Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1867-10-08
For the Spectator.
VI tfIO OPOOe"s0'
Political View.

Political View
Texas, under Gov Throckmorton, has been
tranquil and prosperous His mild, yet firm
and wise administration has given to this State
truly enviable exemption from all those civil
connections that have distracted other States:
Repeated occasions have arisen for riots and
collisions with the military-such as Grlffin's
interference with the funeral of Gen. A. 5.
Johnston and the burning of Brennan, by the
Federal soldiers; but the Governors prompt
ness in action and wisdom in precaution have
pie proverbially impulsive and FESTIVE under re-
straint IF wisdom and moderation in council,
| frmness of purpose and the most devoted at
| tachment of the people, are the requisites for
| ruler Gov Throckmorton is pre-emlnently
the man for this crisis. Texas, under his regi-
| me, has happily realized the truth of Solomons
teachings that when the righteous are in au-
thority the people rejoice" May she never
realize the sentiment of the sequel of this prov
perity is about to set, in the gloom of fearful
revolution. Might will soon usurp the place of
right. Hatred will illuminate its thunderbolts
where love once shed its healing, hopeful ra-
dance. Men will curse, where now they bless,
the power that rules them; and wide reigning
atrophy will brood oyer all her interests.
IF the President views OF reconstruction had
been sustained by Congress, Texas would have
been in better condition than any of the South
ern States, for she would have had greater
preponderance of whites over blacks; and more
abundant capital, rapidly accumulated both du-
ring the war and since; which, be it remem-
bered with lasting gratitude, has been distribu-
ted with lavish hand among her suffering sis
ter States-she having donated for outside
charities more than q million Of dollars. Then
too many of her Union men are now conserva-
tive and valuable men in council. True she
also has her political canabals such as Jack
Hamilton, Judge Gray and that degenerate son
of the old dominion Reeves, the lowest niger
lick -spittle liz the land.
But, as an adequate conterpoise to this weight
of corruption, she would have had her Throck-
morton and Stockdaes in civil or executive
council, backed by her Hoods and Wauls from
the army her Moores, her Shropshires, her
Irelands and her Devines, on the bench, backed
by her Hancocks and Raymonds, from the
ranks of toryism or unionism as you may please
to call it. These, with host of others of like
worth and weight, would have guided the ship
of State safely thro' all the breakers that i'm
peril the political mariner.
While Congress scatters panic among them
by threats Of confscation, both private and pub
lie enterprises were advancing with gigantic
strides But now investments of every kind
are avoided, and men clutch their money and
all that is concealable, as if the rapacious plum
dererS under government were already upon
| them. Confiscation itself could not more COM
pletely close the channels of public revenue
than the continual fear of it is now doing in
Texas. The commercial centres of the State
have not yet realized the full shock of this pa
ralysis; but the planters are determined for
the coming year, to dock their expenditures, in
every direction, and to limit their planting op-
! 20 Al
families Numbers of the largest planters of
the State told me that they would not attempt
to raise bale of cotton or employ negro on
their farms. By this means, they hope that
the negro will be taught his dependence and
be more disposed to harmonic their interests
But We will not venture upon any specula-
tons for the future in politics. Our political
to- morrow is wisely hid in the hollow of God s
hand. When the children of Israel were about
to be delivered from Pharaoh's tyranny, they
found themselves hedged in, by mountain on
one side and an impossible sea on the other
The watchword for them was, the watchword
for us, is-''Stand still and see the salvation of
God
There is Red Sea for radicalism somewhere
in their path. That their rashness will force
them to follow US to its deepest depths, none
can doubt. But whether the waves of divine
wrath shall engulph both them and US; or
whether political deliverer shall arise to di-
riot us to some Canaan of peace and prosperity
all, assuredly, now depends upon the zeal and
devotion, the prayers and piety of Gods peo
pie.
Think of this, O, Christians and tell me,
if while these Gath-like champions of tyranny
are weaving the cords of our enslavement, God S
Sampson is not asleep In the lap of Delah
Where are our praying patriots for this c,1-
sis =? Why do we not hear of daily prayer meet
ings, for our country as in the days of our Con-
federacy? Why do not our civil magistrates,
self abasement? Alas for that people who
cast off the cords Of their faith and restrain
prayer before God.
True we are in sensible crisis; but our gull
ty apathy and prayerless indifference only
proves that nations have need of these crisis,
as the refner of his furnace. From such crisis
the feeble will come out infamous, and the
strong refined. Will not some one whose voice
will be needed, awaken the church to a reaza-
ton of her fearful responsibility, as our last left
refuge from the desolating storms of radical fu-
ry which now threaten to sweep all our fair
inheritance away as wrecks upon the deluge
IF christians will only give themselves to a
genuine repentance and prayer to God, then
a moral victory, at least, is certain. And while
an insolent foe may chant their ''Te Deums"
over our disasters our spirit, saved from the
shame of disqualification, and sublimated, in
the crucible of calamity, will soar above the
wreck of PROSTATE political privileges and sing
supremey its song of victory. E. 2. w.
Theodore Tilton in He'll