Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1867-09-27
MORNING, SEPTEMBER q, 1861.

Our people will shortly be required to de-
eide upon the question Of a Convention or
no Convention, which is, perhaps, the most
important question ever presented to them,
with less to guide them in the formation Of
q rational, not to cay correct conclusion.
The Reconstruction Acts leave them the
option of calling Convention or not aud
the orders of the Commandment of District
No. 1 require them to vote Convention"
or ''no Convention Their votes then will
decide the question as to whether Conven-
ton to frame Constitution for Virginia
shall be called 1t would seem but just that,
with the choice left them and required to
make it, the matter should he at rest, wheth-
or they decide in favor Of or in opposition to
the call Of Convention. Those, however,
who favor Convention, claim that failure
to call it will exhibit a contumacy and re-
bellious spirit, which will occasion more
stringent and oppressive legislation against
our unfortunate people and should not be
thought of. Those who oppose it declare
that in voting for it we will be perjuring
ourselves and helping to place ignorance
and vice in control Of our State, at the ex-
pense of intelligence and virtue. That n o
worse fate can befall our people than to call
Convention under the present registration,
which, while it exhibits majority Of Whites
in the whole State, yet, according to the APP
portionment Of representation, gives, proba-
bly,, sixty or seventy local majorities to the
colored voters, who will vote for radicals,
against thirty or forty white local majorities,
enough to give the radicals preponderance
in the Convention, thus fixing before hand
the character Of the Constitution likely to be
framed fa ss as
According to this if they vote for Con-
vention they are likely to be burdened with
proscriptive constitution, with its dire con-
comitants, whereas if they vote against it
punishment is to be melted out to them for
exercising the only choice left them by Con
gressional enactments, which may be ad-
verse to implied or supposed Congressional
desire. We know, however, honest and
conscientious men who favor either horn of
this dilemma. With equal honesty of pur-
pose we have long since formed our -opin-
ions, which we did not deem proper to give
to our readers, preferring rather to keep
them posted on all points necessary for them
to form an approximately correct conclusion,
and we have seen nothing to cause us to
change our views and much to confirm us in
them. Believing the whole Reconstruction
legislation in conflict with the constitution
and subversive Of the principles upon which
The Government was founded aud prospered
for such length Of time, and, that yielding
to it is but step further in the establish
ment Of despotism on the ruins of our
much Wanted "Model Republic we are
opposed to the call of Convention. We
shall not, however, quarrel with those who
differ with us, but would desire that all
should calmly consider the subject and when
called on to decide, vote, without bias, as
their judgment dictates is best for themselves,
their State, the prosperity of their whole
country and the stability Of her long cher
ished Constitution and Government.