Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1861-03-15
me COfIvenafon Cornsnitfee Re

VI tHe uaJoIiJy ot Tue COmmlltee on L eQeT-
jal Relations, as well as several minority re-
ports. We have not space this week to dis
cuss these several reports, but are inclined
to the opinion that the most dignifed man
y and statesmanlike document is that COM
ing from James Barbour. Esq. The ma
Ijority report is much more to the point than
we had hoped from the complexion of that
Committee. Were it not for the indef-
niteness of its dates, and the timidity of its
points, we could endorse it as pretty nearly
meeting the demands of the occasion. We
had hardly expected to see the right Of Sc
cession so clearly set forth, and the duty of
the exercise of that right so nearly demand
ed, as we find in the report of the majority
With few amendments, the adoption of
this report by the Convention would place
Virginia in proper pesitiop,t to be followed
by speedy separation from the North in
the event of her demands not being prompt
! ly recognized.
Mr.. Barbour's report places The question
in its true attitude. He asserts that the
peace offerings of Virginia have been reject
ed by the Government and the Northern
States, and that she has no further over
lures to present. A failure on the part Of
the Government and the North TO speedily
remove the causes of complaint cannot be
misinterpreted, and that Commissioners be
at once appointed to Montgomery to enter
into all needful negotiations in the premises
with the Confederate States. This report
| is free from menace, elimination and re-
dundancy. In the calm spirit of conscious
right and the cool resolve of reluctant re-
sentiment, our unavailing efforts for peace
are sufficiently alluded to, and the last re-
sort of an insulted and spurned sovereignty
approached With becoming and commanding
dignity. The adoption of MI. Barbour's
resolutions, we believe, would fully meet
the exigencies Of the occasion.
The report of Col. Baldwin, stripped Of
its verbiage, is nothing more or less than
abject submission to Black Republican in
suit, outrage and oppression. It is in har
lnony with the devices of w. Fl. Seward to
gain time, and. if adopted, would amount
to betrayal of Virginia and the border
States into the hands of Lincoln and Scott,
to be by them manacled and gagged-the
bel pless victims Of abolition power and tyr
amy. What does Col Baldwin mean by
proposing border State Convention, and
for that Convention to propose an appeal to
the people Of the North, when the chains for
the enslavement Of Virginia are already be-
ing forged, and regiments of hireling SOL
diery are being prepared to overrun our
State, sack our cities and outrage our peo~.
pie, the very moment we dare to assert our
rights We confess to sad disappoint
ment in the course of Col Baldwin. We
expected manly and brave declaration
of our rights, and an indignant reputation
of the schemes of Black Republicanism.-
We have been deceived in him. His peo-
pie have been deceived, and cannot and will
not endorse or tolerate his policy of abject
and cringing submission to the behests and
commands of the enemies and oppressors Of
our section. Have we not appealed to the
people and the Legislatures Of the North
for redress of the wrongs they have in
fiicted, and have not those appeals been met
with insult and contempt? Why is it,then,
that Col. Baldwin desires to sink Virginia
and the South to ''that other depth Of dis
grace, by asking us to crawl upon our knees
and supplicate with trembling and fear
for our rights Would it not be "wiser
and better to resent in proper manner
our rejected overtures Of peace and good.
will, and exhibit at least the spirit Of the
worm that recoils when trod upon? We
know the latent independence and courage
of the noble sons and daughters Of Augusta
will fire at the hare mention of the outrages
that have been hcaped upon them, and the
insolent disregard Of cur reasonable de-
mands for redress "Eorbearance has ceas.
ed to be a virtue" even with Col. Baldwin's
constituents, which he will fnd to his sor-
row, if he attempts to thrust his obnoxious
views upon the people of Virginia
From every by-path and highway, the