are amply sus-
tanned!
We turn from this revolving picture to sum-
mon the law-loving citizens of this ancient Com
monwealth to their great patriotic duty in this
hour of their countrys direst need-their States
greatest responsibility we take leave to tell
the Enquirer that it has mistaken the feelings of
the Virginia people. Against this horrid pro-
gramme of bloody revolt, this plunging of North
and South into internecine war, the patriotic
heart of Virginia solemnly protests. Let that
protest be heard at the balot-box. Every man
who casts his vote in Virginia for John O. Brock
inridge, with the above programme staring him
in the face, offers a bonus to bloodshed-a pre-
MUM for treason. Every vote for Breckenridge
is direct appeal to the Cotton States to raise
the banner of civil war. Citizens of the South,
will you thus unfurl the black flag Of Disunion.
or will you unite upon the only man who has
the shadow of chance of at once conserving
your rights and perpetuating in peace this glori-