Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1861-02-22


If the Union be dissolved, there is yet
another important question about which we
Of the border States should ponder Hav-
ing no fugitive bill then, our slave property
would require protection from escape.
can see no other form in which it could be
had, except by strong police force. or a
Gordon of armed men along the whole line
which would divide us from the North; Ell
ther of which must be attended with many
troubles and great expense. These are diff
fculties not attending our brethren of the
cotton States. We stand as barrier be-
tween them and their enemies They can
lose no negroes, nor be subjected to any Of
the horrors of border war.
Virginia has peculiar interest and feel
ing in preserving the peace and harmony of
this country. No county of any State in
the great Northwest but contains some of
her sons. Her sturdy yeomanry have gone
by thousands to seek their homes in that in
viting region. In the event of conflict be-
tween the sections, the horrible spectacle
would be presented Of brother meeting
brother and father meeting son upon the
field of battle. God grant the time may
never come when the gallant son of the Old
Dominion in the far West will exclairn, 4
am become stranger unto my brethren and
an alien unto my mothers children p
When we are invited to take step so
important as the fetal disruption of our
Government, involving as it may the conse-
quences which | have portrayed, ought we
not to pause long enough to inquire into the
causes which impel us to this last resort !?
When these causes have been learned, it is
oar duty to make an effort to remove. them,
and thus exhaust every constitutional RENE
dy before we plunge into the unfathomed
depths Of disunion. The immediate cause
for disuuion, as it is alleged by some, is the
election Of Lincoln by sectional party with
purposes hostile to the institutions of the
South. Is there no remedy for this ? True,
we cannot undo what the people have done;
for he is elected under the forms of the
Constitution. But the South, aided by that
ever true and loyal Democracy at the North,
had their defense in their own hands. They
had majority in both Houses of Congress,
and would have had for the first two years
of his administration. And judging that no.
BILE band of patriots, one million FIVE hun
dred thousand strong, by their past record
we are bound to presume they will gain on
our common enemy At their next trial Of
strength. What sublime and patriotic
spectacle it WOULD present for the admira-
ton Of the woflaa-a united, conservative,
and constitutional element stannaaiing up for
their rights IN tie Union. But, sir, aside
from this SO firmly is the institution of sla.
very fixed in the affections Of the people OF
the South, and so impregnable is its basis,
that it defes all assault, from whatever
source it cores.
| believe no statesman in Virginia has
said that the bare election of Lincoln is suf-
fcient cause to dissolve the Union It will
be we'll remembered how all parties denied
this charge during the late canvass. Then,
what other practical questions present them
selves to US which require us so hastily to
sever our connection with the Government
1t is no act passed by Congress; for, be it
known, not single act is now in force on
the statute-book of the United States whieh
was not passed by the aid of southern votes.
Most of them have been passed by Demo-
cratic Congress, or signed by a Democratic
President. But we are told, and correctly,
too, that many Of the northern States have
passed laws impeding the execution Of the
fugitive slave bill. The States which pass
ed them stand in open rebellion to the Con-
stitution; ard if prompt measures had b5en
taken to punish the first offending State by
the powers under the Constitution, ven
ture to affirm that no other State would
have followed the example. The passage Of
these laws are Of no recent date. The first,
| believe, was passed by Vermont. in the
year 1913, just two years before Texas came
into the Union. Pennsylvania passed hers
in 1S47. We have, for this long period
permitted these laws to sleep on the statute
books of the North. We have given no DC.
tice to those States that we demand their re-
peal; which think we ought to do before
we break up the Government on that ac-
count Sir, do not mean to extenuate or
palliase any aet which the Nortk has COM
mitted il violation Of our constitutional
rights. On the contrary, allege that every
State which has passed laws in violation of
the Constitution, having violated the com
pact. is virtually out of the Union; and the
individuals who participated In their passage
deserve the severest punishme1ts known to
civilized Governments They are tie often
ding States, and themselves ought to Be re-
quiied to repeal their unconstitutional laws,
or leave the Union. These laws, however
misehfeyoaas was their design, are null and
void. they are an insult to the South, but
of no practical injury.
T believe there is but one other question
which is assigned as reason for immediate
disunion; and that is, the Republican party
deny tothe South her just rights and equali-
ty in the common Territories. This is true:
but I do think, as statesmen and patriots.
discarding all passion and prejudice, we
ought to take practical view of every cues
ton which presents itself for our considera
ton. There is no Territory now open to
which their doctrine of congressional prohi-
bition can apply. Does not prudence re-
qulre us to wait until case arises, when
our constitutional rights are denied. before
we break up great and good Government
like this will never consent to do it be-
cause party hold opinions against my Sec
ton, unless they undertake to execute them.
Ibelieve, sir, I have noticed all the promi-
nent causes of complaint which we of the