Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1866-09-18
Remarks of Judge Parker at the Win
chester Meeting.
[From the Mincheater New. !

CFrom the Winchester News.l
He said that he had for many years stood
aloof from political meetings because he be-
lieved it itincempatible with the Judicial Office:
but that he had regarded it as duty he owed
Virginia and the peace and quiet Of her
people to attend the Philadelphia Convention
1t was in that spirit he went. To pour oil
on the troubled waters "and make one more
attempt to order and constitutional
government on the American continent. He
reviewed the late war; and said that the Fedgrai
Government had repeatedly, during its
progress, proclaimed that the war was waged
to preserve the Union OF the States and The
Constitution made by our fathers. Now, how
ever, since the war closed, Congress suddenly
discovers that the Southern States are not IN
the Union. That theyare conquered provinces
over which Congress has the most unlimited
power, and must not be admitted until they
have been degraded. Against this doctrine
President johnson has set his face. He
desires all the States to be equal, and is ONLY
carrying out the ideas for which the war was
fought. He did not think there should be
any hesitation about Southern men upholdiug
HIM so far as it laid in their power to do so
against those who were trying to destroy
them. The Judge then spoke of the fraternal
feeling which existed at the PHILADELPHIA Con
the Northern people insincere in their effort
to reinstate the South in her former political
rights. He said that the PHILADELPHIA Con-
vention had not formed a new constitution
or union. 1t only said that the Federal
government had now all the powers it ever
had, was limited by the same restrictions, in
fact was the same under which the govern
ment had been practically carried on since
its formation. The Judge then drew vivid
picture of the State of the country under
radical rule, and contrasted it with the Presi-
dents policy. 1t was an easy matter for
any lover of his country to decide between
them. AS for the address and principles put
forth by the Convention he did not endorse
everything in them. If anything CRATES
harshly on your ears the members of the
Convention had no intention that it should
The spirit that actuated those men was kind
ness itself, and they would make Virginia as
proud and free as the proudest and frcest
Northern State. That Convention was no
common meeting. 1t was the lifting up of
ten free cOmmonwealths. We are engaged
in contest Of life and death with the radicals
The perpetuation of liberty in the country
depends on the issue of the conflict. The
Phlladelphla Convention is on the side of
HOefty ana we must support it in order to
save ourselves from a worse fate than death
The animus Of the radical party was love of
Office aud hatred to the South. The spirit of
Johnsnn's policy was justice and fairness.
We should understand that Convention bv
the spirit that animated it and not simply by
the words oft resolutions.
lie then spoke Of those who opposed the
Convention. OF course the radicals oppose
1t for it will ruin their schemes, if successful
In the South there is a class of men with
antagonlstlc minds. These fellows are for
ever picking flaws Nothing exactly suits
them They can never see the good for look
ing at the minor evils. They must have
everything perfect or they will not subscribe
to 1t: Such men oppose it. Another class
the jealous peOple-those who never think
anything right unless they do it themselves.
They oppose it. There is another class who
believe that the dignity of Virginia must be
upheld. For these he entertained the
ilyellest feelings of sympathy, but asked
whether dignity could not be carried too far.
1t may degenerate into haughtiness. This
Is Is practical, living question aud all such
feelings must give way if we desire to be
saved from the grasp of the despoiler. He
then spoke of the Importance of giving moral
aid to the people of the North in their en-
deavors to save us. The battle of constitu-
tlonal liberty was being fought, and the right
would prevail. If it did not the result would
be terrible for all of us. Taxation without
representation would be the order of the
government. The mass of the people would
be dlstranchised, and ground under the heel
of the master, and our jails like those of
Missouri would be soon filed by our ministers
OF the gospel for refusing to swear that which
no honest Southern man could or would
swear.