Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1860-10-19

81
this Union after lincoln's election than she oan
prevent that election. Size will be powerless TO
prevent civil war, with all its attendant horrors
ANY of the Southern States can and soma of
then, ,ciU involve the whole country North az wen
as South, in the internecine strife Of bloody and
desolating civil war; Virginia will bv a majority
of her people, decide upon resistance while large
minority may desire to postpone resistance for tho
covert act;' but hitched as she is the Southern
States she will De dragged into a common destiny
with them, no matter what may be the desire Of
her people, We belie7e that large majority of
the people of Virginia. if the opportunity of State
Cony was allowed them, would for i'm
mediate resistance and for a common destiny with
the Southern States, and with this belief We would
&C wise the Slave States no. to hesitate to strike
early blow from fear that Virginia may hesitate ia
! her duty to the SOuth.
The above extract we take from the Rich
mond Enquirer of the 10Th We totally
dissent from several of the positions embra-
ced in the paragraph. We cannot be made
sensible, by mere upsustained assertion. Of
the assumed fact that any State in the Union
will attempt to secede on the election of an
American Citizen to the Presidency under
the laws and according to the prescribed
forms of the Constitution. We are sure if
the Enquirer's conclusion were predicated
upon a genuine basis, and the people of the
Southern States were determined upon re-.
sistance to the inauguration of Lincoln, there
would be, by the resistless force of common
sympathy, nnton of their power upon
some one man representing their views If
it IS the purpose to resist, Nero fddliDg
whilst Rome was burning, did not present
! n Il IL 80 Il, GO e L
imperial city, than do Southern men for the
success Of their schemes, by remaining diyi-
ded and presenting DO matured programme
of action. The very absence of any syste-
matte purpose, or pre-concerted arrangement,
is the strongest evidence that no serious in
tention is prevalent with tic PEOPLE to plunge
the country into bloody nternecine conflict
in the event of the election of Lincoln
Whilst ali good mon could not fail to regres
the election to the Presidency of any Sec
tional candidate, yet We much mistake the
popular pulse, if such an occurrence should
happen, through our blindness and folly,
whether the people would not prefer to await
some tangible cause Of rebellion, before they
give laid and comfort" to any movements
which IN lis consequences nj ght involve the
peace and happiness, the Eearths and homes,
the lives and property, of thousands of our
race There is a growing conviction in the
minds Of the reading, refl citing public. that
the Constitution furnishes an ample remedy
for every iniruction Of its PROVISIONS and
that to receive the benefits OF that instru-
ment, we must stand by and defend it. The
people Will not, for any mere speculative or
imaginary cause. plunge with un;hiukiug
recklessuess into civil revolution, and make
war upon the best government the world
has ever known, and which is consecrated by
so many halloWed memories Of the past aud
cheering hopes for the future.
w, are candid in the opinion that the
Enquirer IS most cgregiousIy mistaken in
the assertion that the people Of Virginia. il
permitted to assemble in State Convention,
would, By a large majority" decide in fs-
vor Of Immediate resistance We say,
ia all frankness, the people-the mass Of
the farming, aboring business men,-ar
becoming tired Of this everlasting excite
mcnt and contention about imaginary
wrongs They do not }ssZ the bur;hans com
planned Of. They, when let alone by tho
politicians and .'sensationists" live happy
and contented. They will resist wrong IS
readily as the Cotton States, but they will
not fly to ILLS they know not Of" just be-
cause few misguided fanatics of that sec
tou chose to lead the way We do not be-
ieye there can be found one thousand men
between the Blue Ridge and the Ohio River
who would be willing to resist the inaugu-
ration Of Lincoln. Yet, should he by an set
OF his administration, tresspass upon their
guaranteed nights, they would be the first 20
aVenge the wrong within the Union The
Enquirer should remember that not one in
twenty Of the voters OF Western Virginia is
a slave owner, yet all are loyal to the conser-
vative, Union loving, Constitution obeying
South. It is therefore bad policy to be con-
stant}y agitating tie subject of dissolution
and secession for frivolous and intangibls
s causes. 1t has a tendency to disgust the
laboring man, for ii is the ''gorgon dire"
that is eternally being thrust into his face to-
disturb his domestic peace and excite his
nervous nature. 1t is best to speak plain.
The people Of Virginia will never consent to
make a common destiny" with the Cotton
States, II upon the mere prctcxt Of the elec-
ton OF Lincoln. they attempt to secede from
the Union. We do not consider the Old
Commonwealth so "htched' TO any State
that she will not herself determine The ex-
tent Of any grievance inflicted and the pep
er remedy for it. We have seen enough OF
Cotton States diplomacy to warn US against
committing our State 10 the rash aad reck-
less lead of a few mercurial Aotspurs, who,
l4uciter-hke, il they could net rule, would
rebel against the Gods. The common dcs-
r tiny" Of Virginia is with the Constitution
!. which sprung from heF loins, and not the
Cotton States She has % historic pride in
thinking for herself and adjadging Of wrong
c and insult, aud 40 coupling po,e or trace
t chain is strong enough to ''hitet" her to
IS any State to be dragged, Hector like, a.
a round the walls of her own palladium, at the
heels of any power. She will not ask what
u Alabama or South Carolina will do She
S will look all questions full in the face, and
: in remembrance Of what Virginia has done,
) will declare what Virginia can yet do.
united South may prevent the election of Lin
coin, by showing the Northern people that upon
them rests the future existence OF the Union. But
u if shn the next three weeks such union Is not ef
fected, III oar opinion all will be ost.--Rieh. En-
qu5rer-
. We much fear the suggestion of the En-
qulrer comes too late. Had the friends of
a Nv T.. =