The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1866-02-21
A WORD TO THE PEOPLE.


The Gods help those who help themselves
The people of the South must be up and do
ing We have been sitting with folded hands
long enough 1t is very true that We can
never forget the past but we owe it to our
selves and those that come after us, that we
DO not neglect the present, nor shut our eyes
to the future. The brave man dares, but he
also bears it is only the coward who makes
an effort and sinks under its failure There
is conflict going on, in which the liberties of
people are the stake and that people is our
selves and yet we view it with as much APP
parent nonchalance as did the Roman popu-
lace the struggle of the gladiator and the beast
upon the arena of their amphitheatre
A stranger would suppose that it was
matter of no interest to us, whether the Pre-
sident, in his single-hauded humanity, tri-
umphed over the horde of radicals that
threaten him in the Halls of Congress, or
was torn into thousand atoms, by those
who thirst for his blood, because he will not
let them drink ours. This is not as it should
be, it is neither Just nor generous for the
Southern people to allow him to bear the
brunt and heat of our battles without offering
him cup of cold water or word of good
cheer.
He would, doubtless, fight it ont on prn-
ciple alone, but when that principles our sal
walton and its overthrow our ruin, prudence
and policy, as well as justice and generosity,
demand that we should draw ourselves up in
line of battle, and stand ready to support him
by our presence and encouragement, and,
when the time co" es, by our deeds. The
fight that he is fighting is a death-strugge
for us if he falls we fall with him, and for
ever; if he triumphs, we and our rights tri-
umph with him. The Virginia Legislature
has shown its appreciation of the crisis and
has taken step in the proper direction, and
we hope our sister States of the South will
follow her example.
Let US do our part in this matter-lct us
come up to the work aud put our shoulder
to the wheel. Indifference at such a time as
this is treason to ourselves, inacton suicide.
Let every Legislature speak out as Nir-
ginia has done, and let the people at home
speak out. A cotemporary has wisely aug-
gested the calling Of meetings Of the people
throughout the State, to ratify the resolutions
of the Assembly Let this suggestion be acted
on at once Let us have town meetings and
county meetings all over the State, pass the
resolutions in every county in the State, and
declare we are ready to hold up the hands
of the President as long as he holds up the
Constitution.
These meetings will do good. They will en-
courage him; they will encourage our friends
at the North and more than all, they will do
justice to ourselves. They will prove to the
world that we are neither towards nor ingratcs;
that though the fortune of war has gone against
us, it has not unnamed us; and that adver-
sity has neither dernoralized our nerve, nor
rendered us incapable of approaching the ear
nest efforts of an honest man to restore peace
to the country and liberty to ourselves. We
have accepted the issues of the war; we have
hung up our armor, and our swords are rust
ing in their scabbards; let lis not hang up our
manhood or the rust that cats the iron will
corrode the soul.