Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1861-01-15


government All see and feel aud know that
the danger is imminent, and all true patriots are
exerting themselves to save US from the perlls
now impending over US. The dark gloom OF
apprehension is fast gathering around US, and II
saved at all, the wisdom, prudence and patriot
ism of the country can alone (aided by Divine
Providence) be relied upon to relieve us in this
hour of our extremity
My inaugural message presented to you just
one year ago to-day, was prepared in anticpa
tion of the occurrences of the past two months,
which have cast their shadows like pail over
the business, financial and commercial, OF the
country. / thought saw then storm ahead,
that threatened to be destructive in its conse
quences and anxious to avert its fury, if posi-
ble, made two recommendations, which, if
adopted, would Gn my judgrrenD have saved
US from the consequences now upon US. In this
opinion, however, you did not concur and no
action was taken in regard to either.
Seeing no other hope of avertIng the threat
ened danger, cordially endorsed the PROPOSE
ton presented by Col. Memminger, of South
Carolina, and Mr.. Stake, of Mississippi, for 8
conference with those States. If that PROPOSE
tion had been accepted, | am entirely satisfied
that the results would have been most happy !;
that it would have tended in great degree TO
the settlement and satisfactory adjustment of
the painful controversy which had so long ex-
listed, and which seemed to be increased by
time and untoward circumstances, between the
two sections of the Union. These questions
would have been presented in form and shape,
and in manner so imposing, that action must
have followed That action could not have
tended otherwise than towards peace.
now again most respectfully renew the ree-
| ommendation presented in my inaugural mes
sage, in the following extract:
tThe only mode, therefore, of remedying the
evil, that occurs to me, under the Constitution,
is provided in the fifth article thereof Summon
| Convention of all the States, that full and
free conference may be had between the rep
resentatives of the people, elected for this pur-
pose, and thus ascertain whether the questions
in controversy cannot be settled upon some basis
mutually satisfactory TO both sections. If such
| convention shall assemble, and after free and
| full consultation and comparison of opinions,
they shall find that the differences between the
saveholding and nonslaveholding States are ir-
reconcable, let them consider the question of a
peaceable separation, and the adjustment of all
questions relating to the disposition of the COM
| mon property between the two sections. Ifthey
can be reconciled, let them adjust the terms, and
give them such sanctions as will render them eff.
| fective
| II suggest, therefore, that you adopt resolu-
tons in favor of the call of such convention
and appeal to the Legislatures of the several
States to unite in the application proposed to
be made to Congress-, in pursuance of the provis
ions of the article aforesaid. If the uonslave
holding States sh all fail refuse to unite in the
application, such failure or refusal will furnish
| conclusive evidence of determination on their
part to keep up the agitation, and to continue
| their aggressions upon US. If the Convention
shall meet, and the question cannot be satisfac
| torily adjusted, it will furnish evidence equally
conclusive of their determination. In either
event, the people of the South will clearly un-
derstand what they are to expect in the FUTURE
| The article of the Constitution to which ref
erence is here made, is in the following words
and l quote it, inasmuch as it will be referred
| to hereafter in this communication
"The Congress-, whenever two thirds of both
| Houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose
amendments to this Constitution, or, on the ap-
! plications of the Legislatures of two thirds OF
the several States, shall call Convention for
proposing amendments, which, in either case,
shall be valid to all intents and purposes as part
| of this Convention, when ratified by the Legis
latures of three fourths of the several States or
| by conventions in three-fourths thereof, as the
| one or the other mode of ratification may be
proposed by the Congress-"
| United States has been amended on three several
occasions in our history, and those amendments
have all been exceedingly valuable and impor-
tant. The first ten amendments were ratified by
some of the States in 1889, by others in 1890,
and by the residue in 1871. Another amend
ment was proposed in 1894, which the President
of the q. S. announced in his message to both
Houses, dated January g. 1898, as having been
adopted by the Constitutional number of States
The last amendment was proposed in 1903, and
adopted by the constitutional number of States
in 1904. These amendments were proposed and
adopted at periods less alarming, perhaps, than
at the present day. Still their adoption was me-
cessary to insure peace and quiet to our country,
and were demanded by proper Difference to
public opinion.
In the present condition of public affairs, why
cannot such additional amendments as the cir
cumstances now existing require, be proposed
for ratification and adoption2 The necessity is
manifest, and the duty to adopt all constitutional
measures before we resort to the ultimate rem
edy of secession, is imperative. Is it not mon
strous to see government like ours destroyed,
merely because men cannot agree about do
mestic institution, which existed at the forma-
ton of the government, and which is now recog-
nized by fifteen out of the thirty-three States
composing the Union 2
In support OF my position, | quote from the
message of Governor John Floyd, dated January
25th, 1888. He was one of the ablest and most
reliable of the State-rghts men of Virginia.
Though he has been taken from amongst u.s. he
has left behind him q record as enduring as
time:
"But the call of a general Convention of the
States brings at once full before all the parties
to the compact every doubtful or disputed power
of the Federal Government, in the mode pointed
out by the instrument itself, where all amend
ments could be made, and disputed powers set
tled in spirit of kindness, much more congenial
to the harmony of our institutions than that which
now seems in contemplation. This course ought
to be acceptable to all, as it gives full assurance
of peaceful days hereafter, and will restore con-
fdence to the mind of the patriot, already too
long agitated with the foreseen disasters of the
coming conflict"
This recommendation was made at period
IN our history not unlike the present. 1t was
made by statesman of great practical wisdom,
and OF large political experience. He was a true
Vlrgnian, in feeling, sentiment and principle,
jealous of her honor, true to her interests, faith
ful to her rights and institutions, cool, calm and
sagacious
1t becomes our State to be mindful of her own
interests, in the present deranged and unsettled
condition of public affairs. The cotton States
seem to be looking to their own interests alone,
and why should we not look to ours2 Virginia
has immense interests, valuable and important,
at stake, and it becomes us to zee that those in
terests are adequately protected. She occu-
No