Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1861-03-08
,orna than could the evils Of a deficient

practice At the same time the candid cit
lxen must confess that II the policy Of the
Government, upon vital questions affecting
the whole people, IS to be srreuocably faced
BY decisions Of the Supreme Court, the an
slant they are made in ordinary litigation
6et,oeen parties IN personal dctiom. the peo-
IKE will haze ceased to be their oaon rulers.
having to that extent practically resigned
their Government into the hands Of that en-
;nent tribunal. Nor is there in this view
any assault upon the Court or the Judges.
1t is duty from which they may not
shrink to decide cases properly brought be-
fore them, and it is no fault Of theirs if 9th
ers seek to turn their decisions to political
purposes
One section of our country believes sla-
very is right and ought to be extended.
while the other believes it is wrong and
ought not to be extended. This is the on
ly substantial dispute. The fugitive slave
clause of the Constitution, and the law for
the suppression of the foreign slave trade,
are each as well enforced as any law can
ever be in a community where the moral
sense of the people imperfectly supports the
law itself. The great body of the people
abide by the dry legal obligation in both
cases, aud few break over it in each. This
I think cannot be perfectly cured, and it
would be worse in both cases after sepa-
ration of the sections than before.
The foreign slave trade, now imperfectly
suppressed. would be ultimately revived
without restriction in one section, while the
fugitive slaves. now only partially surren-.
dered, would not be surrendered vt all by
the other. Physically speaking, we cannot
separate We cannot remove our respec
tive sections from each other, nor build an
impossible wall between them. A husband
aud wife may be divorced and 20 out Of
the presence and beyond the reach eft each
other but the different parts Of our coun-
try cannot do this. They cannot but re-
main face to face, and intercourse, either
amicable or hostile, must continue between
them. Is it possible, then, to make that
intercourse more advantageous or more sat-
isfactory after separation than before r.
Can aliens make treaties east, II than friends
can make laws? Can treaties be more faith
fully enforced between aliens than laws can
among friends? Suppose you 60 to war
You cannot fight always When. after
much loss on both sides, and no gain on Ell
thers you cease fighting, the Identical ques-
lions as to the terms of intercourse are O.
gain upon you.
This country. with its Institutions, belongs to
the people Who inhabit it, Whenever they grow
weary of the existing Government, they ca ! exer-
cise the consti utional right o, amending it, Or
'heir revolutionary right to dsmember or over
throw it. cannot be ignorant of the fact that
many worthy and patriotic citizens des,rous of
having the National Constitution amended. While
/ make recommendation of amendments, fully
recognize the right'ul authority Of the people
the whole subject, to be exercised in either of the
m odes prescribed in the instrument itself, and
should, under existing circumstances favor rath-
er than oppose, a fair opportunity being afforded
the people to act upon it. will venture to add
that to he the Convention mode seems preferable,
in that its amendments are to originate with the
people themselves, Instead ofonly permitting them
TO take reject propositions originated by others
not especially chosen for the purpose, and which
might not be precisely such as they would wish to
either accept or refuse
understand proposed amendment to the Con-
sttution (wlli ci amendment, however, have not
SEEM has passed Congress- to the effect that the
Federal Government shall never interfere with the
domestic institutions Of the States, including til at
OF persons held to service. TO avoid misconstruc-
! ton OF what have said, depart fromslny par
pose not to speak OF particular amendments, so far
az to say that, holding such provision to be
implied constitutional law, have objection TO
sts being made express and rrevocable. The Chief
Magistrate derives all his authority from the pee
pie, and they have conferred none upon him to fix
terms for the separation Of the States The peo-
pie themselves can do this, also. If they choose,
but the Executive, such, has nothing to do with
it. 1t is his duty to administer the present Gov
! eminent as it to his hands, and to transmit
it, unimpaired by him, to his successor. Why
rhouid there not be patient confidence in the
ultimate justice Of the people2 Is there any bet
ter equal hope in the wcrlds In our present
differences, is either party without faith of being
In the right Z Ii the Almighty Ruler q. Nations,
with his eternal truth and justice, be your eide.
| OF the North, or yours, o. the South, that truth
and that justice will surely prevail BIZ the judy
lnent OF lhs great tribunal, the American people.
by the form OF the Government under which we
lye, this same people have wisely given their pub
Tic servants bct little power for mischief, and havc
with equal wisdom, provided for the return of that
little into ,'elr own hands at very short Intervals.
| While the people retain their virtue ard vigil
lance nc administration, by any extreme Of wick
eduess or folly, can very seriously injure the Gov
eminent IN Tue short space OF four years.
My courtrymen, one and all, think calmly an
well upon this whole subject. Nothing valuable
can be lost by taking time. If there be an object
TO hurry any OF you in hot haste to step which
you would never take deliberately, that object will
be frustrated by taxing time; but no good object
can be frustrated by it. Such eff you as are now
dissatisfied still have the old Constitution unia-
paired, and the sensitive point the laws OF your
own ii auling under it, while the lew Administra-
/ ton W i'll have power, ii it would to change Ell
! Their. 1t il were admitted that you who are dis
satisfied hold the right side in the dispute, there
stll Is single good reason for precipita action.
| In diligence, patriotism, Christianity, and firm
rearce on Him who has never yet forsaSen this
iand, still competent to adjust in the best way
all our present difficulties.
| In your hands, my dissatisfied fellow country
men, and not in mine, is the 1nomentous issue Of
civil The Government will not assail YOU.
ou can have no conflict without being yourselves
! the aggreesors. You have no oath reg istered in
Heaven to destroy the Government, while shall
have the most solemn to preserve protect, aud
deenu it. am 10th to close. We not
mics, but friends. We must not be enemies
Though passion may have strained, it must not
break our bonds OF affection. The mystic chords
OF memory, stretching from every battle field and
stone all this broad line, will yet swell the
Choir, Of the Union when again touched as surely
they will be, by the better angels OF nature.
The local troops and the companies of q. S. SOL
diers formed the Pres ident's escort.
large body OF Federal forces were kept in e.
serve in case Of an emergency.
Several prominent housetops along the rou te
were, occupied by detaeAnents Of racinen, and the
principal avenues and approaches to the city were
guarded by detaehments OF local military.
The day was fine and nothing occurred to mar
the harmony OF the occasion.
I The military display was fine, but tie civic por-
ton inferior.
Military Meeting,
At q meeting Of the Officers of the Volunteer
Companies, held at the Clerks office Of the Hust-
ings Court Of the town of Stanton. the following
! companies were represented. viz. W eat Aucgsta