Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1864-01-08

day, in series OF numbers, pow known Il
1.-THE Federalis., undertook the task Of recon
cling the people to.its adoption, Many o
the States yielded their assent to it with ex
IRENE reluctance. Virginia, latter formi
dable opposition, headed by Patrick Henry
sent her ratification Of it. with 4. number OF
amendments, designed to guard against Ger
tain constructions of which it was suscepti
Bile, and which, with others, were subse
queDtly adopted And it is certain that
the States never would have adopted this
uptried and much doubted experiment had
there been any question of their right te
withdraw at pleasure from the union it was
designed to form.
When tae Constitution vas. however
adopted, it was obvious to the most ordina-
rs sagacity. that. unless it was construed,
aid its admitted powers were exercised. in
the spirit to which the Constitution vas in.
debted for its existence. the government au.
thorized thereby could not lasl. Yet ii is q
we'll known historical fac, thata grea; party
was speedily formed to change tie whole
character of the Government, and through
the agency Of the implied powers thereof.
utterly to subvert the reserved powers OF fhe
States This was the more remarkable, AZ
the powers Of the Federal Governments,
were exclusively Of q delegated character
that powe.s not granted were denied. The
evidences on this subject might be multi
piled as the leaves of autumn. we're it nee
essary; but as refer to it only for the pur-
pose Of pointing OUT the fountain Of bitter
vaters, may be spared farther specification
sad he allowed TO follow its Cow to that
great ocean. the storms of which have car
ried borrow and death into the bosom Of al
most every family iE&the land. [ shall con.
fine myself to one subject only as illustra-
tive Of that want .'of smity, aud of that
mutual Difference and concession which the
peculiarly of our political situation render
ed Indispensable. I"
Cue Of The great interests 60 be protected
in the new Constitution was the institution
of slavery. That interest we'll knew that
great efforts would be made for its over
throw and although, at the adoption of the
Constitution, slavery existed in 49, the
States but one yet the unerriug Law .! Face
a..llooEaa no doubt that its final resting place
would be IN the Southern States. To pro
vide <or its safety and protection was a
plain and obvious duty Provisions we're
ACCORDING inserted il the Constitution.
which were deemed ample and sufficient !;
aud the price for thcu eheerfully paid. in
the power over commerce ard M Ngation -
Notwithstanding all which, at the frss Con-
gress agitation began. The act of 1893,
known as the fugitive slave act, was passed
to v.talize the clause of the Constitution au
thorizing the return Of fugitive slaves. =.
General Washington vas the ss>t to Claim
the BENEFITS of il, but lie gave up his claim
sooner than provoke the howl which was
abeet to be raised BY the fanatics Of Massa
cGusetts.
End be, tie FatSaer Of lis Country and
the President Of the United States, was de-
MED the benefit Of clause Of the Consttu
ton and Of an act OF Congress intended to
give it effect. AS time swept on. agita>
t,on Continued, increasing in strength and
volume. Until in the great struggle of
1919 20. it was openly proclaimed by the
North. in debate, that the admission Of Mis-
souri, vas question Of power, aud as such.
OVERRIDE all other Considerations It is
we'll known that this question at that time
seriously endangered the Union Upon its
unfortunate adjustment, did fanaticisln cease
its efforts? No; It's work was only partial
ly accomplished, and agitation was resrmed
wish increased activity, III Utter disregard
Of that fraternal spirit, without which the
cry Of Union was nothing more than an
empty sound. ftaeain cultivated III 1876
upon Tho Territorial question. and the yIaien
ouce more trenb4d TO lts base Bvt the
wisdom Of Congress effect d q truce, and by
8 series Of measures, post poaea The iupead
ing blew This adjesgs.ieE3t, forever, gave
no peace, no repose. Fanaticis;n baked
Of It's entire purpose re,iouotei lis eifol a.,
it gave warning Oh the tloar Of the ssauate
that agitation should never cease uutIi lis
designs should be fully accomplished it
entered TIC halls 81 st4.a Legislation. p ;
.---ssa.ued the PASSAGE Of persoaaz zs5ertu
l1'es laws denouucing citizens, in pursuit
Of tsleir prorerty, as guilty Of IA crime pun
ishable by confinement il the peuiGentiary:
laws g1r removing judges who proved 200
honest and INDEPENDENT TO become the tool
Of It's viii and all Intended to nlsIIify q
cianse Of tie Constitution and acts passed
IN Pursuance theseQf--;t ilcited mobs to do
the work of death upon resectable oitizeus
in pursuit, of their lawful aud constitution
al rights, And, finally, in disregard TO all
preceaent-to that spirit Of an.tb7 and
of THAT mutual difference and concession ("
to which | have SO frednontiy ref. a cd -
dared 70 run an entirely sectional ticket, for
the highest Offices Of the country aecarin 2
that it would no longer be dependent upon
The slaveholdipg States to any extent what
ever The position thus taken aud success
fully maintained by Northern fanaticism il
The election Gifts candidates, filled the hearts
Of the Southern States with despoudehcy
and gloom aud impressed them with the
melancholy conviction that there was 10
logger a hope of'living in the Union, in
the enjoyment Of the rights it was designed
to secure, and that the time had come when
the existing form Of Government having
become destructive of those ends for which
it was instituted, it was their right as it was
their duty, in the language Of the Declare
ton Of Independence, ''to alter or abolish
it, laying its foundation on such principles,
and organizing it's powers in such form. as
to them shall seem most likely to Affect
their safety and happiness