Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1861-01-22

ing worthless at best, but, in the general. calca-
lated and designed to perpetiate fraud and
cheat upon the people; nevertheless. did be-
leve that if one could be adopted which could
not be misinterpreted, and respecting which no
fraud could be praotised, it was that platform
adopted by the convention in Baltimroe that
nominated Messrs. Bell and Everett, to wit -
1.-THE Union, the Constitution, and the Enforce
ment of the Laws" More especially when, at
the time of its adoption, disunion and resistance
to the laws were threatened on all sides. if
Republican candidate should be elected: and
still more especially, when it was known that
each of the candidates selected to be put on that
platform had voted in 1883 for the force bill.
thus recognizing the obligation on the part of
the Federal Executive to enforce the execution
of all laws even in State that, by Ordinance
in Convention, had declared herself out of the
Union Now, then, for the questions propose
Question 1st.-Did they approve the conduct
of Mr.. Flllnore's administration, when it sent
Federal troops into Boston to enforce the execu-
ton ofthe fugitive slave law, in the case of An
| tLony Burns
Question 2d-Are they now in favor of all
| the powers of the government being exercised
for the purpose of enforcing the provisions of
that law2
| @uoottou ou.-dIo tuoy III IdfOF VI Gu6 t4
ity of the States9 and if these questions are an
swered in the affirmative, as I presume they
will be, | put as
| Question 4th.-How, and upon what principle
do they make the distinction between executing
one lao By force in Massachusetts, and at the
same time propose to incur the penalty of trea-
con, and introduce civil war in our midst, by re-
sisting the same process for the execution of
other laws in Sonth Carolina9
And will tell them, in advance, that it will
not do for them to put themselves on the ground
assumed by some, that there is q difference be-
tween using force tn State that has declared
herself out of the Union, and one that has taken
no such ground; because those of oar party who
resist the right of coercion, utterly and wholly
deny that any State has right to declare her.
self out OF the Union, except on the ground of
revolution; and | suppose none will deny the
right of any and all governments to put down
revolution and that, if not successful, that rev.
OlutiOn is treason.
| Question 5th-Did not those who contem-
plated resistance to the authorities of the gen.
eral government, if it should find it necessary to
resort to force in order to execute the laws, a.
dopt the platform of our party, together with
the candidates who planted themselves on that
platform, in good faith, and with an honest pur-
pose to act in accordance with its professions2
| Question 6th-Did not they recommend to
the people this State the support of our can
didates, upon the ground of their superior ma
tionality, because they were known to be in fa-
vor of the preservation of the Union, the vindi-
cation of the Constitution, and the enforcement
of the laws2
| Question 7th.-If they were for six months
engaged in urging the people of Virginia to the
support of this platform, and its candidates, will
they inform me now what Union it was they
were for preserving, what Constitution it was
they were for vindicating, and what Laos they
were for enforcing9
| Question 8th.-According to their understand
| ing, was our platform, also, delusion and q
cheat or did we not earnestly and honestly pledge
| ourselves to each other and to the world, that
we would contend to the last for the perpetua
ton of the Union of the thirty three States com.
posing the confederacy that was formed by our
fathers9 Was it not the supremacy of the Con-
stitution which authorizes the use of force to ex
ecute the laws, suppress insurrection and repel
| invasiOn2 and was it not the enforcement of
all laws upon the statute book, or was it only
certain selected laws in certain localities that
| they were for enforcinga
Question 9th-If it was their intention to
execute such laws only in the Southern States,
as Southern interests might demand, do you
think it was in accordance with principles of
fairness or common honesty, that they should
have our friends at the North to unite with us
on the general platform without informing them
| that they were for using force to execute the
laws among them, but that they should not be
allowed to use force to execute the law among
0urse1oes?
| Question 10th.-After having prevailed on
| "a, ,524 voters of Virginia to stand by them in
their recommendation to uphold the Union, to
protect the Constitution, and to enforce the laws,
and since, by their votes, the State has been car
ried for John Bell and Edward Everett, do you
think they are at liberty now to abandon these
1900 men, very large majority of whom are
not shareholders, and tell them that the Union
which our fathers established is not worth con-
tending for; that the Constitution is toy and
plaything for the sport of folly, and passion and
resentment; and that the laws must not be en-
forced upon any Southern State that may choose
TO set itself up in defiance of all laws and all con-
stitutional authority2
| Question 11th.-Do you think they have q
right now to plunge this State into all the hor-
rors of civil war, and involve the people of Vir-
ginia in the crime of treason, by espOusing the
cause of South Carolina, that is in state of re-
| bellion against the general government, and
thereby transfer the battle ground from South
Carolina to Virginia, and then call upon the
non-saveholdirg population OF the State to do
oil bu6 uSutluS IOT SCAOcHVetoUeS oS"cP~"es~oo o
| only, when their slave property is not endan-
gered2 and do you not think the experiment is
hazardous one to the slaveholding interests of
this State2 r.
Question 12th.-Don't you think, as South
Carolina is the only State that has taken steps
| from which war is likely to result that here is
| the soil upon which the war, Gf any comes)
should be conducted, and that our women and
children should not be subjected to the horrors
| that will attend it, by transferring the scene
from the rice aud cotton fields of that State to
| the hearthstones of Virginag
| Question 13th.-ln this view of the subject
don't you think it would be more becoming and
| more chivalric on the part of those who think
South Carolina is justified in her present position
| and who recommend resistance to the general
government if the President of the United
States should feel that the obligation of his oath
required him to execute the laws" and "sup-
press insurrection," should volunteer their SER
vices to South Carolina, go doaon there, and
make that the scene of their heroism and re-
nown, instead of stirring up the worst passions
of our nature, and dragging those into the diff
Guilty who do not believe South Carolina is ius-
| tilted in what she has done, and who have no
sympathy with the hot haste with which she
has acted, and insulting manner in which she
has treated Virgina9
| Question 14th.-As far as South Carolina can