Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1867-03-12
Our Duty and Policy Reaction in the
North.


pressive and unconstitutional legislation of the
Radicals in power will have the effect to bring
about wholesome reaction in the Northern
States. If the great mass Of the citizens of
those States have so degenerated and have be-
come so Indifferent to the preservation of con-
stitutional liberty as to allow the constitution
the covenant of the liberties of our country-to
be recklessly disregarded and ruthlessly tram
pied upon by the servants of their choice, with
out severely rebuking them, and arising, in the
majesty of there strength and hurting them
from power, as soon as an opportunity at the
ballot presents itself, then has our Government,
as a Republic failed, and Ichabod may be in
scrbed upon it, for its glory has verify departed,
and Liberty has been slain in the temple of her
worship. 1t is said that good citizen never
despairs of the Republic" Though hope has
been crippled, we do not despair We still en-
terrain the belief that a reaction in the Nor
thern States will take place, especially if the
oppressed citizens of the Southern States COM
port themselves as we think they should.
They should stand calmly though firmly upon
the broad basis of their constitutional rights
They should not ask more, nor agree to accept
less, than the rights guaranteed to them by the
constitution This is the true position which
every man, who is friend of constitutional lib
erty, should occupy. We are under the most
solemn obgations-many of us under sworn
obigations-of fidelity to the constitution. 1t
is our duty to perform strictly the duties it i'm
poses, and to resist, to the utmost of our pow
err, infractons Of its provisions. As we are
powerless and are denied ali participation or
voice In the halls Of legislation, we can only ex-
ilbit our fidelity to the constitution by refusing
our assent to any unconstitutional acts, and by
enduring with fortitude whatever may be wrong
fully imposed upon US by those in power who
are fathless to their constitutional obligations.
In this way, we will be true to our duties, and
will be rendering efficient though mute, SER
vice liz defence of Constitutional liberty The
degree of our fidelity will be measured by the
amount Of suffering we are willing to endure,
and the sacrifices we are willing to make
IF the Southern people will have, as we hope
they will, the frmness and heroic fortitude to
occupy and stcadfastly to maintain the position
We have indicated, they will present as sublime
a spectacle rs has ever been exhibited in the
annals Of any people.
Not only our self-Tespect and duty, but sound
policy and expediency, dictate this line of con
duct. The conservatives Of the North, who
will contest the elections with the Radicals,
stand upon the platform Of the constitution and
the equality of Constitutional rights between
the States, and from that impregnable position
wage war i'll defence of the Constitutional rights
OF the people Of all the States alike, and as long
as We maintain cur position on the same plat
farm, IN the midst Of the most trying scenes
which ever tested the patriotism and fortitude
OF any people, We will command their highest
respect and enlist their warmest sympathies.-
1t, on the contrary, the people Of the South,
through want Of frmness and fortitude, volun-
taTiy surrender and give their consent to acts
yiolative of the Constitution and subyersive of
their own just rights, they will thereby paraIyze
the strong arms Of the Conservatives who are
defending ~, and who. then, must needs leave
lis to our fate, and the hope of that reaction
which would have effected our redemption will
be extinguished, and we will be left to grope
our way, under the most oppressive burdens,
in the darkness OF despotism-stumbng and
falling over the dismembered fragments of a
broken Constitution.
God moves in a mysterious way
His wonders to perform;
He plants his footsteps in the sea
And rides upon the storm
Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take:
The clouds We much dread
are big with mercy and shall break
In blessings on your head.
We have faith that, if the people Of the
South shall be true to the right, and shall stand
successfully the test ofthe trying ordeal through
which they are passing, Providence will make
the very means which the Radicals adopt to
Cypress Us the means by which our REDEMPTION
shall be effected
They sead the military here, without cause.
to hold despotic surveillance over US
We are satisfied that nothing could tend more
strongly to strengthen the Conservatives in the
North and to effect that very reaction which is
our only hope that our Constitutional liberties
will ever be restored to Us From beneath the
heel Of military despotism, our mute, though
potent, appeal would strike chord ofsympathy
in the bosom Of every man in the North who
entertained the slightest respect for Constitu-
tional liberty. Though helpless, we would be
strong-though mute, we would be eloquent.
The Praei1nDT'r V,fo TIT