Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1861-02-01
SCENE i'm n Senate.

announcement OF tie secession OF their States
from the Union, they announced their with
drawal from the U. S. Senate in very feel
ing addresses. We suhjoin extracts:
Mr., Clay Of Alabama.-I rise to an
nounce, for my colleague and myself, that
the people Of Alabama have adopted an Or
dinance Of separation, and that they are N
favor Of Withdrawing from this Union. /
wish it to be understood that this is the act
Of the people of Alabama, in taking this
momentous step. It is nearly forty-two
years since Alabama came into this Union.
She entered it amid violence and excitement
caused by the hostility Of the North against
the institution of slavery at the South. It
is this same spirit Of hostility at the North
which has effected the secession of Mlssis-
sippi, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida and
Alabama. It-has denied Christian commu-
nication, because it could not endure what
it yles the lcprosy Of slavery. 1t refuses
US permission to pass through the North
With cur property, in violation of the con-
s~titution and the laws Of Congress, designed
to protect that property. 1t has refused us
any share in the lands acquired mainly by
our diplomacy, our blood, and our treasure.
It has robbed US of our property, and retu>
sed restoration. 1t has refused to deliver
up criminals against our laws who fed to
the North with our property, or with blood
upon their bands, and it threatened US with
punishment and murdered Southern aren
who attempted the recovery Of their proper
ty. It invaded the borders of Southern
States, burned the dwellings, and murdered
the families. Habitual violators Of the rights
of humanity, they have exhausted all that
human ingenuity can devise, and all that
diabolical malice can invent, to heap indig-
nifty upon US, and make usa by word, a his
sing and a scorn throughout the civilized
world. Yet we bore all this for many years,
and might have borne it many years longer,
under the oft-repeated assurance and fond
ly cherished hope that these things were not
the action and feeling Of a majority, but a
minority party.
But the failure of these promises and our
hopes have conclusively proved to us that
there is no hope. The platform of the re-
publican party we regard as a declaration of
war against the lives and institutions Of the
southern people. It not only reproaches
us as unchristian and heatkenish, and i'm
putes to US q sin and crime, but adds words
insulting and hostile to our domestic tran
guilty. En- its declaration that our negroes
are entitled to liberty and equality with
white men, it is in spirit, if not it fact, a
strong Indictment to Instruction, arson,
murder and other crimes. And, to aggra-
vate the insult, the same platform denies US
equality with northern white men or free
negroes, and brands US as an inferior race.
70 cap the climax Of insult to our feelings,
and this menance to oar rights, this party
nominated for the Presidency a man who
not only endorsed the platform, and promi-
sed to enforce its principles, but disregards
the judgments of your courts, the obllga-
tons Of your constitution, ard the requires
ments Of his oath, by approving any bill TO
prohibit slavery in the Territories of the
United States. A large majority of the
northern people have declared their appro-
val Of the platform and candidates of that
party in the late election. 1t is the solemn
verdict Of the people of the North that the
sIavcholding communities Of the South are
to be outlawed and branded with ignomy
and consigned to execration and Ultimate
destruction. SIR, are we looked upon as
more or less than men? Is it expected that
we will or can exercise that godlike virtue
that beareth all things, believeth all things,
hopcth all things, eAdureth all things,
which tells US to loyeour enemies, aud bless
them that curse US? Are we expected to
be denied the stens;bilities, the sentiments.
the passions, the reason, the instincts Of
men? Have not we pride and honor! Have
we no sense Of shame, no reverence tor our
ancestors, and care for our posterity? Have
we no love of home, Of family, of friends ?
Must we confess our baseness, discredlt the
fame Of our sires, dishonor ourselves and
degrade our posterity, abandon our homes,
fee our country-all, all for the sake Of the
Union? Must We agree to live under the
bann Of our own government? Must We
acquiesce in the inauguration ola President
chosen by confederate and hostile States,
whose political faith constrains him TO deny
us our constitutional rights? Must we con-
sent to live under q government which VIC
believe will henceforth be administered by
those who not only deny US justice and e.
quality but brand us as interiors? whose a.
vowed principles and policy must destroy
our domestic tranquility and imperll the
lives of our wives and children. and ultl-
mately destroy our States? Must we live
by choice or ~compulsion under the rule of
those who present Us the alternative of all
irrepressible conflict in defense of our affairs
and our iresides, or the manumission of our
slaves, and their admission to social equali-
ty? No, sir, never, never! The %freeinen
Of Alabama have proclaimed to the world
that they will not, and have proven their
sincerity by seeding from the Union, and
Drawing all the dangers Of a separate and
independent nation among the powers of the
earth. AS a true and loyal citizen Of the
State, approving of her action, ~aeknowledg-
ing entire allegiance, and feeling that an
absolved by her from all my obligations sC
support the constitution Of the United States
I withdraw from this body, intending to re.
turn to the bosom Of my mother, and share
her fate and maintain her fortunes.
A few days since a man in Montgomery
Alabama, sent a negro boy with a note K
one of the policemen Of the city, ordering
him to give the BOY thirty-nine lashes, vel
laid on. The cunning negro smelt a rat
and induced another boy to deliver the note
who was considerably surprised when tht
officer tied him up, and introduced him t'