Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1861-03-01
correspondence Of the New York
TribuuGs
RlrHaoSp, Va, Feb. 10. 1851.


sixty years have domineered over Virginia. With
the overthrow of Democracy comes hope for the
doom of Slavery, and that Republicanism rising
upon its ruins will dedicate to Freedom the glori
Gus land OF ashingtou. Jefferson, Mason and Hen
ry, and that Virginia. regenerated feoIi the thrall-
dom 0. Digge-dcm, may take rank among the Free
States of the Union.
The Convention demanded BY the Slave Ohgarchs
of the East has proved their destruction, and in
stead of t'hitching'' Virginia to the tail of South
Caroliie, will ultimately detaeh her from the Slave
States of the South. whether in or out OF the u
Mon, and long range her among tAe Free Mates
Tie election has been misunderstood, and alto-
gether misinterpreted. Rightly construed, it has
resulted for the Union; but it has another and tap
deeper significance than the mere saving ~ the
Union. This election is Virginia's Gnst yolee fae
free labor. The West has spoken, and, mighty ia
the strength of white men, has pronounced for the
Anglo Saxon against the African. The Union sen,
timent has succeeded but the spirit OF free laber
has triunphed. Disguise it IS they may this eipe
ton is the voice OF The treemen Of Virginia IN con
demnation OF slavery, and what renders 1t more
significant is The fact that every anti slavery man
OF any ote, whether living in the East or in the
West, has been most triumphanty returned over
seeding Southern Rights pro-slavery opponents.
The North western delegates are altogether cnn-
slcrery-a lcr9o majcrsty Of real genuine Rep@tlt-
cans-,nen who will not unnecessarily shock the
still strong pro-savery feeling in the State, but
who, by silent vote, will steadily protect the rising
sentiment of anti slavery that has elected them
The most conspicuous from the MOI tn est
are Clemens. of Wheeling, who sounded the bugle-
blast of Union ir the astonished and indignant
Of the pro-slavery apoogists in Congress- Gen. j.
J Jackson of " ood a veteran politicion, in whom
hatred Of Democracy he's eongrencd into dstestatdn
of slavery and Mr.. Garlic Of HarrSonj an astute
debater. whose constituents have no interest in
slaves aud sympathy for slavery. These men, a
monr Others, lead the North Vest. Summers,
who 70, ty years ago. declared in the Legislature
Of The State against negro slavery, and who was
defeated for Governor BY complacent tool OF
slavery from his own section, Is tie accepted and
Acknowledged leader of the new party in the Con-
vention. Mr.. Summers could never have surviv-
ed his speech of lr3s had not anti slauery rising
-; us might borne its ancient defender IL, its
TO the arena confident that he who forty years be-
fore had msnfuy struggled for its rights would
no-y prove noble champion to inaugurate its pow
cr Robert E: Scott. of Fauquier, who's ten years
ago. pronotnced slavery social. moral and pottt-
icul erft, and whom, it is said, Mr. Seward select
ed for Mr.. Lincoln as proper councillor in the
new Cabinet, is also rescued from the retirement
10 which that Wimot piovso speech consigned
him. Mr.. Scott il ole OF tie most powerful deba
tiers in Virginia. and as the leader of the dominant
party in the Contention from the East, will unite
his powerful efforts with those Of Summers from
the West, mot !or Abotlcn-they areno Abolition
ists-bht for detachng Slavery in Virginia from
the great pillar ofts support, the Cotton States,
and placing 1t in tie process Ct Ultimate estinc
ton. Hon. Alexander II. II. Stuart from Au-
gusta, John Janney from Loudnun, VIM. G.
Bron from Preston, and Samuel Med. Moore Of
Rockbridge, are the chief priests and rulers of the
new order of things with which this Convention
w'l bless old Virginia Mr.. Moore was ono Of he
eigne;s of the famous Rufner pdmphtet-'' behold
the stone which the b' ilders rejected has become
the head of tho corner" Mr. Moore holds the
opinions st'll, and has the courage to openly
| and manfully ayow them, and no hotspur OF slay-
cry will dare question Ills right Men whose known
Anti Slavery sentiments have ostracsed then, from
the councils of the State, have risen power end
to the exercise CT sovereign power as soon as Re-
pubicanism triun1p hed lii the Union. Mr.. lincons
election gave backbone to ANU Slavery in Virgin
ia, and this Convention is its first manifestation. -
Had Mr.. Lincoln been defeated, not one OF these
men would have been elected to any Office or years
to come; but his election has given confidence to
the Anti-S!avery men Of The State. They feel III
its result an encouragement to struggle for their
rights, and that its significance has to them
ing OF encouragement BY tFhich they are determ-
lned to profit.
Eighty five Wings, whose utvsiognomies were
never beft ere seen in deliberate body in Virginia
old Wing Convention, arc returned by the
people of the State to so important p body this
Con vention: is it not sign that the 'sceptre has
dep rted from Judah" and the law 'fgrers from
the eet' of the Democracy But whee to these
are added forty two Douglas Democrats trmfu Of
the deadIicst hatred to the Breckinrdgers, and
determined to effect the final and everlasting
throw of such Democracy, am not justified in say
ing that Democracy has been weighed in the bal
and found wanting?
But party is the least important aspect in which
should look at this Convention. 1t has high
ei and grander meaning, a significance which has
aot vet been understood by any in the Con-
venton, save that turbulent dsconted dissatisfied
and restless task master of Eastern slave oligarchs
Henry A. Wise, who, on the second day If the
Convention promo unced it to be the arbiter between
" estern coal and iron and Eastern slaves And
Wise is right The conflict between mining and
manufacturing one hand and African Slavery
the other las begun, and will continue until
white labor has triamphed over black, and the i'm
i
ginis will break into light retreating African
Slavery makes its hasty flight from Virginia
Such is the true Interpretation and meaning of
the late election in Virginia. And what should be
Northern States2 Should they not by every means
encourage and sustain this first manifestation OF
Republicans sentiment in Virginia Unquestiona-
bly,, you will reply. But how can it be done p
Che sentiment which Tor the first time controls the
highest deaeratiye body in the State, has net
sprung into existence since ti.e election Of kinccn
but has been gradually growing for many years
Public sentiment, domlneering and dictatorial,
suppressed its expression, but silenty it grew and
increased-en tering ike a wedge into the Demo
cratic party it divided, overthrow the dominant
party in the State, and as triumph had
crowned tie efforts of the party in the Presd ential
election confidence was given to the Republicans
in Virginia, and his first election after the success
of Mr.. Lincoln has placed those in power who, in
the course OF Il few years, will be acknowledged
among the leaders of the Republican party in the
Union. Shall this confidence be increased ty firm
und Gec5dsd coarse Of policy at W ashin ( ton,
chilled and cowed by timd compromise? If the
former course is pursued, the Virginia Republican
party Will grow and increase in strength; taking
courage by the firmness OF Northern men, il VIII
boldly and nantuiiy breast the storm that must
coon rise upon it i'll Virginia, and it will finally
triumph. But ii tmid compromise prevails dis
hcartenea by an unexpected Abandonment, it must
succu,nb in conflict where it is discouraged BY its
friends, whose OF policy will have strength
ened the III Ut its enemy.
As to Virginia seeding. shat need not be tEOtght
Of in any event. There are l2a men Ia the Conven-
ton who will vote II remain with tha North and
81 who prefer the Southern ConeJeracy. There
is event that could induce this Convention to Sc
cede, unless it we're foolish effort OF Congress
to abolish slavery, which nobody expects. Nor
viii this Convention attempt its extinction in that
mode, but It tt tedr aooy eoery species ct protec
tson hromn crouad it BY tie Ccnstituticn, and in
stead of its being the protected aristocratic power
in the State, it will be placed under the ban Of
heavy taxation, and many dollars Of taxes made
out Of it long it remains in the State. But
this may be checked and defeated by timid poll
CIV of compromise Ii triumphant Repubiicanism
can be backed down by bullying clustering seces
sion. how can weak, struggling Republieanism r
Virginia be expected to wage successful fight with
powerful and heretofore dominant interest; pos
sesseG of all the wealth and inf, ence. and installed
in power? Helping friends seem never to have en-
tered into the philosophy OF compromising Repub-
lcans. And what can be gained by such policy
Will it win back the Cotton States2 Certainly
not. The very timidity it eyinces will encourage
them in secession, for when once power truckes to
rebellion its moral force is gone and the traitors
increase their demands. Exhibit the manhood that
the recent election for President has elictei show
+ determination to the power constitutionally