Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1861-04-18
Conservatism.

- oes NEVER pftn Wncn COnacrya-
tive M I'D bctter opportunity for the dis
play of conservatism than i. offered in the pres.
ent erisu The momentous realities around us
cannot be dealt with by excitement or passion
We need The full use oil all our faculties. wbctb-
er We are about to avert the storm or TO endure
its buhetings- We have but little 10 dove
need take very little trouble--to bring the howl.
ing tempest at civil var to our own doors. -
We are To Testore the sunshine again, IL quite
another Question. Pafties sympathisiny with
Secession on one side and with every thing on
Poscd to- Secession on the other, arc IN the midst
OF M, and they are earnest and bitter IN their
IkinEs and dishkings. II we want ciyil war We
can have u Mt short notice, and upon the slight
est pretext One Of the Peculiaritics OF this
miserable contest Is that augmentation IL laid
ASIDE and partsaEs are ready and eager 10
hight for mere esPrcssion Of opinion.
III man whose whole life has been spent in
the midst OF Southern institutions. and whose
sympath'cs are on that side Of the disc ussion
should happen to think first that scccssion was
no remedy for wrongs that might be righ,ed in
the mon; and secondly, that the course Of the
seceding States has been hurtiul TO the Slave
States that refuse 10 follow their example, IL i.
not altogether safe for him TO express his senti.
ments IN some companies. lie Is branded m. n
Republican, an Abolitionisf or n Submissioni,t
IL - the old principle Of giving n dog n bad
name. On the other hand. there arc certain
circles IN which u Is not polite TO hint that the
course OF the Administration. has no, been pre-
cisely right, and that positive wsr might have
been a,cr,cd by the timely evacuation OF the
forts n n military necessity. Such An in,imn
hon earns the title Of "Secessionist' for him N bo
expresses the opinion.
All this 10 wrong from the outset III, discu.
son itself Is untiinely. and productive of no nos
sible good. The rADcor OF old party fcuds vi
nothing m comparison with the bitterness. VI thi.
present quarrel. and nothing is wanting to rem
dor he al "A
certain but the growth and spread OF this unhnp-
py strife. It's already progressing toward. q
bloody struggle, and every violent debate only
hastens the final catastrophe. in the presenoe
OF absolute law, whose authority we have hi,h-
crto ackno~ lodged. we have n STRAIGHTFORWARD
course To pursue. 10 the warfare, which thus
far has been bloodtess. should terminate where
IL began, we may rejoice over our deli,erance
from. unknown horrors. But ii IL brings its nc
customcd calamitiss in its train, and casts !, I.
pail over the whole land. let Us be certain thai
the might of our influence is ON the eide of RICH,
and u need be, let us die contending for our
constitutional liberty.
But " keep the pace" in the meantim, No
matter who ~ right or who vronp-our busine.s
now n 20 avoid rancorous and riot -brerdin., din,
cussIons- Whatever may be the condition OF
other communities, we are not in n state of r.vo-
luton, but under the dominion of ack now l.1e,,l
law. The wide differences Of opinion exisiinc
Au'ohN our own may not be reronrtieI
by exciting debates, and, in point Of fact. their
10 as yet no visible outlet for superabundnn,
steam. We have to wait for some further de-
velopments-for the progress Of events-before
we can display our prowcss to purpose There
seems 10 be n blightIng curse attending the dis
eussion Of our political troubles members OF
the same family taking opposite sides. and the
natural affection belonging to blood relationship
giving place TO the most bitter and uncompro.
missing cnmity.
Whatever virtue there may be in conservatism
u ~ more needful in times like the present tbs n
ever. There IL no praise due TO the man who
only keeps his ienper when there il no cause a
excitement And the responsibility that res .
upon every citizen is greater or less in proper
ton 60 the influence he exeris upon offers lie
who - convinced that he is in the right can n r.
ford TO be moderate in his expressions aud all
experience proves that violence and dec lamation
-re the usual weapons Of disorganixers and rev.
oiutionists. There are muliitudes OF dutic. be-
longing TO our daily lives that are not affected
by any changes in the complexion OF poIitica
Affairs. Let Us attend TO our ordinary business
standing IN our lot" obeying the PLAIN require
menis Of Law, and fulfilling the obligations tba,
rest upon US With all that We can do. tSc "a
iAInit'es Of war are frightiully near to US let
ua not hasten the onward march of ANARCHY
The future looks dark an dthreatening cno,gb
Let us not add 90 the clouds that are lowering
over our heads by pro6tless contests among ouI.
selves BdAiaore american Of Wedaesd1y