Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1860-08-07
West Augusta-Liberty and Union.

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West Augusta-Liberty and Union.
Will our readers pardon US for abiding once
more to that famous remark of the Father of his
country SO complimentary TO the patriotism and
bravery of the people of West Augusta They
have often heard that in the gloomest period OF
the Revolution, when defeat discouraged, and
disaster followed disaster, Washington looked to
the mountains as the last hope of struggling lib
erty. and expressed the confident belief that he
would, if standard were but left to plant upon
the blue mountains of West Augusta. rally a.
round it fearless and sturdy yeomanry. who
would "lift their bleeding country from the
dust and set her Free At various periods OF
the revolution, the patriotism of the people west
of the Blue Bidge was illustrated by many strl-
king incidents. Here, near the town OF StauD-
ton, lived that noble mother of noble race,
who, when the British were reported to be ad-
vanclng upon Charlottesville, equipped her sons
with the implements OF war. and sent them forth
with the stern Injunction, 'neVer let me see your
face again if Tarleton crosses the Blue Ridge"
1t will be recollected that the advance Of the
British commander had driven the Legislature
to the town of Charlottesville, and when the in
telligence reached the people of the mountains
that be would probably endeavor to penetrate the
Valley, the people of Augusta rushed to Rock
fish Gap, determined to plant upon the mount
aims that standard which Washington knew
would be the last to fall into the hands of the
enemy Around it rallied the gallant sons Of
Old Augusta sent By their heroic mothers to de-
fend the pass, and had the enemy attempted tl
effect passage, Rockfish Gap would have beer
in history another Thermopyl@. Such was the
patriotic spirit that animated the people of Wes
Augusta in the days OF the Revolution. Sucl
was the spirit that nerved the arms and strength
ened the hearts of the entire American people
in those days that tried mems souls, and ena
bled them, under the favoring smile of the LORD
the free institutions which we, their degenerate
descendants, now enjoy.
These reflections upon past incidents have
been suggested by the present perilous cond
ton of that coultry for which Washington
fought and his followers died. The glorious in
heritance purchased with the blood of our fore
fathers, and bequeltned to US in sacred trust, is
threatened with destruction; about to be thrown
away by the profi gate sons of noble sires. May
we not yet find su Ii ;ient patriotism left in the
breasts of the people to 'lift our bleeding coun-
try from the dust and set her free?" On the
10Th day of August two assemblies OF the PEG
pie will take place to deliberate, may we not
hope, upon the affairs of the nation, rather than
the mere paltry interests of party. The Blue
Ridge will be the great natural barrier between
these two hostile parties One will be gathered
at the Eastern, and the other at the Western
base of that mountain towards which Washing
ton looked with hopeful gaze when his country
was in the extreme of peril. Oae will convene
within sight of the grave of Lewis, in the very
midst of those mountains of West Augusta, pro-
verbal as the very home of loyalty and patriot
ism the other in the shadow of Monticello; the
home of the renowned author of the Declaration
of Independence. What will they do? Will
they be actuated by the high and holy impulses
that moved their fathers to leave their homes and
fresides for the mountain Businesses, or will they
recklessly throw away the glorious opportunity
now afforded them to restore peace and pros
perity to their distracted countrya But one
hope is left in the present crisis. Divided a.
mong themselves they are impotent for good !;
united upon their former compacts they are
mighty for evil. By all the hallowed associa-
tions of the past, We therefore appeal to them to
do the work of patriotism on the 10th of Au-
gust. Forgetting past differences, and with an
eye single to the welfare and glory of their coun-
try, let them coma together in support of the
Constitution and the Union. Let the one party
marching from the East, and the other from the
West meet around that glorious standard, plant
ed on the Blue Ridge, and swear, by the memo
ry of Washington, perpetual allegiance to that
glorious Union which he regarded as the "pal
ladium of our liberties"