Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1860-08-24


by the Staunton Convention We cheer
fully yield our editorial space to their in
-sertion:
The stanton COnvention--The
People versus the POliticians--
Roll ON the Ball!
After an enthusiastic session, character
lied throughout by the utmost harmony,
good feeling and unanimity of sentiment, the
Convention of the National Democracy Of
Virginia concluded it's labors last Saturday,
and with mutual pledges to earnest effort in
the good cause, the members have returned
to their homes. No Convention, save tho
Richmond Convention, which nominated
Breckenridge and Lane. ever assembled in
Virginia under such circumstances of dis
advantage. Under the influence of vault
ing ambition, or infrmity of viii. or desire
of dissolution Of the Union, the politicians
of Virginia. Senators, Representatives. cd
itors, local leaders, deserted in body the
standard of Democracy, and their own re-
peated assertions Of principle. and under
the dead of ''bold, bad men," grasped the
helm of Virginia to set the good cid ship
on the dangerous tack Of disunion. A half
a century of willing obedience, Of quiet ac-
qiescence by the people Of the old Common
wealth in the arrangement" Of these gen.
tlemen, constituted, it was thought, an a.
bunaant guaranty against popular resistance
and the lame submission of 80, 900 freemen
to the orders of their hereditary chiefs, was
anticipated with confident assurance. 1t
mattered net that their chiefs, by this act,
renowned all their previous professions it
mattered not that they stood convicted Of
the most glazing inconsistency that ever IL
Illustrated the sommersaults of politics; it
mattered not that the victim demanded was
the truest friend of the South that adorn the
field Of national politics; it mattered not
that the pretence Of principle" was de-
monstrably without foundation it mattered
not that the cause which they asked the De-
mocracv to desert, was sancti6ed by the
unanimous support of two generations Of
Virginians it mattered not that the prin-
ciple now denounced was carried in Virginia
four years ago by O,000 majority. Such
had been the willing support Of the Democ-
racy to all the measures Of these guides,
in by-gone days, that these worthy gentle
men never seemed to have entertained the
suspicion Of a revolution. They placed too
low an estimate on the intelligence and in
dependence of the Virginia people, as the
Staunton Convention proves beyond per-
adventure: With all the pipe-layers against
them, with scarce corporaPs guard Of
presses favoring their cause, with fve-sixths
of their own delegation flying from their
duty, in spite of every effort to argue and
to ridicule them out of their resolve, they
met in solemn council, repudiated the acts
of the deserters, nailed the banner of De-
mocracy to the mast-head, and bound them
selves to earnest endeavor for the redemp-
ton Of the State.
Between three and four hundred delegates
were in attendance, representing all quar-
tors, and, maugre the politicians, all classes
of the Commonwealth and although the
fact of the holding of the Convention, and
the fact of public responses to the call, were
concealed-although personal in
fucnce was everywhere strained, and Sec
tional pride everywhere appealed to, the
Convention was decided success the
members were determined-the organiza-
ton adopted-the action regular and har-
monious, and the plan of action matured
and thoroughly effective. It was emphat-
ically a Democratic Convention-as en-
phatically peoples Convention. Men
were present who had taken no part in pol
itics in a score Of years, who felt, however,
that the presence Of the threatening demon
Va OtSNuAou w do u cuAuuCnS W 1uc u0lO WulCA
no patriot could resist, and the spirit which
brought them from their homes animated
all To this end, no sacrifice that could
honorably be made was deemed too great.
and even their just indignation at the treat
ment received at the hands of their dele
gates and leaders, did not for moment
blind them to the paramount considerations
of large patriotism; thus proposition for
conference on the subject of compromise by
the Seceders was treated with as much con-
sideration as IF 1t had been made IN good
taith, and even after the members had been
deceived, trifed with and insulted by the
most contemptuous Sights on the part of
the Seceders, they INDICATED their love for
the South and the Union, by resolution
almost unanimously passed, to WELD their
strength, in any event, against the most
prominent of the two enemies of both.
In this spirit, let us enter the campaign
with right, justice, consistency, democracy,
and the incalculable blessings Of the Union,
to arm us for the struggle.
Politics, like misery, s'makes strange
bed-feIlows.' Look at Che personnel Of the
Breckenridge canvassers at large. Fl. A.