Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1861-03-01
Past and Present.


superficial reader and thinker is to confound
policy and principle. An abstract truth
loses mono of its Inherent vitality by lying
dormant. when its practical application to
surrounding circumstances is impossible,
and impoiitie if possible. Thepozicg which
forbids the agitation of The principle is fire.
quently taken for the principle itself. This
fallacy is illustrated in the conclusions and
differences drawn from the recent division
in the Democratic party. There was really
no difference in regard to the abstract prin-
.ciple involved in the Territorial question.
1t was only in reference to the policy Of as
sorting that principle at time when itcould
be of no practical benefit, but as we believed,
of incalculable harm. The friends of Judge
Douglas contended that the true policy of
tho party and the best interests Of the coun-
try demanded that the Congressional Com
promises oe the points involved should be
observed, instead Of rigorous adherence
to the naked abstract principle Of the equal
right of every citizen with his property to
1oca tie in the Territories. The compromi-
ses themselves were steps ofpolicy. A pria-
cipze cannot be compromised. The mo-
ment the attempt is made, the principle is
gone. Tt was simply putting the principle
aside and inaugurating policy which rec
onciled the conflicting views in relation to
the principle.
There was 40 radical difference, there-
fore, on principle, between the friends Of
Judge Douglas and Mr.. Breckenridge
We believe that had the counsels of the
supporters Of Judge Douglas prevailed, our
country would now be in happy, content
ed and prosperous condition. Smiling peace
would cheer the hearts and allay the appre-
tensions of the people throughout the linn
its Of our extended territory We labored
assidueusly and arduously to prevent the
fearful calamity which now hangs over our
land, threatening to deluge it with woes
unnumbered. We predicted that the de-
feat OF Judge Douglas was the success of
lincoln, and that the startling events which
arc now aching and appalling the heart
of the nation would surely follow But
these are things of the past, and let the
"dead past bury its dead.'' "We live in
the living present" The condition of things
which we so earnestly cndeavored to pre-
vent is upon us. The events now crowding
before US are not of our seeking but as men,
we must meet them. It is unmanly and
silly to sit down in sullen aad obstinate ST.
lence to consume time by fruitless COM
plants of the faults of others in the past
We must lock shields with our brother, it
matters not what our past difference has
been, and throw ourselves into the breach
to control the circumstances which have been
thrust uron US. We must direct our ee
forts and energies, not to refreshment Of
old feuds and the resurrection Of past con-
ficts, but to reunion of our broken col
umns to meet the shock of common enc
my.
Our life long political foes are laying the
"Hattering JUNCTION to the SOUP that the
friends of Judge Douglas will find more
csngenial association with them than with
that wing of the Democracy which support
ed Mr.. Breckenridge. Never were oand
of political skeletons and adventures more
egregiously mistaken. The two elements
are too homogeneous to fuse Oil and wa
ter cannot mix, and the aattery, the cajol-
ing, the Gliding and the ridicule of such
nondescript and ybrid prints as the ''Spec-
tator," which never aspire to comprehend
an idea or embrace within the range of their
philosophy the merits of e governmental
principle, amount to Gloves labor lost p
Democrats, remember the fable of the Spi-
der and the Fly No seductive promises
or Aattering compliments can ever induce
those who are Democrats from principle to
be entangled in the meshes of the web that
is spread for them Douglas Democrats
and Breckenridge Democrats will be known
only as State Rights Democrats hereafter,
ready for conflict at any time with their
historical enemy.
We have been led into these remarks by
the charge, over and often repeated by the
Bell-Everett party that the friends ofJudge
Douglas are inconsistent because they are
willing to make common cause with the
friends of Mr.. Breckenridge. We faith
fully discharged our duty in the last Presi-
dental contest. We warned the people of
the danger that threatened them, & pointed
out what we believed to be the remedy. That
warning was disregarded, and the result is
before the country. We are now anxious to
bury the past, Satisfied that we were right
and that every man who voted with us made
himself record of which he may be proud
in all time to come, and uniting with our
natural friends, cast cur future ao'h Me
State Rights Democracy and the Sout,s, as
against the old Federal party and the North.
For it seems to us now very clear that the
only question for Virginia to decide is,
whether she will 60 with the North, or link
her fortunes with the generous, the brave,
the chivalrous and sunny South. For our
self, we confess to partiality for the myr-
tie and the olive land the balmy zephys that
play over the green savanDabs and waving
palmettos of our native South; and when
the shock of sections comes, let the conse-
quences be what they may, we shall follow
the impulses of our heart, and join cur des-
tiny with the people of our fathers and the
hrothers of CIR national household