Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1860-11-30
Virginia and south Carolina.

Virginia and south Carolina.
The spirit of Bringing subseryiencY to the
behests OF the Cotton States manifested by
few the Democratic press, is totally at va
rance With the sentiments of the people Of
Virginia. We were much surprised and
no little fretted at suggestion in the Alex
andrla Sentinel few days ago, to the effect
that the State should go to South Carolina,
"apologise" for not yielding to her PROPOSE
ton for Southern Convention last Winter,
and implead her to counsel with US now
The idea of Virginia apologising to South
Carolina or any other State for doing that
which she believed to be right, is PROPOSE
ton SO ridiculous in itself and SO suggestive
OF spirit Of conscious inferiority, that We
can hardly think our able cotcmporary meant
that which his language conveys. Wea
one of those who believe Virginia did what
was precisely right in refusing a conference
with the Southern States on that particular
occasion, and under those peculiar circum-
stances. John Brown had invaded Virginia,
violated her laws and insuted her sover-
eighty. Virginia believed she could vindi-
cate her violated laws, and defend her honor
by her own inherent agencies. While she
treated the commissioner South Carolina
was pleased to send with the courtesy and
dignity due his mission, she respectfully de-
clincd the aid Of her sister States in that e.
mergency, believing that she knew her
rights and knowing dared maintain them.
This she did most triumphantly in bringing
the chief offender and his confederates to
speedy trial and just and significant pun
lshment. John Brown and his party were
hung, the violated law was satisfied, and the
honor of the State vindicatcd Virginia then
saw. as she now sees, a remedy within the
Union for the defence Of her constitutional
rights and the maintenance of her sovereign
character unimpaired. Whilst the tender
of South Carolina on that occasion was
doubtless designed in the spirit of sisterly
affection, still we cannot dismiss the idea
from our mind that it had the appearance
Of an insult, or covert attempt to take ad-
vantage of the excited state of public senti-
ment to carry out her purposes Of dissolu-
ton. Virginia acted with that dignity,
character and self-reliauce hat proud sense
Of self-reliance, which RISES above the craven
sensation Of danger when honor and right
are at stake--which have ever distinguish
ed her. She would have been untrue to
herself-false to her sous, her honor and her
history had she listened to any offers of aid
in that hour Of her trial Il seems to us,
therefore, that any illusions adverse to and
condemnatory of the action OF the State on
| that occasion are unjust, and made without
due reflection. 1t is enough for such out
lawed and revolutionary sheets as the Char
lesion Mercury to pour their streams Of foul
mouthed abuse upon her, without the press
within her own limits haunting her with the
insulting suggestion Of apoIogising to South
Carolina! Shame on the thought.
South Carolina and her confederates Of the
Cotton States in their scheme of precpita-
| ting revolution, meet with bat little sym
pathy in Virginia. In her character as a
Sovereign State, nothing, we believe, is
farther from her purpose than to affiliate and
coalesce with them in their reckless and Grim
i al purpose to break up, without sufficient
cause, this, the greatest and best govern
ment the world has ever seen.