Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1861-03-29


nit the above resolutions to the several an
nual Conferences for their concurrence.
The ayes and noes were ordered on the
question of their adoption, with the follow
Ing result-ayes 165, noes 8.
Col. Baldw1n's Speech.
We give below the substance of the re-
marks made by Col. J. B. Baldwin, in the
State Convention on the 21st, 22d. and
Esd. This is the only report we have seen,
the full report Of the Enquirer not yet hay
ing appeared:
Mr. Baldwin then took the floor. g After
brief allusion to the sentiments uttered
so eloquently by the gentleman from Albe-
marie, which had moved the hearts of the
multitude, he saia he recognized this assem-
blage of Virginians, called to deliberate up
on measures to secure the rights of the
Commonwealth, as an august assemblage,
and he most earnestly joined in the prayer
'forlight" that had been so levoutly uttered.
He claimed for the county which he repre-
sented the right to be heard in this assem-
blage Of Virginians. He did not claim it
because of the historic associations to which
the gentleman from Albemarle had alluded,
but claimed it for the people of the county
of Augusta as living acting body of men =.
That county he might term the Queen CO.
of the Commonwealth. In point of popu-
lation, wealth, position, variety of produc-
tons and pursuits, and in every particular,
no al y he Of
vention. She was identified with every in
terest of the Commonwealth; and if there
were extremes of opinion or prejudice in
one quarter or another, Augusta county
knew nothing of them. She occupies a
central position, and is concerned in every
question that affects the rights and interests
of the Commonwealth. What, he asked, is
the great question which concerned us here
and threatens to overturn the mighty fabric
of a free government? He wished to dis
cuss the question as bearing upon Virgin
las rights and Virginia's honor; and from
that stand point he could see but one sir
gle complaint so far as she was concerned,
and that was the course Of the North upon
the question Of African slavery. From the
earliest foundation of the Government, Vir-
GINA had given direction to its policy; and
when it has not been in the hands of her
own sons, it has been in the hands Of those
of her choice, supported and ratified by her
people. This was not only true in regard
to the Executive, but she has had con-
trolling voice in all the otker departments
of Government.
In all this he saw enough to show that
the Government had been administered to
her satisfaction, and therefore the only cause
of complaint was the agitation of the slavery
question. This had been discussed by able
and eloquent gentlemen on this floor, and
he asked if any man had heard reference
ITO other grounds OF complaint. He under
stood gentlemen to acquicsce in this. Thus
we have confessed that in all else that con-
Germs the great interests of thirty millions
of people the Government had been admin
istered to the satisfaction of Virginia. He
could not put out Of mind the apprehension
that on this great question Virginia was d.
vided; the apprehension that there were
some people in this State, and some on
this floor, who were not to be trusted. This
was not new to him; he had heard it for
years; not from abroad, but the charge came
up from the midst OF our own family. He
had seen it resorted to fer the bascr ends of
party-not only from one party. but all. -
1t had the eject Of bounding on fauaticism
against us in the councils of the nation I'M
der impressions disseminated by our own
citizens--an impression that the people of
Virginia were not true to Virginia, but
were divided and distracted In regard to.
her highest interests. It would seem as if
this were resorted to new as, a species of
terrorism, directed at the representatives of
the people of Virginia, in the vain hope of
depressing, if not the freedom. Of thought,
the freedom of speech. He trusted that, in
defining his position, he should not defer
10 any respect to elamor which he despis-
ed He hoped to show, with candor, in
which particular light he viewed what was
for the honor and interest of Virginia.
He had always held the opinion-and
had never had to undergo change such as
had been described by the gentleman from
Orange, and had not, therefore, perhaps,
tho fresh zeal of a new convert-that Afri-
can slavery was right; right thing and
good thing, on every ground, morally, re-
ligiously, politically and economically-a
blessing alike to the slave and to the slave
holder. He was not one of those who look,
ed forward to its extinction, nor did helook
with sympathy upon any atterpt to restrict
it to particular locality. When it could
be fairly done, he hoped it would expand
until it covered the whole earth. as the wa,
tors covers the great deep. The people
who sont him here with this avowal on his
lip, might, he thought, be considered as
sound, little further South. He repre-
sented slavehQlding constituency who in
men aud money could compete with any
county in The Commonwealth, and they held
i 81 ready at any time, to defend this great
snl vital interest. '''''''
He would undertake to say that on the
slavery question, the mouth of Virginia
was com pletsly estopped as to the charge Of