Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1861-06-18
Er t6e 2pectQtor
To whom do we owe our Allegiance

~ (. For The Spectator.
To Whom do we owe our Allegiance r.
First, to or God second, to the State in
which we live, and from which we claim redress
of all our wrongs; to that power of which We
claim to be part; to that Government, the
proper administration of which aims at our gen
eral and individual interest that Government
which is formed and upheld by ourselves and
supported by our substance. The allegiance &C
knowledged by State to the Federal Govern
rnent, is only binding on individuals so far as
the constitution and laws of that State bind
them. No act Of citizen of this Commonwealth,
in swearing allegiance to the United States, makes
him any less VirgDian; and while the present
relations exist between the United States and
Virginia, any citizen of Virginia taking up arms
in tue United States army, swearing allegiance,
or giving aid and comfort to the minions of the
Lincoln Dynasty, will be considered IS traitors,
and treated as such, for every tie, every obliga-
ton, binding Virginia to the United States is
now annuled, and she is as much part and parcel
of the Southern Oonfederacy as she ever was Of
| the United States of America. Then it behoOves
every citizen of this Commonwealth to know in
| what relation he stands to the Government un-
der which he lives. There is no government
under Heaven where all men agree on State pol
| icy; but every true republican is content to be
ruled by a respectable majority, and the majori~
ty IN favor of our late change in federal relations
is large enough to satisfy any man that the peo
/ pie, who are the sovereigns, have made this
change. But shall we who are satisfied with
the change in our federal relations, and who are
not able to take up arms in defence of that
change, behold the disloyaltY Of our citizens in
| the Northwest and elsewhere; witness the dia-
ho1in do hot hoip r1aOd into
our State, while our good and loyal citizens are
being hunted down like wild beasts, and be 81
lent9 No. We will not be silent We will
warn our people to beware of traitors and spies
who are now lurking amongst Us in every posi-
BILE guise. We will tell those who profess to be
| Virginians, and are now favoring the Northern
| Dynasty, to beWarel lest retribution overtake
| them thst will place them beyond the power of
redemption--for dreadful is the condition of
that man who is proved to be traitor to his
country. We will urge all those who are able to
bear arms to press forward to the rescue, for our
soil is invaded, our borders are occupied by q
horde of unpeincipled wretches who desire our
blood Ia horde who are chiefly the scum of q
surplus population, who are sent here by Get of
demons in human shape, who, fired with the
same. ambition that caused Satar' to rebel in
Heaven, are determined to show their power and
glut their vengeance on those brave spirits who
have dared to question their authority ia Mser-
able miscreants vino deserve not the name of
lnen-whose presence would disgrace the mean
est negro quarters in the entire South. Vile
Idemagognes! whose very existence is q stigma
on the fair name of America Ignorant dOtards
whose every act is a foul stain on the fair es-
cutcheon Of Republicanism, presided over by q
miserable coward, elevated to the position be
now occupies BY the same miserable horde that
now infests our bOrders--a man whose name
will ever be foul blot upon the page of Amer
| ican history. These are the 6endish knaves who
would lay waste our country, murder our citi-
zens, desecrate our homes and destroy all our
future prospects for no other reason as themselves
acknowledge, than to test their strength, their
power to crush, their ability to devastate. This
| is the Administration that is now the by word
Of all Europe. This is the Administration that
has commenced the irrepressible conflict which
was predicted by themselves and was, of course,
premeditated. These are the champions of uni
versal freedom, who would liberate the African
slave, and extend to him the right of suffrage.
These are the hypocrites who are now stealing
our negroes forcing them to work on their for
! tifcatOns under the lash, and refuse to restore
them to their righttul owners. This is the Ad
minstsation that is so powerful in its own esti-
nation that, in addition to crushing the South,
it threatens all Europe with the same destiny, it
| Gudl CuuulFy daTe 10 Will us pr0ciOuS
designs. Poor deluded specimens of humanity
But for the diabolical designs Of those wretches,
we would be Inclined to pity them in considera
tion of the dreadful retribution that speedily
awaits them. When they ha4 g feasted awhile on
the Southern banquet that is now preparing for
those Northern LORDS anc vassals who may choose
to come and partake of its ample visnds, the
scanty remnant may learn wisdom. When the
British Lion moves o~ard the American 81 ore,
ashing bis tail in furious heat, determined to
protect his own interest; wien inviDcible France
condescends to answer these Washington fools
according to their folly, and all Europe becomes
interested i'd the well being of the Confederate
States these Northern dictators may become
more docile. But if none of these things have
the effect to silence their ainsolence, nothing
short of extermination will be their fin.l destiny.
for the great Southern heart has been fred with
the spirit of revenge. Southern steel has eaped
from the scabbard never to be returned in peace
until Southern wrongs are entirely red essed.-
The great Southern arm is gathering strength by
every movement Of its stalwart muscles. South
ern patriotism will no. be cooled by threats of
! NortherB cewards, nor by the depredations OF
that foul scum that is now let Slonss upon our
borders, to lay waste fields pillage our houses
and insult our citizens. arFEs igsa4a'5o l.
| Virginians your beloved State is invaded by
the basest foe! Your property is being wasted;
yonr homes are 10 danger; your country calls to
speedy action !; will yo1 give a hearty and pa
triotic response to that call Let all the pbysi-
| cal and mental energy and the surplus means of
the Old Dominion be now put forth to drive the
enemy from our borders. The blood of your
murdered codntrymen calls upon you for revenge,
will you seek .it9 Let nc Virginian be slow
paced when his country is invaded by thieves
and cut-throats, bat let t1eyery nerve and every
facility within our reach be putinto requisition
to save our country aud assert our rights. We
believe our cause is just and God will reward
our efforts withspeedy deliveraDce.
1887 A VIRaINIAN.
| aeas9 The Old North State. -
The North Carolina Regiment covered itself
with glory at the battle of Bethel. After the
enemy had gotten possession OF. a disabled How
itzer gun, it was necessary to disodge them.--l
The North Carolina boys undertook the task.
With bayonets fixed they advanced upon the foe.
The charge only wanted one accessory to make
it as grand as any charge in history. The Yam
KEGS fed like shot wild ducks, amid the derisive
shouts of the advancing heroes. They had no
idea of coming in contact With cold steel.-Rich
Whig. -