Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1866-06-29

whereas, on the 9th Gay OF May 1900
the people Of Augustas in. general meeting,
assembled ''to take measures looking to a
reorganization ofathe government of. Virginia
in conformity to the Constitution and laws
Of the United States, with a just appreeia-
ton Of the duties imposed on them by the
results Of the war, and Of the rights guaran-s
tccd to them by the Constitution Of the United
States, pledged themselves, ii good faith, to
cooperate with others for the restoration Of
the Union and then announced principles
and opinions which have since been sane
toned and illustrated by the act and declara-
lions Of Andrew johnson, the President Of
the United States; and whereas the people Of
Virginia have sincerely andin good faith re-
sumed their relations to the Union, with the
| approval of the Executive, and the recogni-
ton Of the judiciary department Of the gov
eminent of the United States, and have been
and are discharging with scrupulous fidelity,
the duties Of citizens, obeying the laws, pay
ing taxes, and bearing other burdens Of gov
eminent; and whereas, notwithstanding, that
the right of taxation has heretofore been
deemed inseparable from the right of repre-
sentaton, the Congress of the United States,
in the absence of Senators and Representa-
1 tiyes from eleven States of the Union, pro-
pose deliberately to continue the imposition
of taxes on the people Of the South, without
their consent or voice in the enactment Of
laws for the purpose; and not only So but,
against the protestations Of the President and
the judgments of all just men, to PROFOUND
for ratification by the States, amendments of
the Constitution of the United States, which
never could have been matured and passed,
if all the States had benin Congress by their
representatives and not this only, but, as is
alleged, looking upon the Union as dissolved
in fact as to the eleven Southern States, and
upon those as States still out Of the Union,
the said Congress propose, that the ratifica-
ton Of the amendment recently propounded,
/ through the Secretary of State, not by "an
act of Congress to which the approval of the
/ President would have been necessary, but by
"a. concurrent resolution" to avoid the effects
on the Country of a veto of the act-that the
ratification of this amendment, so devised and
propounded by each Of the eleven Southern
States, shall bea condition precedent to their
restoration to the Union, and whereas, apart
/ from the fact that said amendment was passed
by the two Houses of Congress in violation
of the Constitution ITSELF and, apart from all
| else, in the article propounded unjust and
oppressive to the people of the South, Vir-
ginians can never ratify, without self-inposed
dishonor and degradation, an amendment of
| the Constitution which. Notwithstanding pro-
LESSONS Of sincere loyalty, and acts Of patri-
otism, thessP Presidents pardon, and the rights
| of persons elsewhere guaranteed in the Con
stitution, seeks to degrade and disfranchise
the ablest and purest men Of the State for
the discharge of duties imposed on them by
the free suffrage Of the people, or for sympa-
thy and operation during the recent strug-
gle, with an overwhelming majority of the
people of Virginia and whereas whilst, it is
the unalterable purpose of the people of
Augusta County, to obey the laws, to bear
patiently the burdens of government, even
though denied the right Of representation,
and cordially to sustain the laws and pa
triotic policy Of the President of the Uni
ted States, it is equally their fixed deterlni-
nation to take part in no act which will de-
prive them Of u proud sense Of self-respect or
bring shame upon them and their posterity.
LIST Therefore be 1t Resolred, That the peo-
pie Of Augusta County cannot too warmly
express their gratitude that God has placed
in power, as President of the United States,
citizen who having the wisdom to discern,
has the moral courage to act upon principles,
which people who love liberty and appre-
ciate the Constitution, must sooner Or later
sanction ana adopt.
End That whilst we recognize our duty
as good citizens to obey the laws, and to bear
the burdens of Government freemen we
enter our earnest potest against the violation.
thro' us, ofthe fundamental principles of free
Government, evidenced by the refusal of the
two Houses of Congress to admit our Sena-
tors and Representatives to vote for or against
the taxes we are to pay, the burdens we are
to bear and the Constitutional amendments
to be propounded to the States for their rati
fcation
Sd. That the people of Augusta can never
authorize their Senator and Delegates in the
General Assembly to vote for the article Of
amendment to the Constitution Of the United
States propounded Gas before stately by the
two Houses of Congress and that, in their
opinion it is far better for Virginia to main.
tain her honor, as a State out Of tie Union,
and, at the same time discharge the duties Of
a State an the Union, than to enter the halls
of Congress with the brand Of self-imposed
degradation upon her brow, and the object
of the just scorn of mankind and that there
fore it is the fixed purpose of this people,
without passion or excitement and with no
view to disturb the order or harmony Of the
Country,to decline, even to consider any pro-
posed amendments Of the Constitution until,
to use the words of President johnson in his
recent message to Congress :" after the ad-
mission of such loyal Senators and Repre-
sentives Of the now unrepresented States as
have been OF may hereafter be chosen in con-
formity with the Constitution and laws of
the United States y r..,ryq
4th. That the people Of Augusta are pre-
pared patiently to await the results of the
contest, now to be waged between the friends
and the enemies of the Conservative princi-
Piles of free Government in the North, and
for the time when those who now hold the