Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1860-04-13

what they were in 30 and '54, and as ex'
planned them in SO, pending the Presiden'
tial contest Of that year. If any have beer
deceiiyea upon the subject, The fault rests
not with him. No one who has read atten
lively the debate of "a, upon the passage
|of the Nebraska Kansas bill, could doub
his position. at afn. b
And yet long after this he was perhaps
the favorite Ufthe South certainly of many
portions Of the South. And now he is. con
demned, or sought to be condenhea, with
out the change of position or the desertior
of principle Time was when every South;
err heart swelled high, when his potent
voice was raised in the Senate in defente: 81
our constitutional rights That same voice
is still heard in our defence now as then
ever ready to rebuke aggression and de.
lnounce sectionalism on the one hand, and
on the other to defend tie Constitution Of
our country. The storm against him has
been fierce !; bat I believe it has spent its
force. Time has enabled the people to in
}quire ito the causes Of his denunciation, AND
they are doubtless much astonished to fnd
that his sin has been-consistency
/ believe Judge Douglas would admins
ter this government, as President, with en-
inent success. That he is statesman Of
tie first rank in our country, all admit
He is intrepid and prompt-in the prime,
the very zenith of his manhood, and could
do as much, or more, to crush out the Sec
tional party now threatening the stability Of
the government than any other man that
could be selected.
I believe, too, that he is the most availa-
Bic man in the Democratic ranks. Should
he be selected as the candidate Of the De-
mocracy, I, for one, will, with alacrity and
pleasure, contribute my humble aid in bear
ing him triumphantly through. And tho
I do not speak by authority, yet | have not
a doubt that the Democracy Of Texas will
do him justice should he be the nominee -
And, moreover, I cannot believe that any
portion of the South can hesitate to rally to
the support Of any national Democrat who
may be nominated whatever may have been
said or resolved to the contrary. When the
question shall be presented to the South, Of
sectionalism and dissolution on the one hand
and conservatism and constitutional Union
on the other, | will not doubt her prompt
decision in favor Of the latter.
Thus have | answered as snccinctiy as |
could well do, the inquiries embraced in
your note. If have not done so satisfac-
torily, trust, at least, that | am under
stood.
But fer these sentiments t shall receive
5snsdte limited only by the little Importance
which is attached to any opinions which |
may entertain or express. | shall content
myself with the conviction that the right
which [ now exercise is dear to me, and the
duty as imperative as though my views were
in un yersal favor
I will conlude with tie expression of The
hope, that in the event of failure of the
Charleston Convention to make a nomira-
ton, on account of the discussion alluded
to, Of from any other cause, that the people
of every State in the Union who are willing
to make the last struggle for the Ccnstitu-
ton and the union will call upon some one
who properly represents their feelings to be
their standard bearer In such contin-
gency Texas can and will furnish the man
for the emergency.
Very respectfully,
ID and truly, yours,
!. A. j. HAMILTON.