Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1860-07-20
War Proclaimed.

column, that the friends of Breckinriag;
and Lane have called a meeting for Monday
next, to appoint delegates TO the Charlottes
vile Convention, and that it is expected
Hons. S. F. Leake and VIM. Smith will
address the people on that occasion. Thf
movement we consider a virtual throwing
down Of the glove to the friends of Dougla,
and Johnson formal declaration Of wal
and as such, we accept the challenge
Anxious for an adjustment upon fair ano
honorable terms, of the differences which
exist in the Democratic party, the friends
Of Judge DougIasin this District have man
ifested generous disposition of concifiation,
and striven in al unselfish spirit to bring
together the riven parts Of reorganization.
Tn this they have been animated by no sen
sation Of timidity. or want of faith either
in the numerical strength Of their friends,
or the sound, conservative and catholic SEN
timents of their platform or position 81
their candidate. We have been for peace
and harmony According to others the
same honesty of purpose that we claim fol
ourselves, we have carefully approached
and examined the points Of difference, with
out discovering any insuperable barrier to
determination for The accomplishment of q
common end-~the defeat Of the Black Re
publioans. In this spirit, we presented for
the consideration of the Democracy of the
State fair and just basis Of agreement
which has been totally disrespected by the
friends Of Mr. Breckenridge. Indeed, ia
stead Of exhibiting willingness to harmon~
ize and meet upon terms Of equality, they
have rather manifested spirit of supercil-
ious superiority, and, through some Of their
presses, affected to hold as Gallons to the
Commonwealth of Israel -ss fungi to be
Topped off from the party organization the
friends of Judge Douglas. With an air of
impudcnce. better suited to the council-
chamber Of an irresponsible despot, than the
theatre upon which play both personal and
political equals, they threaten to read as
out Of the party if we do not subordinate
our convictions ofright, based upon prin-
ciple which lies at tie foundation of our
system of government, and which is dear to
every American citizen wLo is not blinded
hv yra111IIoo uyhnco
not been lost in the mazes of metaphysical
absurdities, to their speculative ideas of po-
litical economy and governmental polity.
To such demands and threats, coming
from bastard organization, conceived and
consummated in spirit of disunion and
Reorganization, every element of manhood
in our nature rebels. A degree of pre-
sumption is manifested by these Seceders,
the proper classification of which would be
the vagaries of the demented, were it not
that it comes from men ordinarily esteemed
sane, but the result of whose concerted
action" if successful. must destroy the u
MON and win for them the renown of infa-
my which history has associated with the
name of Erostratus.
In this view Of dissension, disorganiza-
ton and disunion, is the meeting called
here for next Monday. Conscious of their
own weakness-of the adherence of the
great mass of the Democratic voters of this
county to the revolutionary and disunion
schemes Of Yancey and his followers-they
have invited two distinguished speakers
from distance to be present to cajole and
deceive the people into the belief that the
interests Of Virginia and the South demand
the support of the nominees of the Seceders'
Convention.
We shall not believe until we see it, that
William Smith and Shelton F. Leake will
so far forget the relations they bear to the
Democratic party of Virginia, and especial
ly this Tenth Legion District, as to inter-
fere in our county meetings, and thus as
sist in widening the breach that already ex-
lists in our organization. The writer Of this
and those with whom he acts in this impor-
tant emergency, have been the true, tried
and faithful friends of these gentlemen 81
When Mr.. Smith was distrusted and as
sailed by his own party in every section of
the State, we stood firmly by him, defend
ing and upbolding him, and jeoparding our
own interests by facing an incensed Democ-
racy in his behalf: We wrote for him, spoke
for him, and fought for him, in time when
ne needed friends-when he was the object
of assault from every quarter, and when the
popular current was so fearfully against him
that he had not at one time dozen friends
in this county. Still, in this hour of diff
Guilty and gloom, we the more boldly pro-
claimed our confidence in his devotion to
the Democracy, and the more fercely de-
nounced his enemies, until, at last, we had
the proud satisfaction of witnessing his CON-
plete triumph, and the vindication of the
justice and wisdom of our course. We can
scarcely, therefore, believe that Mr.. Smith
will be so oblivious Of the past, so disre-
gardful Of the present, and Indifferent to
the future, as to wilfully throw himself a.
cross the path, in hostile attitude, of those
who have been so true to him, when it re-
quired nerve and wilt to be friend.
We may with equal point and propriety
ask Mr.. Leake whether he can reconcile it
to his sense of fairness and justice and to
the obligations of past associations, to per-
nit himself to be used to cleave asunder
..J ao~,.oG.