Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1861-03-29

IT, HeIcombe here distinctly defined his posi-
..;on ON this point, quoting from his speech that
nortion as to what might be her degradation IN
the future
ANY attempt to dissolve the Union in consequence
ofithe,election of an unfpendly President as Ill
rect assault upon the tempiedf american iloerty.
The Government was foundeuin connuence ~ .e
;rue and intelligence of the people; but is built
in that wise distrust which has been well charac-
tar;zed here as theparent OF safety-safety against
tyranny or abuse. Proper restraints ana caecks
had been introduced in or Ter that every Depart,
want n.;dht be administered with calmness, ana
With .,ime regard to the rights OF all the people.
I,s G,nnders had built up fve distinct barriers a.
ua;nst encroachment and II one, no or tnree Iaii
Sd sufficient still remained to restrain the aPpca-
ttnr of onpressve measures. Ii all fall, there is
t;ii M appeal from the faithless servants to their
raal masters. the people. He would only give up
tbe rreat EXPERIMENT of contederated Kepuolcan
liberty when the people said the powers OF Govern
ment had been welded to their oppression. ne
feared that we were getting into the habit OF ex-
aceratiny. grossly exagerating, the Executive
otfee of 5Ioyernment. He considered 1t the weak
cat of all the departments. lie would undertake
IN saw that when the Republican party got posses
sion Of the Presidential ohce they got nola Q, .ne
listed previous to the election, have brought
them to an uptimely end beyond all dorot or CON
troyersy, If they have now got possession Vi .ne
Government in ali it's different departments, VINO
is responsible At the time OF 'ne
were nbroken, and who is responsive; before God
and man. for their abandonment no hasMuh,
drawn fourteen from the United States oenatee nu q
thirty-odd from the House OF kepresentat1ves anu
left ma in a HELPLESS condition thereS ~ no, put
The saced;no States? He had no intention or dis
nosition to undertake any denunclauon OF She Sc
cedinp States, or any other STATES. 1Els was az
time for denuneation. He would rather SPEAK - on
things which would make for dua b
tory that these things should be stated. why mao
they left us helpless and hopeless in the nanos OF
those who they tell us are our enemies meh NJ
thought of the election OF Lincoln, WHICH an ne,
regarded as wrong to the entire South and thonsnt
of the firing of hundred guns on the reception OF
the news in Charleston ne was led to inquire II we
had the earnest efforts OF those people VINO teS re-
ioced over his election to defeat him
We had the power of Withholding the maIeriai
snnoI;es from the Government, and of colnneikng
Justice to the South. This was taken from us W
the action of the seeding States. out were we s
justified in abandoning the great experiment OF
American liberty because OF the mere carving ..
an OUTPOST? he felt rather disposed to rally more
ardentiy around the broken fabric, in the nope OF
prese wing the last and only hope OF civil ana re-
igious liberty on earth. The idea seemea 70 De-
now days. to preciptate people INTO reVoution.
On this idea, our Southern brethren seem to nave
acted. He went ON to speak of the assertion that
they were justified in not comforting with virginia
because she refused year ago TO go lnto cohieT.
ence because, she said, the time had not come. IL
was very different thing to oeciine ne
then, to declining it as the Southern states naa
DONE and to go into a revolution. South CaFon-
IA had undertaken the task, with determination
to confer with nobody. 1t was common to near
that the embarrassments OF business requ.: Gu 'no
to restore confidence to the people in this respect
he was unable to see. Seven States had Secedeu
de facto and it was now for US to determine whetn
or we would folio them or no. lie denled Ina. IL
"a oc1 tU
ia to follow them. He thought he could see that
time in the future, when they would hnd that no
Government could be formed on this continent
which would satisfy people WI haa nveo unue ae
the stars and stripes. 1t might suit the fancy Oh
some people to wander among the ruins OF desola-
ted cities and to admire the proportion OF broken
arches and columns but he preferred the walks OF
industry and the honor of busy life tie then drew
a picture of the great Union, unbroken ana undis-
turbed, contrasting it with the shattered hepuohc'
and small COntederacleS formed ouI VI tuo uAAeA
snt States.
In arguing the question of how Virgins was 70
set out of the Union, he illustrated by repeating
an snecd0te of boy who was lnterrogateo On .HG
subject bis reply as that he "gaesseu sue pa
have to go by water, in dug out" 1t hao oeen
said til at North Carolina would ioloW 'lrgihia;s
that her Voice was potential that Tue Peopie -
North Carolina would reverse tneir soien: =: ~ ha
.ion and go where Virginia led " ou'a ~ no' ~
at least respectful he asked to consult her on the
subiect /? With this remark Mr.. Baldwin commeh
ced an argument in favor of Border HCace w ~.
ference. He repudiated the idea OF subhltIns W
any oppressive measures from the North. c..oso
his determination, and the determination OF I'LL
who thought with him, to demand and to nave iu'i
and sufficient guarantees for the future, r they
would have a crow" They meant to present TO
the North the alternative, of submitting to their
demand, pesceabe separation. r.
The irrepressible conflict doctrine OF nl- ID:
Seward was considered, and the speaker denied
that the institution of slavery was en- the reSre&t
on the contrary he maintained with prde ana pleas
ure that it was the increase, and at THIS moment
higher and more powerful than at any previpu .s
history of the world. He could remember when
slavery was looked upon by Southern people as
moral incubus, but now it was regarded as pene
ticicnt and advantageous institution; ne also
maintained that there were now at the NORM more
pro-slavery people than there were in the Soatn
and in the whole world beside, thirty years ago.
He believed that if slavery had been let alone by
the fanatics of the North, there would not To-Day
have been slave in all the broad limits OF TINS
Commonwealth. He alluded to an address deliv-
cred years ago in the city of Petersburg by the
gentleman from Albemarle, as an illustration or
the great change that had been wrought IN pubic
sentiment. He thanked God that slavery now stood
frmer than even before. He then went on with a
commencing with few fanatical old women and
weakminded preachers, singing Psalms and hy~ses
and spiritual songs; then spreading among the IN
educated masses, and finally the politicians got hold
gift and used it element to secure the spoiis
of office. He did not believe that there existed at
the present time such fanatical feeling upon the
subject at the North as had been represented on
this floor. If he thought the disruption of this
Union would be the means of restoring public SEN
timent, and drawing the sections together again,
he would be willing to make the experiment. But
he did not believe any such result would follow
Public sentiment at the North would no more be
reached and operated upon then than now. Sav-
cry, he charged, had been made the toy of poliui-
clans, North and South snd in the great day Of
final account there would be fearful reckoning
for the political gamblers of both sections, who had
used it as the counter in the game they were play
ing. .,,
In speaking of making bargain with the North,
he said be would consent to no plan which did not
involve direct appeal to the people of all the
States. 1t had SO happened that the North had
got the majority, and the time had come for So
luton of the question whether the minority shouc
be invested with the rights OF majority. The ad-
ministrative power must be entrusted to the VIII OF
the majority, for this principle lay at the very
foundation of Republican government. The idea
had been advanced by the gentleman from Abe
marie, that the minority must have the power OF
expansion-the power CT acquiring territory He
could not conceive how this was to be done. The
settle the question as to all the present territory
but as to future acquisitions, which it could not
B. tile, it proposed guarantee of power, and to
that extent be favored it. But while this was not
acceptable to some, those who made objections had
other propositions to bargain with the North. AS
1t seemed to be admitted, then, the sentiment
of Virginia that some bargain should be entered
into with the North, he begged gentlemen to come
up and join in honorable effort in that direction.
lie gave history OF the Peace Conference, which
he called most august assemblage, and in which
the Northern States were represented in the pro-
portion of two to one. The Northern Commission
ers represented Black Republican States and might
therefore be rea arded as fair opponents of North