Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1860-02-24
The Southern Conference.

During the session OF the DcmOcf atic
Convention in Richmond, resolution was
offered in favor of the Southern Conference
but it was objected to on account of the in
sxpediency Of making a party issue out ci
that which. rising high above party. as.
sumes the dignity of State and national
question It was then agreed unanimously
that the resolution be Withdrawn from the
consideration Of the Convention, and sub
mitted to mass meeting, irrespective OF
party, to be organized Immediately after the
adjournment Of the Convention Speakers
from every section Of the State, well quail
lied to express the sentiments of their con-
ssituents, addressed the meeting, in eager
ard unqualified approval of the measure,
aud never in cur lives, have we seen great
question receive so unanimous an endorse
ment from so large and enthusiastic an as
sembly. Almost without dissentient voice,
that vast multitude, assembled from all parts
Of the Commonwealth, declared concerted
action on the part of the Southern States to
be right, proper, just and expediens Such
spontaneous expression Of approval by the
free yeomanry of Virginia, serves to confirm,
us in the opinion that the people Of the State
desire their Legislature tc respond in the
affirmative to the request Of South Carolina
and Mississippi.
Why should not Virginia 60 into confer
ence with her sister Southern States We
are unable to conceive reason. and as yet
we have never been furnished with a sound
argument against the Conference by the OPP
ponents of that measure. Even the Legis-
lature Committee, in their absurd report,
confessed that concerted action en- the part
of the Southern States was necessary, and
yet, by strange inconsistency between
premise and conclusion, they declared that
that very measure which was to bring about
the result which they themselves had pro-
bounced necessary, was inexpedlent. 49,
Southern concert of action, then, is ack-
nowiedged on all sides to be necessary
why. then reject the Conference Because,
say some, i: is disunion movement, and
expressions Of Mr.. Memminger and others
are cited to demonstrate that South Carolina
is for disunion per Sc.
We are not for disunion, and hence our
eager desire that Virginia, with her wise,
moderate and conservative counsels, should
enter the Conference of her more hot head
ed sisters That Southern Conference
will be held is now fixed fact. South
Carolina, Mississippi, Alabama, and ma
jority of the Southern States are determined
to 20 into this Conference, whether Virgin
ia goes with them or not End then what
next? Certain dissolution of the Union
And in such an event, where will Virginia
stand? VIII she not be forced to folLoss out
Of the Union, when she might have led in
tho Union? Let it not be whispered that
in case of dissolution the interests of Vir-
ginia bind her to Pennsylvania and the Dor
der States If the Southern States leave
the Union, Virginia must go with them for
veal OR for VICE.
Let Virginia accede to the earnest request
Of her sister States. Let her 60 into and
guide the policy of this Conference, and save
the Union, under the Constitution, if posi-
BILE; and if, in spite of her mild and conser-
vative counsels, her Southern sisters wish
to force (and we do not believe such thing
possible) her to an act which she cannot ap-
prove, she may return to her original. posi-
ton unframed