Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1861-04-23

Where we have stood and now Stand.
The most dire Of all calamities -civh wars
upon us. We have done all that was in our pow
or to avert it. We feel that we have done our
duty, and that all the inconceivable horrors and
evils which are about to be inflicted upon our
country have not been caused by any agency of
ours, but in spite of the efforts of ourself and
those with whom we acted We have striven
earnestly to maintain the peace of the country,
and have advocated policy which, if it had
been adopted, would have preserved the Union
of the States with all the rights of the States,
and the peace of the whole country. We have
time and again urged the adoption of policy
which would have secured the acknowledged in
dependence of the seeded States, and avoided
all the evils of fratricidal strife and civil war;.
The policy we recommended and supported would
have had these beneficial effects, and they would
have been secured in constitutional way. That
all may see the position we occupy at this time
is consistent with that we have all the time MAN.
tanned, we re-publish an extract from an edito-
rial in reference to Lincoln's Inaugural:
| ssWe believe that the same power which can
constitutionally change the character of our Gov
eminent, can constitutonally release the citizens
of the seeded States from their obligations of
obedience to the laws, and consequently relae0e
the Erecuti0e from has obligations to enforce
them. We believe that this policy mast be adopt
ed, or that cioil soar the dirsst Of all caloities,
aoiU ultimately be the result We regret that
the President did not express desire t. be re-
lieved, in the mode suggested, from his obliga-
tions to perform duty which threatened such
direful consequences. AS the Executive has no
power to recognize the independence of the Sc
coded States, and no power to release the citi-
zens thereof from their obligations Of obedience
to the laws, zoe hope that National Convention
soiJ be called for these purposes. 10 anootOe the
country IN civiI ao0r. as long as there renaasns
any means to avoid 1T, aoould be more than folly
and madness-St aoould be IN the highest degree
criminal. We cannot believe that Gny Presl-
dent would willingly involve our country in civil
war.
The Inaugural Address is understood by some
to indicate purpose to enforce the laws at all
: hazards and by others that the laws will be en-
forced only SO far as it can be done peaceably.
1t cannot be known certainly which is the proper
construction, till the policy of the administration
shall be more clearly indicated By ITS acts. If ii
y sboll IN reckless disregard Of the peace Of tht
country, persist in enforcing the lasos eohere q
must result IN a conflict, the inevita5ge result
wiN be that the 0hoze South aOill be united N
armed opposition to such policy" 8.
r Lincoln has "involved the country in civil
is war" when it was in his power to avoid it, ani
70 has thus been guilty of an act which we declar
]. ed would be ''more than folly and madness
a soou1d be in the HIGHEST DEGREE ORIMI-
;INAL." He has shown that 'sgeckless dirsgart
81 Of the peace Of the country" the 'ineoitab1e re
i suzt' Of which we declared would be the ''unitet
r armed opposition Of the pzole iSopth" "W
1t could not believe that any President would will
s, lingly involve the country in civil war;" ant
of when we first heard the news that Lincoln ha.
issued his proclamation for rs, 900 men, we coul
7" not believe it. When we became satisfied that
D. soas true, We were shocked with its stupendou
I'd folly and wickedness, and our bosom swelle
1e with mingled emotions of amazement and in
i'd dignation. We felt that our beloved countr
W was doomed, and that all the earnest iabors G
r. those who had DEVOTED all the energies of thei
he minds and the patriotic affections of their heart
4. for the preservation of the peace and good g
" their country had been in vain. We felt fror
P that moment like sEdrawing the sword and throw
to ing away the scabbard." Every drop of bloc
n in our veins rose in rebellion to the policy G
lie Lincoln to subugate the South by fire and sword
10 We felt that we were for "war to the knife
It. and the knife TO the hilt."
ne Since that time, we have been for raising tn
standard Of rebellion against usurpation, tyran
ny and military despotism. We would have pre-
70 ferred fighting in the Union, that we might no
a. occupy the attitude of foreigners to our friend
!. ir the North, to whom we would have appeale
) to rally with rs in defence of freedom and con
- sttu tional rights against the usnrpeTs who hav
i betrayed the trusts unwisely confded to them
= Or if we would have separated from them, W
# would have preferred a bold, open and maanl
; declaration of Snaepengegce. But as the Con
- yenton has adopted an ordinance Of secession
we will not complain as this is not the time t,
: discuss questions of policy, but to fight for GU
State, homes and fresides We hope there will
. be no division in the ranks of the South, ant
that all will stand together, shoulders to shoulder
j like band Of brave, valiant and afectonat'
q brothers, each animated with determined spir
it to do all he can in defence of the good solo
COMMON wealth" which has given birth to sc
q many orators, patriots, heroes and statesmen.
The ssHOme Guard"
On Thursday a subscription paper for MEM
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