Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1861-03-15

~ oooioe tnehl 10 oDeolenee. | know that
there are those who hold, and who glory in
holding, that though the people Of Virginia,
men, women and children, should believe.
that the Constitution was being wrested 70
their destruction and should therefore so-
cede, nevertheless the Federal Government
might lawfully execute the laws against
them-might compel from them an upwill.
ing tribute, at the point of the bayouet if
necessary, and hang up or shoot the res;..
tants as rebels and traitors: but such men.
| think you will agree, are filter to be the
tools of tyrants, than to be the counsellor.
of a free people.
am now more fully than ever psrsua-
ded, that Virginia, by pursuing the course
have indicated, woeld have adopted the
most likely means in her power to secure
her rights, preserve her honor, and recon-
struct and perpetuate the Union Her Sc
cesson, in the event of her failure 10 obtain
an ample recognition Of her rights, would
have convinced the North, Of wh.. thew
have had SO much reason to doubt, that
Virginia was at last en- earnest; while firm
and dignifed appeal to the people, even had
it found majority of them "deaf to the
voice of justice and consapguinity,' would
at least have raised up for Us a host of
friends who would have proved to Us In time
Of trial tower ofstrength But that course
has not been pursued, and how do matters
now stand !? The propositions offered by
Virginia to the Peace Conference as basis
Of adjustment, have been repudiated BY the
Conference, by the dominant party in both
Houses OF Congress, and have found favor
with but one Northern State Legislature.
Virginia, then, by inviting this Conference,
proclaimed that in her judgment her rights
and her honor were in ieopardy; she pro
posed terms Of adjustment, and i is bu. aus
to her to say that she asked nothing which
she did not regard as essential to her seau.
rity and her honor Her terms have been
refused by the Conference which she iuvi-
ted; she asked bread aud they gave her a
stone; she asked fish and they gave her a
serpent But even the propositions which
were agreed upon by tire Conference, in
sufficient aud pernicous as tley are. we're
rejected by both branches Of Congress -
Virginia then having declared to the world
her sense OF Der wrongs AID Insecurity,
stands denied the remedies and safeguards
which she claimed rs essential. But. in
addition, Lincoln has been inaugurated. -
lie had already declared, in the face OF Vir-
ginias earnest asseveratious 10 the csutrs-
ry, that nobody was hurt," that nobody
vas suffering" In his Inaugural be leavss
it in no doubt that somebody will be hurt.
and that somebody will suffer, unless the
States which have seeded shall resrase !hcir
steps, shall ''suc for chains aud Own . con-
queror' fer he declares that ds will in al
the States, hold, occupy, ard possess the
property and places belonging to the gov
ernment." that he will "coIioct the duti.s
aud impoats,' and that for The accomplsh-
ment of these objects he VIII use 50 much
force against the people who resist as may
be necessary But he cu,nuates our dan
gers by declaring. in this same document.
that tho will of a r.ajority is to be sapresas
in all cases Of the exercise Of powess no: ca
pressly granted to the Government, and that
in such cases the minority cannot even right
fully revolutionize the Government. Ia
other words, that just as the lawfulntss Of
the exercise Of any power becomes doubtful
under the Constitution, in the same mess-
ure does tie will Of a majority exercising
such power become lamful!y supreme; and
'aderaliqt though he DO, he strike down tie
only ultimate safeguard against usurpation
upon which IederGlists have relied-ti,s
Judgments of the Supreme Court-by de.
nyiug that the decisions of that tribunal can
fix the policy of the government upon 'sltdj
questions" Thus be imperils and assails
all human rights, by consolidating unlim't-
cd and uncontrolled powers in the hands of
a brute majority. The minority are pras-
tically denied all rights, and, 10 some ia.
stances, as it seems. even that Of rcvolutieu.
| cannot enlarge upon this topic, nor is ii
necessary; Lincoln's doctrines wear
$50 foul a mivn.
That TO be hated need but to be seen,''
You and have been educated in on alto
G Il err different school We have besa
taught, as the price Of liberty, to scan With
yigiiaHt eyes every act of governmental
power, and 70 resist, with stern determine
ton, the exercise of all doubtful poloors as
nroads upon cur liberties.
What how are cur prospects The T.
MON is already irreparahly dissolved The
lSldS vi S5V'Ni AiAit IN ii"FG OcGE allow GO 10
pass Internationally into the hands of =
domlneering sectional majority, who intend
to drive, not in the pleasant ways of the
Constitution, bat IN way Of their own 10.
vising, in way utterly ruiuous to US
They have grasped the roins Of government.
and Will like Phaethon with the chariot Of
the sun, drive oar chariot Of State. wAicfl
is already getting too hot for us, unit they
will bring US, ii we shall lot them. 10 the
complexion Of our own negroes, who owe
their hue and habits, we are told. 10 tho
beadlong and incapable cherioteeriug of
the aforesaid Phacthon AS yet our Con-
yention has done nothing. | haze read
hastily the Majority Report of their Com
mitteo on Federal Relations In many of
the positions therein assumed I heartily
concur, and am happy to lind them consider
ably ii advance Of what were supposed to
DC the opinions of many of its prominent
members. But | cannot believe that the
mode Of adjustment which they recommend.
of Conventions in the several States is
likely to prove eficacious. do not believe
in our present unsettled relations, when
even an accidental spark may at any mo-
mcnt kindle the flames of civil war, that
the peace of the country car be preserved
for such time as will be necessary to test
their plan. But even should it be tested.
! there il no reason | am NAMED tn saw m