Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1867-05-10


itation in the South at presentso many eff
forts to build up parties and to divide, dis
turb and distract our people. Party lines
will inevitably be drawn but we think that
time has not arrived yet There is by far too
much talk about dirt eaters y g Passivists,"
&C., &c. No man can tell exactly what to
do OR how, to do it. What is the interest Of
one in this Southern land is clearly the in
tefest of all, without distinctions. We are
all aflcat in the same little bark, and are,
fortunately or unfortunately bereft of rudder
ard compass, and, whether we will or not,
must sink or swim together. There is no
necessity-in fact it is down right madness
for us to quarrel about the course we must
steer which all see but through "a glass
darxly.sD as5w sse I'll s,.a n
We have endeayored to give our readers
from time to time the views of prominent
Radicals, Republicans and Democrats, in
order that they might judge for themselves
as to the proper course. The Radicals de-
clare that if we do not adopt the plan they
have laid down, which in the same breath
they assert is not fnality. it will be the last
chance, and the reconstruction of the South
ern States will be turned over to the known
"loyalists' and freedmen in our midst and
perhaps confscation may be resorted to
The former might occur, but the latter finds
but few advocates in the Northern States and
we have never dreaded it. The Republicans
scout the idea of confscation, while they be-
seech us to accept the reconstruction plan and
claim it as fnality-a failure to do so they
say will insure a continuance Of the present
condition ad infnitum The Democrats cry
out, stand firm to your rights-yield moth
ing-accept nothing less, and in the end you
will obtain them, otherwise they are lost for
ever. si-cf- 70 st'tl1 i3 g ft
In the multiplicity and diversity Of advice
and threats we are utterly COMPOUNDED. We
know not whom to believe. We can not see
for ourselves whether it is better to recon
struct on the Congressional plan or be blessed
with the continuance of military domination.
One thinks we should reconstruct and is
hailed as a g dirt eater.n Another thinks we
should not accept the unpalatable terms by
voting for convention and is Immediately
styled a q passivist." We think this is all
wrong. We have never inclined to the Re
construction and Supplementary bills as mag
unanimous in the victors and we think them
unconstitutional, unjust and totally uncalled
for. We have never believed, cote as ace
wM. that they would be realized as fnality,
for there are too many ifs" to be accom-
plished, as we stated when We published the
bill and supplement, for them ever to reach
that realization. Yet we do not see that the
occasion exists to engage in chickering's, one
with another, because we entertain the one or
the other opinion. Each and all Of us will
act as we believe for the best interests of all
and while all are striving to reach a common
gcal--=the peace and prosperity of oar coun-
try, no one knows exactly whittier the
road he progresses to take will lead
1t is indeed sad condition in which the
Southern people find themselves to-day
neither in the Union nor out of it-neither
possessed Of rights and privileges nor totally
deprived Of them certain only Of the past,
discussing the present and without any ex-
perience by which to reach an approximated
judgment as to the future The odd lanil~
marks obliterated or overridden by the sur
ges of passion and prejudice which swell and
foam around about us, and the which way
we turnywe may find breakers ahead. Will
chickering's and contentious avail? We think
not let each then act as he CONSCIENTIOUS
~ believes for the best, reasoning from the
narrow premises allowed, and hoping that our
little craft will reach haven of safety, trust
in Him who holds the tempests in the hol-
low of His hand and who alone rules with
justice tempered with mercy.
The United States Circuit Court commence
ed its session in Richmond on the 9th inst.
Judge Underwood presiding. The Grand
Jury was called and sworn, and consisted as
follows; John Minor Bolts, foreman, Louis
NIX ax,;axs r y Ra1d,u;nx r n Poollox,