Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1862-12-16
Reconstruction of the Union Impossible.

Reconstruction of the Union ImpOssibie.
Before the great revolution in which
we are at present involved took place,
there was a considerable proportion OF
the citizens of the South who maintain
ed that the true policy was to secede
that the Union might be reconstructed.
They believed that construction was
possible after secession. We never con-
Cured in that opinion. We believed
that Union, like a porcelain vase,
might be broken, but that it could never
be made whole again. A similar error
to that which prevailed in portions OF
the South antecedentto secession, seems
now to be deluding the minds OF the De
mocracy of the North. That party there
profess to believe that the South would
be willing to go back into the Union It
certain protective guarantees were incor-
porated into the Constitution of the U.
States. This is a woful error. In the
language ofs4 contemporary, we say that
the assurance that our rights In the
Union Wo'ald be guaranteed, might have
saved the Union, when the present diff
hcultles between the two sections COM
menced--nay, it might even have saved
it some time after the Presidential cleo
ton OF 1850. But not now, not now
We have seen the veil removed from the
Abolition hypocrites Of the North-we
have learned to know and feel what
Yankee faith is-we have learned to
know, too, what Yankee treachery and
falsehood are. And with all this knowl-
edge, purchased at the expense OF the
blood of our best izens-purchased at
the expense Of widows walls and or
phans' tears-prchased at tue expense
of desalated hearthstones and devastated
ields-purchased at the expense ofruin-
ed commerce and the loss of fortunes,
shall we now give that people our con-
fdence Shall we trust to- their plight
ed faith and seductive promises once
more? Shall we s1ay down the sword
and go back into fellowship and brother
hood with them again 2 Never! 1t
would be folly-it would be madness
nay, more, it would be national and in
dividual ruin and degradation.
Nineteen months of war, of bloodshed,
of rapine, of robbery, OF MURDER OF IN
suits to women, of devastation, and of
all kinds of cruelty, have removed all
delusions from the minds of the South
ern people, and taught them what Yam
kee faith, and Yankee promises, and
Yankee conservatism means.
To free ourselves from bondage to such
a Government, to sever the chains that
bind us to such a people, to achieve our
national independence, we have "drawn
the sword and thrown away the scab-
bard;" and, with the help of God, we
hope to be successful.
The war was not of our seeking. WEI
desired to invade none OF the rights of
our Northern brethren. We only ask
ed them for peace. They refused. They
sounded the tocsin of war. They sent
their hordes of murderers and plumber
ers down upon our soil to butcher our
people, insult our women, and ravage
our country. They blockaded our ports,
sunk stone fleets in our harbors, and en-
1eavored to bring starvation and ruin
lpon us. How can we, then, in justice
o ourselves, in Justice to our slain, listen
o any proposals, bat those which will
BRING with them the recognition of our
Independence?
Our people cannot listen to any other
erms of peace. Against a reconstruc-
ion of the Union they must be firmly
md faithfully resolved. Their interests
re opposed to it, their rights and iber-
les are opposed to it, and the sovereign
y OF the States is opposed to it. The
,lood of the martyred brave cries out
ygainst it from every battlefield. It is
oily to propose it, it would be madness
0 accept it. Reconstruction means IT.
etrievable ruin, national degradation,
ndless taxation, political bondage, the
destruction Of slavery, the abolition Of
State Sovereignty, and the centraliza-
ion of all political power in the Adolf
ion Government at Washington. This
swhat reconstruction means, The South
.annot for moment entertain such a
proposition. For her, there is but one
curse left, and that is to fight on and
6 fight ever until her independence is
and acknowledged.
In the language of Patrick Henry, of
he first Revolution. ssThere is no retreat
low but in chains and slavery"
The Right Spirit.