Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1861-05-20
Address
FALLS CHURCH, FAIRFAX County,


May Is, 1861.
On Friday last visited Alexandris, and placed
the suhtoined announcement In the hands of the
editor OF the Gazette, who promised to publish
the same II would omit the portion contained
in brackets. l consented TO this change but the
promise has not been kept:
To the r0tsyS Of the 7tA Congressional District:
hereby offer myself candidate for election
I" represent You In the next (37th) Congress Of
the United States, upon the basis of the main
tenancc Of the Union. Irbe recent Convention at
Richmond, called without authority, and usurp-
ing all authority has undertaken 10 set aside the
supreme law Of the land in reference to elections
to Congress-Acts 1928, CHI. 3, S7p.4l As
therefore, In most Of the precincts thronp hont the
district no poll will be open for members Of Con-
gress, | call uron Union men TO open side polls
and preserve the evidence Of the wishes Of The
people. a copy of which may be Transmitted 10
me, at Falls Church, Fairfax county, or to Hon,
John w Forney, Clerk Of the House of Repre.
sentatves, at Washington.
CHARLES H. UProS
At Alexandra I witnessed the first frnIts of
The revolution now In progress the wbarves were
without shipping, many Of the stores were closed,
and the streets, excepting few persons In regi-
mentals, Were almost deserted; the silence Of the
ancient borough where the immortal w ashington
once voted and Worship was almost oppressive,
and 1t was with sad heart that looked upon all
this The Leading spirits Of this rev olution talk
ABOUT "Llncolns government; the North invading
the south; mercenary army menacing Virginia.
but all this Is the language Of bitter partizans
The North has never vet invaded the South-the
foot OF no armed soldier of the Union has vet
pressed the soil Of Virginia, nor has the existing
Administration done aught but defend the fa9
and property OF the nation, cut path TO its be.
leagured capital, and blockade the ports which
refused 70 pay duties at the custom Of the
Union. This is what has been done, and this is
the whole Of II; and for thus performing his sworn
duty, the President Of the United States has been
accused Of invading the South, - and JEFF Davis,
whose supporters have all the while led the wav
t,s,to
which Is made The Siege of Fort Sumter must
be botted from history before the world will ssac
cept' this reversal Of truth. Everybody knows
where, and by whom this political saturnalia was
begun; the glory and shame OF II belongs TO South
Carolina, whose public men openly avow that
they have long sought an opportunity TO overthrow
the Government established by Washington and
Jefferson, and their compeers. The Question
whsther Virginia will join the alliance formed Inv
the Gulf States, for this purpose is still before the
people. The Richmond Convention did not dare
20 axe II from them! yet we are told that all are
traitors who do not endorse the ordinance OF Sc.
ce.sion, lis called, passed by that Convention
How is this, Did this Convention, among their
secret acts, abolish the Virginia Bill of Rights,
inc magma chaTta Of Virginia liberty, Ifnot, here
is the second clause Of that glorious instrument:
" 1hdt oH po,rer tSrest.d in and consequently de-
r'red FROM the people; that ginrates are tisi,
trustees and SERVANTS and at all times dnlsnGbls 10
fh,m." This Convention, then Is still amena BILE
to the people, and the sixty odd thousand Union
majority which marked its election NAV hold IL TO
account The people have still one opportunity left
ood grant that II may not be the lasD to redeem
tnelr heritage, and restore the imperilled Union
The effort to deprive the people of their deliberate
vote by clamor and threats, to put down freedom
OF speech and the press by denouncing the speedy
infictiOn Of the penalties of treason upon all who
dare 10 question the wisdom and authority of the
Convention, If il succeeds will make the election
Of Thursday next mockery. Union men OF Lir-
Sinia break the silence you have kept too long;
come forth IN your fall strength, and show the
at iph ia Of -
II you cannot outvote the troops which ara now
quartered upon you, and eating out your substance
al least show moral strength in your numbers
which VIII serve to make those who for time
hold your destinies in their hands, pause before
they finally determine that Virginia now the
geographical center of this great nation shall be
handed over to the new tangled Confederacy 10
become their outpost their fence and shield from
danger, that they may sow and reap in safety
while our crops are trampled down and wasted
by armies and their camp followers; that their
wives and children may sleep I'm security at
their homes, while ours are scattered and fiyinp
from their dwellings
My political creed, the same which Henry
Clay oeIleved, teaches me that my first obedience
Is que, not to achusetts, where was born
not TO virginia, which holds all my earthly DOS
sessions, and where have lived with the excep-
ton OF two brief intervals for the last twenty
hve years-neither to the State Of my iatlvity nor
70 Inc state OF my adoption, but TO the UNITED
STATES OF AMERICA; and the Government under
which We live, instead Off blessing, will be tor
ment, perplexity, and a TO the citizen until
the peslent heresy Of State sovereignty is rooted
out Of the land. Look at the condition, fellow
citizens, In which we are lEey to be placed after
the troops have flied and dru mined and bayoneted
us out Of the Union IL we adhere to the fag Of
our country, we commit tre-son against the Con-
1ederate States If we 20 Gr to the Confederate
States, we commit treason against the United
States and thus the two Governments have each
halter ready for our necks. We might as well
go hang ourselves at once, and save them both Il
ahpt1tn k,lo
myself, shall take no new sIegia nee train after
no new banner. That have lived under | will
die under and in this come ton saw as Luther
did at the Diet Of Worms, &C I'D help me-I can
do no otherwise
ltN C-AgLRs III. UPToN