Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1867-01-31
what has Become of the aprinciple g,

The political and social structure of the
society Of the Southern States, previous to
the war, was essentially and fundamental
~ different from that of the Yankee States.
The former adhering tenaciously to the
doctrine of State sovereignty and strict
construction of the Federal Constitution
the latter giving that instrument latitu-
dinarian construction, and totally disre-
gardlng its guarantees
This fundamental difference between the
people and the political principles of the
two sections brought on the war. And
now, having been defeated in our strug-
gle. to maintain the supremacy of the
Constitution and the integrity of the States
under it., what has become of the principle?
Have we surrendered it? Will the peo-
pie of Virginia surrender it? This is,
practically, the question submitted by our
much esteemed correspondent, in his crit
icism of one of our editorials of the preti
Gus week
When Gen. Lees armies surrendered
to the Federal commander, and the gov
eminent Of the Confederate States" was
annihilated, We may adopt the witticism
of King Lear's fool" (who, by the way,
was mot altogether fool, $50. ont
srem the candle, and ue acere left dark
hng." All the cherished .ssprinciples" for
which we have lived and lahored. and for
tue maintenance Of which our armies
fought and. poured out their life's blood,
were ovcrthrown,- we will not say destroy
ed. because truth and right cannot be
annihilated, and we were left in posses
sion of "a shealed peascod."
When Gov. Pierpoint moved his illegi-
innate one-horse government from Alex
andria to Richmond, and the assembled
wisdom of this proud old Commonwealth
acknowledged the raHdity of that govern
ment, if asked phy they yielded the ''p,1in-
c'ple' for the sake of peace and other ad
vantages which it was supposed would be
secured; If asked to give reason for
such glaring Inconsistency, they might re-
ply in the indignant language of Falstaff:
"What, upon compulsion No; were
at the strappado, or all the racks in the
world, | would not tell you on compulsion.
Give you reason on compulsion if rea-
sons were as plentiful as black berries. T
would give no man reason on compul-
sion, To
Quite likely our Legislators were govern
ed more by ''instinct" than "reason:'' for.
when ''reasons" are scarce, ''instinct is a
great natter
When that same Legislature sanctioned
the constitutional amendment abolishing
slavery for all time to come, and repealed
the ordnance of secession, what became of
the ''primciple9" Did it take its departure
with our burnt property our furniture,
our horses, our cattle, our spoons ?-was
it Butlerized ?
While we repudiate, IN toto, the consti-
tutional amendment now before us, and
which has been so unanimously rejected
by the Legislature, yet, we are OF opinion
that its adoption would have involved no
greater sacrifice Of ''principle" than has
already been made relative to the meas
ures named. Why were these sacrifices
made2 Evidently, we think, for the rea-
son that it was believed the State would
be Immediately restored to its former re-
lations to the Union. If such was not the
motive that actuated the Legislature, then,
indeed, was their action inexpicabIe, even
upon the ground of expediency, to say no
thing about principle
We sincerely sympathise with our cor
respondent in his veneratiou for and at
tachment to the principles of free republi-
can government, as expounded by Madi-
son and advocated by Jefferson, and feel as
keenly as he does the disasters that have
fallen upon the country in consequence of
their overthrow and yet, 1t IS true, dis
guise it as We may, that thousands of our
people would sacrifice the '.1Drincip1e0 to
erped'ency, if they could be assured that
the adoption of the amendment would end
the strife This opinion is based upon
what has already taken place The light
has been put out, and we are cropping our
way in the dark: and many are willing TO
sacrifice everything for the sake of peace.
Let it be borne in mind, however, that we
do not justify the sacrifice of ''principle"
for any supposed advantage VT mary gain
in the way of being restored To the Tnion.