Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1861-03-01
Fer the Vindscdfor
STAuNroN, Feb. 20. 1861.

away, Hle,liUeiiy alN property are IL pcills
the honor Of our State, the safety Of our
people, engross public attention, unite our
sympathies, and plant us upon a common
ground. The mechanism of government
under which we have lived for eighty years,
prosper ing as no other nation ever prosper
ed, advancing in material wealth and great
ness with rapidity unparalleled in the his
tory Of the world, has passed into the hands
Of hostile administration, whose policy. if
carried into successful operation must prove
fatal to the soc;li system of fifteen States
of the Coniederacy.
The life of free nation IL party spirit,
but the triumph Of faction is the rock on
which all Republics have split The growth
of the anti slavery or Black Republican or
ganlzation i'll our country has been the
growth of faction, and with its success must
be written the closing chapter in the annals
of the Republic.
1t is sad commentary upon the nine
tcenth century-an age which has vi messed
SO many wonderful discoveries, aud such
rapid advancement in art. science and letters
that in great nation of unexampled pros
perity, and claiming TO lead in the van Of
modern civilization. there should exist such
want of intelligence, or of integrity, On
the part of the bulk Of the population, as to
suffer the reigns Of government, with all its
power and patronage and influence, to pass
under the control Of Il u.ely sectional par
ty, (which amblazons to the world platform
Of principles repugnant to common sense, re
pugnant to the teachings Of religion, ard in
direct conflict with the letter and spirit Of
the Constitution, which is the supreme law
of that land But, as much as we may de,
plore it. the fact is broad and prominent,
and cannot be controveTted.
In 1910 the anti slavery party first made
its appearance in the politics Of the nation
by presenting on its ticket the names Of
James G. Birney, Of Michigan, and Fran
els J. Lemoyne, Of Pennsy yania, as candi-
dates for the Presidency and Vice Presi-
dency of tho United States IL this con-
test it pulled but 7 600 votes. Birney was
nominated second time in 1874, and re-
ceiyed 81. 40 votes. showing an increased
vote over the previous election Of sixty five
thousand one hundred and forty. In the
year 1913 Martin Van Buren, and Gerritt
Smith were nominated by the Buffalo Con
yention, and received 296 232 votes, show
ing an increased vote over Mr. Birney Of
234, 090 Iu 1856 John G. Fremont was
nominated at PHILADELPHIA, and received
nearly million and half Of votes, and the
party continued steadily to augment in NUM-
bers and importance until, in 1860, it sue
cqeded in clovatipg Abranl Lincola to Tie
| Presidency,
| The surrender Of The chief executive de-
partment Of the government into the hands
Of man holding principles and pledged to
a line Of policy utterly hostile to and sub
versive ofthe rights Of fifteen slave holding
S ates, was justly regarded as the death
knel Of the Union. The people Of those
States, truet to their native instincts, true to
| the spirit which animated the bosoms of
their fathers during the revolutionary strug-
gle for independence, jealous aud watchful
of their liberties, took active measures at
once for dissolving their allegiance to gov
ernment which had failed Of all its objects
South Carolina led in this great movement,
and was the first to assert her sovereignty
and declare herself separate, independent
power among the nations Of the eartr.--
Her legislature con 7euea On Nov. 18th,
and provided at once for the assembling Of
a State Convention, to meet Dec. 18th, at
Columbia. This Convention met at the ap-
pointed time aid place, but owing to an ep-
idemic then raging at Columbia, adjourned
over to Charleston, where, without dis
senting voice, the Ordinance Of Secession
was passed Dec. Goth. 1860.
Siuce tkat time the march of events has
been rapid. The States eff Mississippi, Al
ALBANIA Florida, Louisiana. and Texas have
Withdrawn from the Federal Union entered
into new compact, and established Pro-
visional Government, which has already
gene into operation, under the guidance Of
the Hon. Jefferson Davis, of Miss.
It has become matter ofserious inquiry
as to what course will be pursued by the
Central OR Border States. who still owe al
egiance to the General Government. a
Convention of delegates, chosen BY tie peo-
pie Of Virginiai is now in session in the city
of Richmond, and the whole country is
watching its deliberations with breathess
anxiety. Prompt, vigorous action must
mark tic course Of this Bodybuilding else
will satisfy the people The future presents
no reasonable hope Of an amicable adjust
ment of our difficulties The Peace Con
gress has accomplished nothing. The north
ern States are defiant, and threats Of coeT-
cton are heard from every quarter. What
does coercion mean? We should compre-
bend the full import of that word. ltmeans
war, pestience and famine; it means laying
waste with fire and sword; it means rape,
murder and instruction; it means chains,
slavery and prescription; it means the SUBJ
iugation CT eight millions Of freenen, and
the establishment Of military garrisons in
our towns and cities.
And this is the penalty Of resistance &c
Black Republican Administrations Surely
the eleventh hour is upon rs. Tho time
for compromise is rast-the door to. conces
sion is closed. The Crittenden resolutions
have been rejected with contempt; our peace
offerings have been spurned; we have ten
0ered them the olive branch; they have
threatened us with fire and sword; our ap-
peals for justice are UNDECIDED; our remon-
strances are all in vain; we have expressed
time and again our devotion to the Union;
we have declared our willingness to live in
il and die by it long as the Constitution was
! ,o.,,ooted and it's landmarks were never de-