Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1860-05-25

States, their delegations cannot fail to with
draw and unite with the eight States which
have adjourned to Richmond. In either
event, there would be unanimous action in
support. Of our principles, by all the States
which can be relied on for casting Demo
cratic electoral votes"
The purpose, as here stated, Of those who
signed this address, is to secure the attend
ance of the seeding delegates at Baltimore,
and there to renew the demand for change
OF the entire policy of the Democratic party
by departure from the doctrine of non-in-
terventlon, Or failing in that, for the South
ern States in body to retire and re-as-
scmble at Richmond. The certain fact that
the Southern States will not unite in any
such whimsical and suicidal course, does not
relieve the signers Of this address from the
odium which attaches to proposition pseg
nant with results SO disastrous to the coun-
try This last and browning evidence Of
the existence of determination, on the part
of few ambitious men, either to rule or
ruin the Democratic party and the country,
cannot fail to open the eyes of the people to
the fearful extremity to which they are be-
ing led, land cause them to rise in their maj
esty and rebuke their servants who are thus
hasty to accomplish evil. The people Of
Virginia are grossly misrepresensed by Mes
srs. Hunter, Mason and Garnett in their
endorsement of the design and policy Of
this address. Mr.. Hunter has here assum-
ed position which his friends in this State
expressly repudiated but short time since,
and which his constituents, and those of
Mr.. Mason, especially, will never endorse.
We look upon it as calm, deliberate and
matured purpose to dissolve the Union, pro-
vided the fanaticism of Alabama is not sus-
tanned at Baltimore. We view it as an at
tempt to subordinate every other consider
alton and interest to the one Insignificant
and contemplate idea of appeasing the ex-
cited wrath of Alabama, In her crazy pur-
pose to "precipitate the cotton States into a
revolution" dissolve the Union, and estab-
lish Southern Confederacy. We tell these
Virginia representatives that they have
not acted by the authority of their people in
signing this paper. On the contrary. they
have suggested course which nine tenths
of the voting population will Indignantly re-
pudiate, and hereafter bring up in judg
ment against them. Mr.. Mason, in sex
pressing" his ''lofty'' Admiration and ap-
prevail of the action Of the seeding dele
cations, and insisting oy virtue of his
position as representative Of Demo-
cratic State and constituency upon the
Southern States banding together to force
upon the Northern Democracy the accep-
lance of terms Of determination which can
not fail to prove their political destruction
terms which the Democracy have time and
again repudiated, as test-or, in the event
of their refusal to grant the demands, to
break up the Convention, dissolve the last
| link that binds the North and the South to-
gether, and precipitate revolution takes
upon himself to adopt course of policy
which 1hisrepresents most vitality the people
of Western Virginia. This important fact
will not be forgotten in the future Mr.
Mason had better be warned in time, for the
honest masses of Virginia love the Union,
and as means to the preservation of the
Union, the organization Of the Democratic
party. The disruption of the latter is the
entering wedge to the observance of the
former, and the alder or abettor of any
scheme to effect either will be held to strict
and fearful accountability.
We were sorry to see the name of Mr.
Hunter attached to this address. It is pe-
culiarly unfortunate at this time, as it is
generally conceded that the present con-
flicting attitude of the party was brought
about by the efforts of his peculiar friends
to defeat Judge Douglas for the nomination
at Charleston. It was in bad taste, ard
contrary to the suggestions of refined and
sensitive nature, to say the least Of it.
If this insolent document is Objectionable
because of its predication upon unfounded
facts, or for the reason that it is wicked and
reckless in its design, it is then even more
censurable for the blind policy it indicates.
One Of the greatest attributes of states
man is to meet present difficulties, and ac-
compli<h, by tangible and practical action,
the present, as we'll as prospective good of
the country. The wisdom of the ablest
statesmen Of the age has matured settled
policy for the country in relation to slavery,
and that is to take it away from the legisla-
ton Of an unfriendly body and leave it with
the people, whore it properly belongs. There
is not man in the Democratic party North
who is not willingly pledged to stand by the
Constitutional rights Of the South, and to
defend them if assailed. But for our North
ern friends to sacrifice themselves at this
important juncture Of our political affairs -
when the practical, present battle of the
Union has to be fought with the Black Re-
publicans-for remote and not probable
contingency is directly in the face of the
lights Of experience, and contrary to the
interest. the magnanimity and the honor of
the South It is unreasonable to demand
that the Northern Democracy shall be
crushed for the sake ola mere abstraction
an idea whose practical application is 80 ex-
coedingly distant that no statesman, how
ever far-seeing, can indicate, with even the
most Indifferent accuracy, the time or the
place when and where it can be practically
applied. We do not at this time need or
desire any refined discrimination in behalf
of slavery, especially if it has to be pur-
oh ea1 ~ 4ho c.oH4 c,nn;Go, &c A. J.s..