Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1866-10-12
Letter from the Hon. J. B. Baldwin.

TO tie Editors Of the Enquirer:
You have several times recently made my
opinions about Secession the subject of adj
verse editorial comment, and your example
has been followed by several newspapers in
the rural districts" The Hon James Ly-
ons, too, in the Enquirer Of September IS,
has done me the honor to make my errors Of
opinion the text ola 9 two column discourse.
Now [ have not the least idea of being
drawn at this late day into discussion Of
the question of Secession. AS practical
right, for future use, it has, by universal
consent, been given up and abandoned. Mr..
Lyons says & it has been extirpated with the
sword" and that he, at least. has :. bound
himself by the highest tie which can bind a
gentleman, not to attempt by force to assert
the right, or aid or advise others to do it =
and you say, on the same subject, we COM
prehend all this and accept itas none the less
imperative, because the decree is Of irresisti-
BILE might, rather than ofright. So much for
the future. = @
Nor do I intend to enter upon any defence
of the soundness Of my opinions on the sub
ject. They are the same | have always held
and avowed, and which were as well known
to you and to Mr.. Lyons before the war and
during the war as now. They are the opin-
ions upon which have always acted, and al
though you may not approve them as abstract
propositions, you have yourself admitted that
in our time Of trial they brought me to a
practical result becoming a true Virginian.
Mr.. Lyons seems to think that man Of my
way of thinking ought to have taken no part
with Virginia in the war. [ did not think
so, and [ incline to the opinion that if the
defence Of Virginia and the South had been
left exclusively to persons Of Mr.. Lyons way
of thinking the war would have been smaller
and shorter.
There is no foundation for your charge that
I have gratuitously obtruded my opinions on
this subject upon public attention. While in
| Washington last winter as one of the commit
tee sent to present to President johnson
the resolutions Of the Virginia Legislature,
was summoned before the Reconstruction
| Committee, and examined on oath to these
subjects. Igave my testimony according tc
my belief, and there the matter would have
ended, but for the newspapers-the Enqus-
rer among others-which gave such promi-
nence and publicity to my testimony, as re-
ported by the Committee, as to induce q
friend to call upon me to correct mistake
by which injustice had been done to my opin-
ions and my feelings. The propriety of my
writing letter for this purpose is shown by
the statement Of Mr.. Lyons-that it re-
moves the painful impression" which my tes-
timony as published had made upon him.
If, therefore, my opinions have been unne-
cessarily thrust upon public notice, it is plain
that you and Mr.. Lyons, and those concur
ring with you in this attack upon me, are
fairly responsible for it.
You fear that my opinions thus made known
will be regarded in the light Of {" confes-
sion," calculated to bring reproach 'supon
the honest names of our thrice honored peo-
pie"
If I had at any time said word which
could be fairly interpreted as implying a
doubt of the justice Of the cause for which
our people fought SO CALAMITY and endured
so nobly. or if had in any manner pro-
fessed to regret or to be ashamed Of having
cast in nv lot with g our thrice honored peo-
ple,o | could understand why you should
take it upon yourself to defend their honest
name against me but [ confess | am not
able to appreciate the nervous anxiety, not
to say eagerness, manifested by you to avoid
the imputation Of Rebellion and the name Of
Rebel
The English language has no name except
that Of Rebel by which to designate one who
has fought without success for the rights Of
the governed against the power Of the gov
eminent, and | have been taught to believe
that it furnishes no higher or nobler title than
that of Rebel in a just cause.
I wonder it has not occurred to gentlemen
who have SO earnestly and even vehementlJ