Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1865-11-17

ever befallen any people, a rnin almest un-i
precedented in history, yet it would be I'M
manly to despair Of the Republic. Let us.
rather take consolation that, whether II ght
or wrong in inaugurating the bloody contest,
We have 50 borne ourselves as to save our
honor and challenge the admiration of the
world, not excepting our late conquerors but
now fellow citizens and brethren, and let us
firmly resolve strenuously to endeaver to re-
pair the errors and calanitous consequences
of the past by graphing with and wisely i,n-
proving the present, and with Lion heart and
Eagle eye looking the future in the face, un-
dismayed by the storms that howl along the
sky. Diyested of Slavery and the slave code,
and of paramount State Sovereignty, and the
right of SECESSION flcduced from and based
upon it, whether properly or improperly
we'll or il! done, for the better or for the
worse, it is useless to enquire, as it is res
adjmlicata.) all which have been erased and
stricken from our constitutions and codes
! first BY the sword and soon will be by the
pen we have the same charters and monu-
,ncnts of freedom, State and Federal, we
ever had, which, properly interpreted and
honestly and faithfully administered, guar
antee to us life, liberty, property and the
pursuit of happiness, the same Federal Con-
stitution. the same State Constitution Of 1850,
and the code Of $780, with a few slight and
innsutc1tol amendments, save that of the
abolition of slavery, made by the Constitu-
ton and laws Of the restored government of
Virginia, called the Wheeling and Alexan-
dria Constitution and Government.
With the exception, therefore, Of the
change made in the civil status of the slave,
who, henceforth, is entitled to occupy the
position of the free negro and mulatto and
must, henceforth, be treated, both civilly and
criminally as such, your jurisdiction Of en-
| quiry and presentment remains the same as
before the war BY reference to the code
under the head of slaves, free negroes and
mulattos you will see that divers offences, as
well by bond as free, based upon that rela-
ton, such asthe unlawful assembly of slaves,
trading with them by the whites, the extend
ing to them Of undue privileges or liberties
! 5y the master, owner or oyerseer, stealing Of
them, the mode of trial awarded to them for
! fclonies, various offences committed by them
to which different trials &c, punishments
are assigned, to those awarded to the white
man and free negro for the same offence, are
| virtually repealed Or rendered imperative, by
their emancipation, indeed some Of them are
expressly repealed by the Legislature Of the
restored government at Wheeling and Alex
andria t
When we consider that sudden, compulso-
| ry and uncompensated emancipation, howev-
er inconven!ent and unjust to us, was not
brought about by the slaves themselves, but
was thrust upon them, as passive recipients
of the boom without their asking, by the
interposition of others-an interposition if
not invited. justified or excused by our own
conduct in inaugurating the war, was at
least palliated. and when we remember their
loyalty, fidelity and exemplary obedience
during a bloody struggle Of four years in our
and their midst, in their behoof, it seems to
me we owe them debt Of gratitude to be re-
4 paid to them in kindness, generosity and hui
manity to the utmo t extent Of our ability and
its compatibility with our peace and safety.
For myself feel no resentment against them
OH account Of their emancipation, (and be-
lcve I but echo the general, if not universal,
sentiment Of Virginia, boon, whether i'm
aginary or real, which when rendered it is
not in human nature to reject, but the rath-
er reconcile myself, now that the irrevocable
deed is done, to iipc situation, ~ Tie conso-
iitory hypothesis, that it was the work Of an
all-wise, inscrutable and mysterious provi-
dence of that God who can make the wrath
of man to praise him and restraints the re-
mainder Of wrath and to whom it may have
seemed good to make the rashness and NOR
bid sensitiyencss of the peculiar and super
serviceable friends Of slavery the means and
the instrumentalities of its destruction; see
ing that we went to war for the merest alb
straction, the right to carry slavery into the
territories, we had not and never might ac-
quire, and we have lost slavery in the States,
, where but for the war itmight have remain
ed indefinitely or until gradually abolished
May we not hope that it's abolition, in the
manner in which it has been effected, was de-
E signed by providence and will prove future
blessing in the disguise Of a present evil, the
} timely removal or eradication Of a political
and social evil before, by the multitude o.
, slaves, it should become irremoyable or inc.
radicable, without the destruction Of one o,
other, or of both races. But be the design
of providence in its permission or accomplish
ment what it may, whether Of mercy to the
slave and chastisement to the master, or o.
eventual or unexpected mercy to BOTH what
; ever the motive Of the human agents employed
| to accomplish it, ofone thing there is no doubt
the deed is done and it is irrevocable. There
, fore interest. duty and necessity all concur
: in counseling on our part calm submission
and cheerful aoquiescence in the fat that has
3 made our former slaves freemen. We mus
discharge our duties to lhem not only in ;
r spirit Of justice and humanity, but Of liberal
: ity and generosity, and leave to the future
: the solution of the problem, Involved in 81
g much perplexity, } Of their future destiny ant
Of our own, 50 far as it may be Dependant
| on or effected by theirs.
: Your jurisdiction Of enquiry and present
: ment is co-extensive with the penal code
3 subject however to the change or modiGca
: ton in it under the title of slaves, free ne
: groes and mulattoes, made in it as before
g mentioned, by the emancipation of the slaves
: embracing all offences, from the highest tt
: the lowest, from the most atrocious to the
most yenial, except such petty trespasscs. Ca.