Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1866-09-08
Remarks Of Judga Parker at the Winchester
Meeting.
/ From The Winchester News


He said that he had for many years stood
aoof from political meetings because be believed
it iucomnati5ic with the Judicial Office; but
that he had regarded it as Il duty he owed
Virginia and the peace and quiet OF her people
to attend the Philadelphia Convention. 1t
was in that spirit lie went. To pour oil on the
troubled waters and make one more attempt TO
save order and constitutional government on
the American continent He reviewed the
late war. and said that the Federal Eovcrn-
meDt had repeatedly, during It's progress, pro-
claimed that the war was wagcd to preserve
the Union OF the States and the CONSTITUTION
made bv our father Now, however, since the
was vas closed. Congress suddenly discovers
that the Southern States are not mthe Union.
That thcv are conquered provinces over which
Congress has the most unlimited power. aud
must not be admitted until they have been
degraded Against this doctrluc President
johnson has set his face. lie desires all the
States 10 be equal, and IS onl y carrying out
the ideas for whici! the war was fought lie
did not think there should be any hesitation
about Southern men unfolding him so far as
il laid in their power to DO so against those
who were trying to destroy them. The Judge
then spoke of the traterna feeling which exist
ed at the Philadelphia Convention. No man
who was there could think the Northern peo.
Me insincerc in their effort to rclnstate the
South in her formcr political rights. lie said
that the Philadelphia Convention had not
formed new constitution or union. 1t only
said that the Federal government had Low all
the powers it ever had, was limited by the
same restrictions, in fact was the same under
bad Ky
carried on since its formation. The Judge
then drew a vivid picture of the State of the
country under radical rule and contrasled it
with the Presidents policy. It was an easy
matter for any lover of his country to decide be-
tween them. As for the address and principles
put forth by the Convention he did cot endorse
everything in them. Ifanything gralcs harsbly
on your ears the members OF the Convention had
no intention that it should. The spirit that
actuated those men was kindness ITSELF and
they would make Virginia as proud and free
as the proudcst and trcest Northcn State
That Convention was no common meeting 1t
was the lifting up Of ten free commonweaIths.
We are engaged in contest Of lie and death
with the radicals The perpetuation of liberty
in the country depends on the issue Of the con-
Aict. The Philadelphia Convention is on the
side of liberty and we must support 1t IN orCI.:r
to save ourselves from worse fate than ;coath.
The animus of tie radical party vs. love of
Office and hatred to the South. The spirit of
Jobnson's policy was justice ar.d fairness. We
should understand that Convention by the
spirit that animated it an3 not simply by the
words Gifts resolutions.
He then spoke 81 those who opposed the
Conrention Of course the radicals oppose it
for it will ruin their schemes, it SUCCESSFUL
T., a. Il, al q a.
tagonistic minds These fellows are forever
picking flaws. Nothing exactly suits them
They can never see the good for looking at the
minor evils They must have everything per
feet or they vii. not subscribe to it. Such
men oppose It. Another class-the jealous
pcople--th,se who never think anything right
unless t..ey do it themselves. They oppose it.
Their, Is another class who believe that the
dir dty OF Virginia must be upheld. For these
lie entertained the liveest feelings of Sympa-
thy, but asked whether dignity could nnt be
carried TOO far. 1t may degenerate into
haughtiness. This is q practical, living 4ues-
ton and all such feelings must give way II we
desire to be saved from the grasp Of the deS-
poiIer He then spoke Of the Importance Of
giving moral aid to the people of the North
in their eudeaVors to save us. The battle OF
constitutional libert.' was being fought, and
the right would prevail. II it did not the
result would be terrible for all ofus. Taxation
without reprcs eutation would be the order OF
the government The mass OF the people
would be disfraDchised, and ground under the
heel OF the ma ster, and our Jalis like those OF
Missouri woul d be soon flied By our ministers
of the gospel for refusing to swear shat which
no honest So, :,thern man could or would swear.
A despa oh from New Orleans says, the
Governors proclamation ordering an election
on the Sd OF September Tor members to the
convention n the unrepresented parishes has
been totally disregardcd, No election has
been }.eld.
The roof and upper story of the "Union
T A., 1roc 1ostrou-