Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1867-07-12
FRIDAY MORNING, JULY II, 1851.

A meeting of respectable" citizens OF
Albemarle was held in Charlottesville on the
LIST inst, In which series of resolutions were
passed, declaratory of their purpose to coop
crate with the Republican party, on the
ground that it was the only party that could
secure to the people of the Southern States
protection to life and property, and affirming
that they considered themselves &c in honor
bound to the unconditional maintenance of
the Union of the States" AS to their desire
to cooperate with the Republican party, from
conviction Of the truth of their principles, or
from policy, expediency or fear, we have
nothing to say, but when they declare, as 1t
scere, that the people Of the Southern States
r.are in honor bound to the unconditional
maintenance of the Union Of the States,' we
are indisposed to let such action pass without
q notice, however respectable or intelligent
the promulgators of such doctrine. No
such idea obtained in the days of the forma-
ton of the Republic, OR to-day would have
witnessed no such Government as we have,
for the States would have delegated no pow
ers to general agent, but have reserved all,
and there would have been to-day as many
small Republics, at least, as there were col
onies. It has remained for these gentlemen.
in sight of the last resting place of the Usage
of Monticello" to promulgate this doctrine,
terrible to the prospects of our country and
totally destructive of Republican Govern
ment on this Continent. We maintain that
no man, be he from the North or South, be
he White or Black, is in " honor bound" to
the unconditional maintenance of the Union
OF the States. Our ancestors framed and
gave their adherence to no unconditional
Union. but to a constitutional Union. In
yielding our cause as lost, we swore to sup
port no unconditional Union, but the Consti-
tuition and the laws made in pursuance there
of, excepting therefrom the Emancipation
Act. No man has been disfranchised for
participation in the late war, on account of
thus endeavorlng to destroy an uacomdltaoa-
al Union, and no one is required now to
swear allegiance to an unconditional Union.
The idea which the majority in the North
maintain is that the Union is indissoluble,
but, however their acts may belle their pro-
LESSONS, they claim it still as Constitution
al Union. We submit therefore that we,
one and all, are bound in honor to support
no unconditional Union, but Union under
a written Constitution A few malcontents,
months ago, proclaimed themselves uncondi-
tional Union men, but so little of intellect
and influence neralded this cry that it was of
no moment to combat the heresy, but when
men, who lay just claim to responsibility
and intelligence, proclaim such doctrine, it
is time that all parties should arise to dispel
this political dogma, which contains within
it, that which will sap the foundations 'of
Republican Government in this country.
We claim to have ever revercd the Union
under the Constitution, but never do we ex-
pcct to counsel, advise or give aid to
Union of these States, VithOM conditions,
and we opine that the day will come, if it
has not already, when the responsibilities of
Albemarle will hide their heads for shame
over the doctrine promulgated in their LIST
Of July Resolutions.
The people Of the South yielded to the
stern arbitrament of the sword, and without
o murmur have done, and are doing all that
was required of them to restore peace and
prosperity to the country, and guarantee
equal rights to all classes, but they have not
been required to do that which would
render nugatory their oaths to support the
Constitution, and they will not voluntarily
do so by declaring themselves supporters of
an unconditional Union. The Albemarle
gentlemen are too eager to affiliate with the
Republicans, and we suggest to the latter
that before they are admitted they should
again be required to take an oath to support
the Constitution of the United States.
Hunnicutt, of the Richmond New Nation
the Radical leader in Virginia, calls the