Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1865-07-07

w lille this war has overturned the
political doctrines of Slavery, States
rights and Secession entertained at the
South, it will have no less eff ct upon
the politics Of the North.
The intense radicalism, prevalent
there for several years back, even now
feels the effect of it. Those who have
been the leaders of that party, forced
by unyielding circumstances, are advo-
eating conservatism. This is source
Of gratifying consolation to the South
ern people, since they have failed to
establish a distinct nationality, and
consequently must remain in the
Union.
= Politicians and Prominent Northern
Generals, in the main, with the mass
Of the army favor conservative poll
cy. Perhaps no'more striking instance
can be given to illustrate this fact than
that Of Gen. Flank Blair, of Missouri,
who has been an extreme radical for
years. In late speech at st. Louis
he opposes governing the Southern
States by military Governors and the
unnecessary continuance Of martial
law. On the sui ject of controlling the
right of suffragein the Southern States,
he holds that each State has the right
to decide this question for itself
Rhode Island excludes many OF. Irish
and German birth, no matter how
much property or influence they may
have, and ''no one, says he, questions or
has the right to question Rhode Is
lands right in this respect"
He says, "Andrew johnson has put
his foot on that proposition and he
was compelled to put his foot upon it,
if he was an honest man This senti-
ment of the Speaker was vociferously
cheered. $
Upon the subject Of confscation
and trials for treason he thus expati-
ates
Il say there can be no justification for
any execution which is not demanded by
the safety Of the State; because these men
have already been afflicted by this war to
such degree that retaliation why, if you
talk of retaliation, follow in the wake of the
army which marched from the Mississippi
to the sea and thence to " ashington. Who
could then speak of retaliation at er wit
Messing that scene Of devastation necessary,
it seemed to US, it seemed to those who i'll
ficted this severe calamity upon those peo-.
pie necessary even for their own safety
that we should thus inf:c. or desolate them;
but the desolation rests and broodse hpon
them still Their homes exist no longer,
and the people are driven out. and there
fore, to me, accustomed to look at things as
] do, can see no necessity of making trea-
son other than it is .alrealy-odlous. =
(Cheers) No punishment that we could
ossib!y infict could equal the punishment
already inflicted upon them, and jnstiGable
by the great objects which we had in view
Of the re uniting of our Government, and
justi6able by no other reason and no other
right; nor can its prosecution in any other
shape or form be justified unless the safety
of the Government is imperiled. Any pol
icy, my friends, which proceeds from mere
malice, comes from h.ll. and is at the insti-
cation Of the devil" Cloud cheers
Since our political sentiments, fond
ly cherished for years, have been up
rooted, it is, at least, gratifying, as
foreshadowed by the remarks Of such
a distinguished radical as Gen. Blair,
to look forward to a spirit of conser-
vatism growing up in the North, kim
dred to that conservatism for which the
South has been pre-eminently noted.
1t is conservatism which gives tone
and character and dignity to nation,
and from the exhibitions daily given,
and from unlocked for sources, we
confidently expect to see tho happiest
results attend the growth Of this exalt-
ed attribute of a nation-the great
ally of its progress.
/"