Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1861-03-08
On the LIST, Mr.. BAYLOR, of Augusta. re-


and also in it, to wit: That the Common
wealth of Virginia ought to secede from the
Union forthwith. Or before the 4th of March.
desire now, sir, to say few more words
upon that question
have never been able to see any good
reason why she shonld secede at ali, much
less why she should before the 4th of March.
know Mr.. President. it has been said
that it won't do to give Mr. Lincoln the
power OF the government at the first because
he would at once make war upon the seced-
ed States, and attempt to coerce them, I'd
force them back into the Union. And,
Mr.. President in the FIRST place, don't be-.
lieve any such thing. have no idea that
the President elect will attempt any such
thing. But if he had such an object in view
| ask you. sir. and / ask the gentlemen who
have such fears, would the fact of the State
| of Virginia seeding before the 4th of
of March, prevent him from being inaugu.
rated, or making such war upon the sece-
ded States I? You may take the old Com
monwealth of Virginia out of the Union, if
you please, but that will hot prevent Mr.
hincolns Inauguration as President of the
United States.
If thought. Mr.. President, that he had
any such intention, why sir, that might af-
ford one ofthe very best reasons why should
be unwilling to 60 out, because then he
would have no excuse to go after me.
But, sir. what has occurred within the
last two or three moths I? What has oc-
CURED, ask you, sir, since the election of
Abraham Lincoln to the Presidency of the
United States You know, sir, and know
Or at least | know if you dont-0 don't
know how it was in your county, but I
know how it was in my county, and every
where else that was during the Presideh.
tial campaign. All parties declared-the
Breckenridge party the Bell party, and the
Douglas party-all declared that the cleo
ton of Lincoln, In itself, was no cause for
the dissolution of the Union And, sir, j
it was not regarded as the cause then. WIN
is it regarded as the cause now? What
have the Northern people done since that
time against the rights Of the South ? Sir.
il your fights have become more insecure
since that election than they were before,
how has that fact been brought about Not
by anything that the people of the non slaye-
holding States have done, but, | am sorry
to say. on account Of the acts Of the repre-
sentatives of the cotton States. WHY. sir.
it was admitted on all hands that, as Con-
gress stood when Mr. Lincoln was elected.
he would have no power; that-if he was
the worst ia .ha puorld-ha eoal9 have
no power to touch hair of our heed. The
power was against him-Congress was a.
gainst him, the Supreme Court Of the Uni
ted States Yves against him; and, l ask you.
sir--placed as he vas IN that position-if he
would not have been more an object of pity
than of dread
But it is said that we are now III danger;
that the Republican party has the ascend
ancy in Congress / am sorry to say that
that is true. But is that The fault of Vir-
ginia Is Virginia TO be blamed for that
unhappy condition Of affairs And must
she. therefore, 60 out of the Union ? No,
sir The fault is not with her =? The fault
is with the seeded States When they
had the power in their own hands they sur
rendered it. and placed it in the HANDS Of
their enemies; and now, Sir, because they
did wrong, they ASK us to do wrong also.
Mr. President, can see no reason as I
remarked before, why Virginia should be in
Lnrry to 60 out of the Union, if it is con-
stitutional measure. If it Is constitution
al measure for any State to secede at pleas.
ure, let the old Commonwealth delay lit
tie at any rate, aud when she is ready to 90
out, and then she will heve nothing 20 dc
but to Just slide out Quietly. But I am OBJ
posed to her going. out of the Union at all.
Mr.. President. I want Virginia to stand
where she has always stood want her to
stand where she has stood for more than
three quarters of a century. want her to
contend for her rights in the Union and not
out of it. Did you ever know, Mr. Presi-
dent did you ever hear of man getting his
rights by running away from them had
thought that the best way when you sought
to secure your rights was to look your ad-
versary in the face and tell him what YOU
wanted to demand your rights and not run
away from them.
Mr.. President, I now want to say few
words on the question Of secession. I do
not believe, sir, in the doctrine Of secession:
do not believe that it is a constitutional
measure. Iknow sir. that much has been
said upon that subject, for and against. I
know that the opinions of our great states
men, who have gone before us. have been
quoted upon that subject, for and against:
but I never have been able to satisfy myself
that the doctrine of secession was consti-
tutional measure. looked for it in vain in
Che Constitution Of the United States itself.
l think that the trainers of that Constitu.
ton, if they had intended the doctrine to be-
there, would have put it in that instrument.
repeat, Mr.. President, that do not be-
fieve 10 the doctrine Of secession WHY.
sir, it is said that this Governmct t is Gov
eminent of consent; that the States gave
their consent to the federal compact, and
that therefore, they have right to with
draw at their own will and pleasure. 1 think
not, sir, think the reason is the other way.
I think if they had been forced into the fede
raj compact they might have some reason OF
some excuse for secession. They then might
say: eve were forced ioto compact to
which We never consented, and therefore we
ought to have the right to 60 out Of it,
But that a compact has been deliberately
and understandingiy entered into, is 20
ground that the aggrieved party should HAYS
right to secede from it at their own will
and pleasure.
+ ag ~ .fe. =, - a.,