Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1861-10-08
No Reconstruction of the Union.

AS long as the Unio- was temple OF Ireedoui,
at whose shrine all the devotees of Liberty
might worship-os long as it was beacon hight
guiding the tempest ost on the sea of despo-
tism to haven of peace as long as 1t attracted
the gaze and admiration of the friends OF liberty
throughout the world, and excited the hopes OF
the down trodden victims of tyranny, wherever
found bending beneath the CALLING yoke--as long
as it promised to hand down to posterity the rich
;uheritance bequeathed Us by our patriotic aDces-
ters. we were the devoted friend of its preserva-
ton and perpetuation but when it was chang
ed from a temple of freedom to prison for the
friends of liberty-when its vast powers were
used to rivet the chains of despotism upon the
limbs of freemen- when it was perverted to the
destruction of every principle of free government
when the Goddess of Liberty was dethroned
and the gorgon of tyranny was installed in its
stead, we rejoiced that the people, in the majes-
ty of their strength, arose with the might of
Sampson, and razed it to the ground. They
were not such blind devotees as to worship the
temple when the Genius of Liberty had been
driven from it-they did not mistake the temple
for the indwelling Goddess. The SouthroEs
were people who knew their rights and dared to
maintain them without reference to the peris
which surrounded or the vast expenditure OF
treasure attending it, They were resolved to be
free, and they could not be so by remaining in
in association with the people of the North, they
resolved to dissolve all the bonds binding them
to that section of the country. Lincoln drew the
sword, seemingly ignorant of the fact that it is
an instrument W ich may cleave assunder, but
has 10 healing virtues, and with it severed the
bonds which bound Us TO the North. We would
not now consent at any time, or under any Cir
cumstances to be again brought into Govern
mental association with the people of the North
We are opposed to reconstruction on any terms
whatever The silver chord has been severed
the golden bowl has been broken, the Union lies
In ruins and we hope ii will never, neUer, NEvEE
be reconstructed. The following extract from
the address of Robert E. Scott, of Fauquier, an
nouncing himself candidate for Congress- ex-
presses our views much better than we could in
language of our own:
''Let no one entertain thought of recon
structing the old Union. The time for re- con-
struction has past The people of the Nortl
fire and river of blood, SO that benceforth we
must live as separate States both independent
and free to follow its own system OF government
and civilization, or one subject to the other
We can never live together again as members OF
one family, associated under a common govern
ment. In the name of the Union the Northern
people have trampled upon its most sacred rights;
in the name of the Constitution they have bro
ken its sti ongest covenants; in the name of free
nd froo haC how doc oro6h hot n.
In the name of liberty they have established a
CALLING despctism, an impelled by blind zeal.
inspired by hatred to Us, they rejoice madly in
the chains that fetter their own liberties. Such
an example of civilized people, born to the in
heritance of freedom, thus wickedly surrender
ing their birthright is without parallel in the
history of the world from the remotest or gin of
man. People thus willing to become slaves
themselves are fit Instruments to make slaves of
others, and to this end the war is prosecuted
We will meet it bravely and fight it successfully
Eight millions of Confederated freemen can new
e. be conquered q. eat Bethel, Manassas and
Springfield will prove TO be but Implications of
the victories hereaf er TO be won in the battles
wherein Southern Independence is to be defend
ed.
OF the issues thst formerly defined political
parties among u.s. | shall say nothing. The oc-
casions that gave rise to them have passed, and
let these divisions pass with them. When all
are engaged in common cause, when every
mans dearest interest is at hazard, when each
individual is struggling for his personal liberty,
when our arlnie, are filled by men from every
State and politicians OF every opinion, when the
energy of all, the strength of all, aud the union
of all are demanded for the common safety.
hold him to be the worst enemy of the country
who would recur to past political dversitits s, and
in this hour of trial stimulate afresh those domes
tic dissensions out of which already so much in
jury has beer wrought, and by which alone our
cause can now suffer shsme."