Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1867-04-16
The Object of the s. s. S. Bill.

In speaking of the s. S. S. Bill to comply
with the provisions of which, some of the lead
ing presses Of the State, are urging the people
to vote for Convention, the Richmond En-
quirer says 1t is universally seen and con-
tessed, that the purpose of this disabling and
unfrlendly legislation is to keep the Radicals in
power. Is it sensible to suppose that we shall
get them out of power by complying with it p
1t was devised to increase and confirm their
strength by republicanizing" the South. A
hundred checks and guards were reserved by
which the whole proceeding may be brought to
naught, If the calculation should threaten to
fail If there were a positive pledge that the
South, on completing the Shellabarger pro-
gramme, will be congressionaly recognized,
would that pledge be more binding than the
oath to support the Constitution? Would their
promise to abide by the S. S. S. S, be more sa-
cred than the oath which forbade them to enact
it? Will those who forswear, for party, hest
tate to break their word, for party? But the
3. s. 5. 5. contains not even promise that is
not fenced around with ifs" 1t may be set
aside under hundred pretences, if it lead to
an undesired result, and circumstances permit.
1t is clear that the Shellabarger business
gives US nothing to rely on Does it justify
much hope? Those at the North think so, who
are urging us to adopt it, 'Use it to come in
with, they say; land then by the aid of your
votes We will expel the Radicals from power,
and restore your rights The proverb says,
I'm vain is the snare laid in the sight of any
bird" VIII the Radicals allow themselves to
be expelled from power by process Of their
own devising and under their absolute control,
when their adversaries confess and declare their
power so omnipotent that it is folly to oppose
them? viii they hesitate to exert all power
necessary to maintain their sway, when even
their adversaries concede them carte blanche !?
There is such thing as STOPPING to conquer"
but this is different game from that. tits an
attempt to conquer by surrendering at discre-
tion,-in the hope that the enemy will then
voluntarily stack arms to you? 1t is being led
to his camp as prisoners, in the expectation that
he will then allow you to plumber it! IF the
Radicals disregard oaths which they have ex-
pllcltly taken, they will, under the same induce
ment, disregard promises which they have cum
bered with ifs and provisoes. Noone can doubt
that They will never vote themselves ont of
power to let us in. There are only two roads
to reconstruction. One is, for the Southern
States to become Enthusiastically Radical. Those
who are impatient, and willing to pay whatever
price, should take that The other is. to await
in prudence and quiet, change in the Northern
sentiment; such change as will remove or
overawe the party in power. There is no third
course. All other hopes are delusive and dan
gerous And of all vain expectations, none are
more vain, than that the Radicals will respect
our constitutional rights if we abandon them,
or allow US, with hostile purpose, to gain pow
er through servile and deceitful compliances.-
So long as our admission depends on their con-
sent, we will be admitted only as their friends
Most assuredly will this be true, SO long as at
the North and the South their power is ac-
knowledged to DO absolute, and the terror of
them is SO great, that it is declared unsafe
wrong, mad, to take off ones hat to the Chief
Justice without their consent"