Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1861-04-01
The Spproaehinc Canvass IN Virginia.

The Approaching canvass Al VI 8 ih'".
The last expedicnt by the immediate De-
cessionists now is to make 4 vigorous struS-
y!e in the Spring elections. The desire Is,
if possible, 10 carry those elections, and then
TO herald the result lis an evidence OF
change in che public sentiment oil the State.
! The Convention w!!l be appealed to to obey
| the Voice III the people, AZ pronouncad IN
| t&,e Sprinr elections. II they prove uD>h-
nate, we presume annti"r rUSoiuuon ike
| chat of Mr.. Jones' will be introducei-and.
| if they have The power, passed. linen we
may have TWO conventions claiming TO rep
resent the sovereignty Of the people, and ali
+, the evils Ci anarchy and intestine strife VIII
be upon Us! Suppose the bogus convention
were to follow the example set them IN lex
az, in the deposition OF Gov. Houston, ana
were 20 seek to GUST "ilunest John Letcher
from the Gube Material chair? Who can
tell how Of where the struggle would ent!-
"uunest john" is every lnch man. lie
has god deal Of the determined, resolnte
Scorch Irish blood iii his veins, and we rath-
or fancy ne.wouiL prove Al ugly customer.
lie knows his rights, and what * more, he
has the nerve to maintain them
But, we should dcplnre any such contln-
nency rs one of the direst cilnmit!es that
could befail the country. 1t might be the
inauguration Of domestic turmoll---.ii not
bloodshed Let the people, then, steer clear
Of it by defeating the candiuateS OF the pre-
ciptatnrs in the Spring elections. Let all
m nor questions be dlSregardad. Let Old
PARTY distinctions be subortiua1ed to the
g:cl- and patriotic duty 81 re-eSta hl!shin!s
the Union 0mi preserving the rights u! IT,
rin!a .at the South Let tbc ISSUE be made
between tEr,sr whu demand the separate, un-
c0nditiuna and rr>cinit:,ln secession 81 this
State, and those who desire consultation
and corporation with the border slave
States, Tor the purpose Of restoring the Unit
on if possible the form in which that is
sue will he presented will be, shall Virginia
secsde H,AuHh-Or snail she cCHS"H mHh her
sister Lorticr H0icSI This is Il great issue.
1t is one of incalculabe Importance to every
citizen of the State Ga this, then. let the
battle he fought and the vctnry won
We repeat old party divisions have moth
ing to do with the contest. We exhort our
friends everywhere not tG be baiub0ozled by
such Il shallow device. We cxhort them 10
know no other issue in the comiug comtcit
tIlan such rs exists between those who ore
vet struggling To save the Union if it can lie
honurabIy done and these who are seeking
to destroy it. Harris and MilI91u haze
stood up manfuly for the uni1n, and it is
cur luty to stand up mantully for them
Let Union ma:i Of all shades OF opinion give
them a Cordial, hearty and effective support
Let it also be borne in mind that on the
next Legislature two important duties w'il
deyolrr Dnc is ~ select Il Successor iHr
Mr. Mason, eur Senator, who has open y
proclaimed III his place III the Senate, thai
he owes 40 allegiance t. Tie Government II
the l.aitei States, whose Constitution liz has
swnrn 10 support H.! us uo' b. sn nmm!n!-
Iul Of cur duty as 20 sea Virgins: repres'.n
led il the Senate Iy Il man ho does NOT 80
kn"w!cd~c that Ia. owes Allegiance 70 his
cultntry as well as TO his Stat.
The next duty is that OF di~trcting the
State for the election OF members Of Con
gresS Let us guard aga!ns. gerrvnander-
ing by the DISTINGUISHES Let the Union
sentiment have Il fair chance ui being repre-
sented and when the elections come on,
let the best Union men he selected aS can,ll-
dates in II spirit of enlightened lihrralIay
and without reference 10 former party a:so
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- ,r,f H.. tlc:r ox,rrls Eny;r tho
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thny h.,yn hrrrtofr4 bren Whivs or be-
nn,,r,,x Jat tharo no esrob!;shrd \
rh,rourh entente r,rdiale between uni,u
mon of All Shade, IT nninion Let there ne
:, ,ron ..,,u. ,n,r,.u;n,;,v d;.nl,vad ood
wg,rrc Unnecessary fair division Of ranI;-
,ja;a., witha view to rr:aoyr ri! >u>nici,n Of
onv bias by reason Of old PARTY ties.
Rrri,l the canvass a. once and prosecute
il with cnrrre and activity. Sea y.ur
u,ivhi, y. and rxniain the un,ur,, Of the is
sues ~ Observation-Disclosures nnwspip.rs aad
src,,.f,,.. and inrumcuts--snrc i;uht a..;
! kn,,ylcJoe 10 tlr rcuutas, corners --cnn!r