Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1860-12-07
The True Policy.


rapidly developing sentiment Of the people
of the State,4 that sney are in favor Of Con-
vcntion being called by the approaching Lee
glslature, to lay down some decisive and
tangible rule Of action by which Virginia
shall be governed in the present important
emergency in our political affairs. Belev-
; ing that our geographical position, as we'll
as our intimate social relations with the
> South, impose upon Virginia the duty Of
leading in that line of conduct which will
: at once indicate to the North her dispas-
! sionate and determined resolve to have her
constitutional rights unencumbered and free,
! and to the South, the grounds upon which,
appealing to justice and honor for justifca-
ton, she can resume her original position
as an independent sovereignty, we have been
/ in favor of State Convention, as the only
| proper agency by which to attain those ends
! Our idea is. that Virginia shall lay down
the true constitutional doctrine upon which
the Union is based and looking to the North
!, tell them that here are the terms and con-
ditions of the original compact, violated in
many particulars by them. but that if they
are willing to come back to the true under
standing of that agreement, and attest their
desire SO to do by unmstakable acts, then
this Union can be perpetuated. If they re-
fuse to squarely place themselves upon the
stipulations and compromises Of the Consti
tuition upon terms of the most perfect equal
stg, a0sthont reservation or quibble, then let
Virginia turn to the South, and her sister
slave holding States, and raising aloft the
Constitution that our fathers framed-that
Constitution which Northern fanaticism has
spit upon, DETAINED and nulli6ed-but which
by us has been held in sacred reverence as
the palladium Of our liberties-seek the
shelter Of its imperishable truths IN a sepa-
rate Confederacy We wish Virginia to
recommend the Constitution as it is, as its
trainers intended it should be understood to
; both sections. If the North cannot sub
scribe to it, with its legitimate interpreta-
ton, then self respect ana the stern demand
Of honor, would forbid US yielding the cross
ing Of a t or the dotting of an 4, save to
more clearly set forth the rights Of the
South
/ We believe this can better be accomplish
ed by National Convention than in any
other mode. Let Virginia assume the po-
sition upon which she would be willing to
stand in National Convention. Let her
recommend such Convention; and then,
should it be held, If there can be no accom-
mediation Of the conflicting opinions Of the
two sections, provide for peaceable seces-
sion, the resumption by Maryland of juris-
diction over the District of Columbia, an
equitable division Of the public property,
and proceed at once to organize separate
Confederacy, taking as its fundamental law
the present Constitution Of the United States.
No Southern State, which is not welded to
some reckless and revolutionary scheme,
could refuse TO unite in such q movement,
commended as it would be by reason, jus
tice. honor, and due regard to the wisdom
) and patriotism of the founders Of our sys-
tenn Of government. 1t is clear, too, to the
most ordinary understanding, that if the
proneness to secession on the part Of the
Cotton States. originates solely in, and is
designed to correct the wrongs and insults
the North has inflicted upon the South, then
, no Southern State can for momsnt hesi-
} tate to subscribe to the terms Of Union the
Middle slave States may recommend There
never can be an united Confederscy Of the
slave States upon any extreme basis the
: cotton States may suggest Nor de we be-
f li4Yc the civilized nations Of the earth would
recognize the independence Of a govern
ment, enc Of the cardinal features Of whose
policy would be toe encouragement Of the
African slave trade. Certainly, no union
/ of equality between Virginia aud South Car
, oina could exist where this traffic was le-
galized, and its suggestion, as the probable
policy of the Southern Confederacy. would
at onca raise an impossible barrier to the
border States confederasing with the cotton
States. We cannot be iosensible to the sig
nificant intimation Of Gov. Gst, Of South
Carolina, that the Importation ofslayes from
the border States should be prohibited, as
giving just ground for experimenting pur
, pose to reopen this noxlous trade, and
strike blow at the pecuniary welfare Of the
border slave holding States. The spirit
which prompted this recommendation GER
tainlY is not that which contemplatos an
united South upon terms Of fraternal reci-
procity, but more il harmony with de-
sign Of hostile and isolated action from the
border States IF this be the purpose. then
it is for no real Injuries suffered that the
cotton States favor separation from the
Northern States, bat desire to institute a
traffic which is expressly forbidden by the
laws Of the country. It is more to evade or
throw of present legal and constitutional
: obligations than to fee from wrongs lower
ing over them. This recommendations Of
Gov Gist talles with the idea Of VIM. L..
Yaneey, as developed in his Slaughter and
Pryor letters, to the effect that Virginia
: should remain in the old Confcderacy, as a
p' election to the Cotton States jeopardizing