Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1860-11-02


sert that there is not sentence, syllable i'd ca
cor tanned in these resolutions which would warrant
tie secession of Virginia or the Southern States, in
the event OF the elecson of Lincoln, from the mere
fact thereof On the contrary, the language and
spirit OF the resolutions initiate against such pro-
cedure. These resolutions refer distinctly and
state distinctly that thew to apply to the
unhappy condition Of things produced by the 'clear
palpabe and dangerous exercise of powers not
granted in the Constitution to the Federal Govern
ment. There is a contingency indeed as laid down
in the laws Of nations when even where there has
been no nfraction of the federal compact that i,s-
LITIGATION might be had for secession. When the
obligntion the State has taken Upon herself as a
member of the confederacy, if fulfilled, would prove
destructive to her vitality as sovereign State, and
disastrous to her future well being then being I'M
der paramount obligation to perpetuate her own
existence, she would have a right to pursue tina
course best calculated to relieve her from the diff
culties of her position But instead Of the fedora.
bond tending to impair the sovereignty and dimin-
ish the power OF State it has directly the contra
ry influence.
tnder Constitution defining and limiting tie pow
ers of the common agent, the Federal Government
instead Of weakening any one State adds increased
strength and wealth and glory to each and all in
stead Of detracting from the Responsibility and in
euenca of the citizen of any State contributes to
his prosperity, peace and happiness at horne, and
his position obroad:
The Federal compact beieg Observed in good faith
secession would be suicidal If the election of Iu-
H..
stances as render it certain that he intends to over
throw the Governinent-an intention which be pos
sessed the ability and instrumentaties to effectu-
ate-it woufd be but the part of wisdom for the
South to act in her own defence before the blow
was struck. Has Lincoln The intention. This mind
is debased enough know, and his creed sufficient
ly dark, but has he this intention and if SO, has
he power 10 carry it into execution
When gentlemen refer to the Virginia resolutions
Of l795'99, and talk of secession from the mere oc
currence of Lncolns election, before an overt act
is committed and evidence existing showing that
any is intended, they should remember that even
ct that eyentfu period when Federal domination
eimed blow, not only at the freedom of the Press
brit ct the PERSONAL LIBEaTY of the individual, ex-
ercising in the language of the resolution ga power
which more than any other ought to produce uni
tersal alarm % that the lief advocates of the res
olutions medtatcd forclble resistance to the ex-
ecution of the laws, and no secession from the T.
nion.
The irterpcsition Of the public sentiment of the
State contemplated moral not physical force,
the weapons of reason and net the sword were re-
lied upon to secure the abrogation Of IN Just and
odious laws. That forcible resistance was not in
tended demonstrated by the evidence of the dis
tinguished statesmen who participated in the de-
bates.
Mr.. Barbour observed 'sthat the gentlemen from
Prince George had remarked that these resolutions
invited the people to insurrecIon and arms But
Mr. B. said that he could conceive the consequences
fcretold would grow out of the measure, he would
become its bitterest enemy, foI he deprecated ntes
tine cCmmotlon, civil and bloodshed as the
most direul evils which could befall any country,
except slavery. A resort to arms th last ap-
zeal of an oppressed and injured nation, and was
never made but when public servants converted
themselves by usurpation into masters, and de-
stroyed rights once participated ; and then it was
justitiable.' kgain. f'For his part, he was for
using no violence; it was the pecuar blessing of
che American people to have redress within their
reach by CONSTITUTIONAL and peaceful means.' Mr.
Mercer in advocating the passage OF the resolutions
huIF Dr.,
George had told the committee that the resolutions
introduced by the committee were calculated to
rouse the people to resstance-to excite tt people
ct Virginia against the Federal Government. Mr.,
N. did not see how any such consequences could
result from their adoption. A gain. Mr.. Mercer
said. 'force rot thought Of by any one" Mr..
Madison in his letter to Mr. Everett. in treating
this subject, says: 'sHad the resolutions been re-
garded as avowing and maint aiming right in any
individual State to arrest by force the executionof
a law Of the United States, it must be presumed
that it would have been conspicuous object Of
their lthe objectors to the resolutions) denuncia
tion.'
This Union should not be broken up for mere a.
musement, idle experiment, but only for
g 'cu and sufficient cause. say this, maintaining
and having ever maintained fherighG of a State to
secede under circumstances of oppression | say
this believing that in climate and on soil where
ii is prof able. that negro slavery is both moral
and political blessing to The society that establishes
it, and that slavery and subsection to the rple and
!
the condition BEST adapted to tie nature of the ne
gro race. In these sentiments, gentlemen, believe
you concur with me.
Whenever olr welfare as people, the scyerei gn-
! ty and equality of our State demand dissolution
Of the sacred ties with which our patriotic forefa-
theirs knit together the free States of North Amer
lea, though aecompay ined by the evils of
civil war, blood and desolation--let it come; it vii
Sc d sad calamity forced upon us by necessity. But
when tie United States occupies position of pre-
eminence among tie nstions Of the world in point
Of power, wealth and glory, is blessed with the
most. benefcent laws, at peace with every foreign
| power. afflicted with no intestine commUtiqr the
States Go7er-inents and Federal Government al
acting efficiently and harmoniousiy in their respec-
tive orbits, to dissolve such Union, snd embarE
such H. people in civil Var would be foliy-niadness.
And now gentlemen, dismi ssing the consideration
| cf Those i1syerrogateries, reflect with upon the
Democratic party as it existed prior to the Charles
ton Convent on and the Democratic party now
Tlsen. bonyant with life and health and power, il
ard capable to overcome the most formidable pOt-
ical opponent though that opponent were the Black
Republican candidate for the Presidency, backed
BY his formidable array of traitors IA;
Ct was indeed noble organization as en- The 23rd
Of April, 1850, 1t stood up in the face of our sml
ing, happy land, covered with the trophies Of past
victories, prepared to devote its best energies to
Che gitfi5ts task Of preserving the shrine of our
tional freedom from the foul Dissertation of dark
and dangerous fanaticisin. The champion was
worthy Of such trust
The Democracy had met and overcome eTery
parey CT every nfile which had contended for pre-
dominance in the control of puoic affairs. The
Federal party in the days of the elder Adams the
Wing party under TIE lead Of the gallant Clay; the
Know Nothing patty with locked breasts and sea-
led lips, and 7isorg down, and the Black Republic
can PARTY, covered all over with opprebium--ah'
FAD Been met, and all vanqGished by this National
Democratic organization, and s not without
good reason that the country on the assembling of
Cne Charleston Convention looked to it for sal3a-
ton in this the dark hour of her political distress.
But, alas, tt den.On CT discard saked into the rep
rescntatve convention, and that orgsslgation which
cen truce its c+isir b@cls the foundation of the
Government, was broken into pieces and its frag.
ments scattered. disabled wrecks upon the angry
Eill6ws of political strife
..But yesterday the wcrdi of Caesar might
Have stood against the world now lies he Shere,
And none SO poor to do him reverence"
And WHO responsible for this breach in the De-
mocratic party? History will accord its testimony
to the truth that the seeding delegates from the
Charleston and Baltimore Conventions were the
prime agents Of this calamity. phey not only de-
stroyett the efficiency of the Democratic party, but
they did it on false pretence, for the sake of as
sorting the principle OF Congressional lntervcntion
for slavery IN the territories, ''when necessary,
protection which they not only could not get, but
which the very propagators Of the doctrine by
their recorded votes in the United States Senate
admitted they did NOT want. Let the world know,
let tie friends of American Liberty everywhere
know that tire secession delegates who nominated
John G. Breckinridge, a NO PARTY MAN in lS46, q
sauatter sovereign in 1850, non nterventonist in
1856 an iEterventionlst IN 1850, put in peril the
very existence Of the Federal Union; for the pur-
Intervention" s:when necessary" and that not one
north before ytfyen X Hnsas had ABOLISHED SLAVE