Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1866-11-20
The Late Northern elections SLOW will
they affect Southern interests? ~

4uc Adtt 0OILueIu 61ectlOuS-aOW. Will
they affect Southern interests? ~
On this subject, a contributor to the Richmond
Wing, under the signature of 'Job," offers
some reflections which are worthy of consider
alton. He says q
There seems to be general impression on
the Southern mind that the result of the late
elections in the North and West is an unmitigat-
ed disaster. The necessary effect will be to
exclude Southern representative men from the
| next as well as the present Congress. This is,
unquestionably, gross injustice to the South
as well as a fragrant violation of the Constitu-
ton. But Is it by any means certain that this
exclusion is an evil? Of what avail would
Southern representation be in the next Con-
gress? We certainly are better off to have no
| representatives. than such as could take the test
oath now required of them. Such men would
only serve to place the South in false position.
By electing such, the people of the Southern
States seemingly would give their sanction to
the oath, and, by necessary implication, fix
stigma On themselves, and on all who co-operat-
ed with them during the war; In the last cleo.
tions, many Of the Southern districts Inundated
themselves, and what did they getby it? Ger
tainly no practical benefit to their material in
terests and no increase of their own selfrespect.
But suppose the test oath removed, | again
ask what great benefit could we expect from
representation, even by our best men, in the
next Congress? True, we might, to some ex-
tent, strengthen the hands of the President, and
sustain him in his vetoes; but it may well be
questioned whether this negative advantage
would not be more than counterbalanced by
positive evils. ~ -ie
As matters now stand, the whole responsibility
OF the Government rests with the North. If
anything be done amiss the responsibility is
with them exclusively they cannot say to the
South, 'you did it" IF the South were re-
presented she would be in lean minority she
| would be powerless for good, but unfortunately,
not powerless for evil, or at least for afording
a pretext for evil she would not have the num-
bers, even in conjunction with Conservative
members from the North, to carry any useful
measure. But any single imprudent member
from the South would have fearful capacity,
| by an indiscreet speech, to afford pretext for
further injustice to his section And how could
| Southern members sit still and hear the TRADES
| OF abuse and vltuperation constantly poured out
on their constituents without replying with deep
| feeling? They would be regarded as recreants
if they did not, and as contumacious if they did
| They would have difficult part to play, and,
utextraordinary self cammand, they would
do more harm than good. There is nothing
| they could say or do which would not be the
subject of misconstruction or misrepresenta-
| ton. i
| May it not, then, be for the best that the
North should have full swing in the whole
matter? The presence of Southern members
would only serve to band the Radicals together
| by sort of outside pressure, and thus restrain
| centrifugal tendencies. Every day furnishes
evidence of the truth of the scriptural declaration
that the wisdom of man is foolishness Men,
wise in their own conceit, lay plans to augment
their power, and it not unfrequently happens
that they are overthrow by the very means
they had devised to strengthen themselves The
\ people OF Babylon sought to build tower which
| would secure them against the danger of being
submerged by a second food. But, by the
simple expedient of a confusion of tongues, the
| Almighty frustrated their plans so the modern
Babylonians seek to erect for themselves con-
stltutional tower, which will protect them, in
all future time, against the waves Of public
| opinion Our best policy is to let them, have
their own way, and it will not be long before
discords among themselves--the confusion of
tongues--will again perform its appropriate
office.
Let us thea, not fret ourselves about Radical
triumphs Let us keep quiet, eschew national
politics, and bide our time Dissension will
come, and we will ere long have practical il
lustration of the truth of the old proverb, that
in certain contingency, (which shall be name
less, honest men will get their own IL
Let us attend to our domestic affairs-repair
our. houses, rebuild our fences, educate our
children, improve our lands and rehabilitate our
fortunes &&&
I, for one, am not particularly DESTROYS of a
high degree of material prosperity, if it can be
acquired only. by asacrifce ofnational character
We can get along very well as we are, at least
for the present am not for making golden
calf the object Of our worship, nor do I care to
interrnarry with the Amorites, or Amalekites,
or any other foreign people, We are in the
wilderness for the present, but we will cross
over Jordan after while
Let usretain our lands, our customs, our tradi,
tons, our national character and above all, our
selfrespect.
| An All-wise Being rules the destines of ma
things straight Let us be firm, be patient, be
trustful In the wisdom and justice and mercy
| of the Most HIGH and all will vet como rinht