Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1861-05-21

For tho Spectator.
Virginia Blameless for the War.

For the Spectator.
Virginia Blameless for the War.
A rabid Republican editor says that Virginia
and Maryland are more guilty than any other
States. / cannot imagine by what arguments he
would attempt to So tain so grave charge. To
speak only of our own State, it must appear to
every unprejudced person, that seldom, ii ever
in the course If human events has any commu-
nifty been Involved in hos.iities more entirely
without its own fault. 1t has not sought this
war; it has not desired it; it has never done
anything to provoke it; on the contrary, it has
carefully avoided everything which could justly
be considered a cause of war. Through many
long years of injury and insult, the people OF
this State have borne and forbcrne with mag
nanimity which was as ill deserved as it has been
i'll requited. At the very moment when the war
was forced upon them, they were, through their
Convention, laboring assiduously to promote not
only peace, but union; and it was not until ac-
tually compelled to do so, that they with reluc-
lance and sorrow gave up these cherished objects.
They were compelled by the great law of self
defence. as well as by humanity, to their breth-
rem in States further South The whole South
have for long time had reason to fear the worst
from the Republican party, from the deadly hos
tility which was manifested by large portion
of it, including some of its most prominent lead
ers. But Virginia hoped that pacific counsels
would prevail until the appeal could be taken
from the Northern politicians to the Northern
people, aud such guarantees could be obtained
rs would give proper security to the South. This
hope was suddenly dashed by the extraord nary
cour.e of Lincoln. He had promised to use his
best efforts Tor the preservation of peace; but
instead of keeping his word, he has plunged the
country into war without any kind OF necessity.
| 1t was without promise of utlty-for it is i'm
possible that the North can ever subdue the
| SonIh in such manner as to gain any benefit TO
itself, even supposing it to be able to effect the
lsubjngation al all. The fires of war which were
kindied by the attempt to reinforce Sumter were
blown into raging flame by Lincoln's procla-
nation calling fer 900 soldiers for the avowed
purpose of making war upon some of the South
| ern States. What kind of a war this was to be
could be inferred from the well known temper
and principles of those Republicans who advo-
Gated war, and it has since been made more clear
| by the inhuIuan avOwals of the Northern jour.
nails. IN
1t would have been too much to expect from
flesh and blood, that the sons Of Virginia should
sit quietly by and see those who were bone OF
their bore trodden 10 the earth in the fury of a
savage warfare. But this was not all. They had
40 reason to doubt that after their brethren
bad been subjugated their own turn would come,
for the Federal Administration showed plainly
enough that their Government was not one under
which any part of the South could live in secu
rity But one refuge was LETT, and that, as in
the case IF our fathers, was IAN appeal to arms
and to the God of battles" =
There might indeed, in different circumstances
have been one other hope to the South-the
hope that the people of the North would have
too much justice and humanity to sustain the
/ IF ha Rnt he
war whoop which answered the call of their
Sachem has shown too plainly that such a hope
would have been utterly groundless. Alas how
have the Northern people degenerated especial.
ly the sons of New England. Once they were
a noble race-I knew them well. But a large
portion of them have departed from the faith
|giving heed to seduciDg spirits and doctrines OF
devils" The old serpent has been for many
years intusing his poison into them, until at last
they seem almost as venomous as himself.
could not have believed they would ever have
manifested such dlabolical war spirit as is now
raging among them.
As the malatainance of the Union is now out
of the question:, there is no longer any reasot
flor dispute about secession. THIS, in presenl
leircumstances,i is but another name for revolution
We no more need a constitutional right for i,
than our fathers needed such right tor thei
Declaration of Independence. We have more ueed
of revolution than our fathers had Lincoln is
a tar more odious tyrant than George the Third
was and the Federal Government is more dan
igerOus to the South than ever the English Gov
larament was to the American Colonies. Some
IN this county who have been Union men, say
they would not like the idea of voting TOR seces-
sion, and they talk of not voting at all. But
such is not my case. Though two months ago
one OF the strongest Union men in the county,
shall not permit anything to prevent me from
voting Tor secession except al absolute ilDpossl-
hility. Not that there is any doubt as to the
result; but it is desirable that there should be d
full Vote, 50 that the whole country may know
how stand in Virginia. Otherwise, it viii
be said there are many Union men in the State
who are afraid to speak their sentiments. Els
peolally let old Augusta, which has had tbs
honor OF being the banner county of Union,
when the promotion of Union was duty,n be
the banner county OF rebellion from the sans
regard TO duty. it will not be the first time thai
she has been in the foremost rank OF rebels
4 l.. E.