Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1861-02-01
.F,or tie !Hi.ndicator.

M. Editor: one among us wants to
destroy this Union, if we can preserve our
rights in it. This is we'll known No man
Of Sense doubts it The great difference be-
tween us is as to the best way of reaching a
satisfactory adjustment Of eur difficulties.
Yet we hear persons ciassed as disunionists
or subnissionists. This, although often
sive, may be enly acurt'way of designating
the different lines Of policy which men ia
vor. The one party is for boldly and firm
! " demanding all their rights under the
Constitution, and determined to take moth
ing less The other, influenced by he
reditarv love of the Union as cur fathers
made it, anI an instructive dread Of th c
dangers of dissolution. are willing to yield
much to preseryeit: The one party is firm &
decisive in its pohcy-the other is. heslta-
ting aad indecisive. The one asks nothing
but what is clearly right, and is determined
to submit to nothing which is wrong The
other is not prepared to demand anything
but is for trying, perhaps hopefully, bat
fearfully, to see what it can get.
Now, which is the best policy? Which
will more surely lead to peaceful and just
settlement of the controversy?
Assaredly, to demand DER rights. frrnly
but temperately, is the best Butt il OBJ
jected that this is menace-we cannot ex-
pect to frightea the North. Is it so? Is
it menace to ask what is our right? It is
no boon we crave-nor is it an appeal to the
fears of the people Of the North, but to their
enlightened self-ntcrest They derive i'm
mense benefits from tAis Uuion in trade and
commerce, and it is therefore their interest
to stand by the compact Then, where is
the objection to it2 It is palpably the on
ly way to test the fcaisy Of the North to the
obligations Of the Constitution. II they
cannot stand by it-shall we? That is the
questiea Are we prepared to take less
than oar rights anderite Ifnot, then what
do ebjectors propose2 20 try to make a
new bargain, if the North is unwilling to
stand to the old? Then, what guarantee
can we have that the North will stand any
better to that? No, let US cling to the
compact as it is, and as We have always am
dcrstood it. iact us meet the issue fairly
| like men. and settle it now at once and for
CVCIs bO uUG lCI QS GGtl ~ ONCI W Jul
children, to be settled in desolation and
bloedshed If the whole South stands uni
ted, we may secure eur rights in the Union,
| or peaceful withdrawal from it, But, il
| divided. we might as well expect the hun
cry wolf to heed the bleatings of the lar,,b
as to restrain the Gendish spirit of fsnati :
cism which burns for our destruction.
1t is to be regretted that any one should
be found willing, at such crisis, to alarm
the fears ofthe people and deter them froru
pursuing their rights by exaggerated pic
lures of the dangers aud difficulties in til,
way, the bocdshed it might involve. ant
the increased taxes it would bring! Suot
arguments are insulting to freemen VIII
seek only th,ir cwn jast rights. Great
| Heavens and has it come to this7 Taxa
ton and bloodshedl Are these to be weigh
ed against oar rights aud cur honor-th
peace and safety Of our wives and children
our firesides and our homes Taxation ant
bloodshed How much has this faraticism
already cost US in painful anxieties and il
the reduction of the value of our labor ?
millions of dollars in the Common wealth 0
Virginia alone; and yet this is only the 'be
ginning Of the end" unless our rights ant
our security are placed upon basis 10
hereafter TO be disturbed.
Taxation and bloodshed What encour
agement to push on in their mad career
With what savage delight will the fou
fends Of abclitouism howl over the inteli
gence that Virginians are hating and hest
| tatip ovar nh.t !. nav ooct thon, 70 cor
their rights, and resist their hcllish purpo
ses Of desolaton and ruin against them u
But let our enemies not be deceaued b
these things They Will find, if the tim
comes, (Which God in mercy forbid y tha
every true Firginian will be ready to spen
his last dollar and his last drop of blood i
defence of the rights and the honor Of thi
good old Commonwealth.
VIRGINIA.