Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1868-01-10

we believe lie acted for and adyoca I'D whaj
he believed Inc best mtefcsts oEtle cdpntry
With a patriotism enabling lin to throw
aside the prejbdicesof past party afdo. "
takes lofty view Of the political situatioi
and gives the following wise counsel to hi
countrvmen. Coming as it Goes from al
old time enemy, of the Democracy, the 'frient
Of many Of the brightest Statesmen of the pas
and as one Of the last links between the pres
ent and buried generations, NC. Gen-n.l4
his views to our readers aud especially thos'
who, not ohjecting to the principles ye
sickle merly at the name Of Democracy:
The telegraph informs US that a conserv
alive meeting held the other day.a Atlant'
adopted resolutions Suggesting the Assem-
bling of a national csnv ntion at Louisville
on the ODD of FEBRUARY, to form a party fol
the restoration and preservation ofthe Union
on the principles of the Constitution. w
cannot approve this suggestion. 4iv
In our opinion. the suggestion is botl
visionary and indiscreet Visionary. be
cause the party that it contemplates cannon
be formed, and indiscreet. because, so far al
it has any effect, it tends to lessen the NOR
al strength IF the party that is ready formed
and is the only party that can be formed, io
the attainment Of the end in view Th,
tendency of the suggestion is purely mis-
chievous. W
The Democratic party is the only hope
''for the restoration and preservation of til.
Union ON the, principles Of the Constitution
And il is we firmly believe, a sure hope
Let the friends of the Union and the Consti.
tuition. everywhere rally around it. At.any
rate let none of them directly. or Indirectly
countenance the radical SANDER that its aim
is not 1.-THE restoration and preservation oil
the Union on the principles of the Constiiu
ton" Its aim is this and nothing more OF
less. Another party is not needed; and, il
it. were. it could not be had. But it is moi
needed. Tn. Democratic party can and will
restore the Union of the Constitution. H
will rescue and protect the public liberties
1t is the peoples stronghold. 'isi s~'a'
There. it stands, already formed strong
in organization. streng in numbers, strong
in prestige. and strong above all in the n,,-
conqueaahle cause TO which it is dedicated
In 10 country on the globe have the people
IN, the hour Of mortal peril to their liberties
ever before found such a refuge and defenc.
standing open before them. lie: not the
people turn from l. =. To turn from it would
be madness. Let them enter it, And lei
no friend of the people hlnlIy mar its foun-
dations or deface its pillars" 'r..sit
Our fellow citizen, Hon Alex. Fl Fl
Stuart, WAS invited to attend the banquet tt
be given at Washington TO- day. 9Th inst ant
courtcously declines for reasons. set forth
in his letter below, which beautifully ex.
presses tine sentiments of the people Of "ul
down troddeu land ard. especially Of this
section .=s;;ssfffs ~ Hfsi4fl ~
We commend the letter Of Mr. Stuart te
the careful cor sidcration Of our many read
SrAuNroN, Va, January 2, 1868.
Gentlrnnn,-l pray you to accept my
thanks for your kind invitation to attend ;
banquet TO be given at the 'Metropolita,
{ Hotel, in the city Of Washington. on III.
Sth instant, under the auspices of leading
members of the, Conservative Democratic
party. a-l Is, e3.-H s5 a'sst
|: Under iinaryYcircumstances it would be
peculiarly gratifying t" me to participate in
the festivities OF that occasion, and TO enjoy
'.the feast of reason and flow of soul' whlcl
doubt not, will give zes, TO your entertain
mcnt. But situated as an,-disffanchistt
as a citizen, denied the political privileges
which are accorded to my negro servant
repcllrd from The hall of the House of Rep.
rpSentativcs, to which was elected almost
hy acclamaton my native State. the pr"ud
old mother of Washington, aud Henry, and
Jefferson, unrecognized save as Military
District No. IL must confess would fee
sones hat out of place AT your board.'e
la former days, when visited Washing
ton as the representative If t'le people, or az
the associate OF Webster, Cr;,i,ndon ant
Corwin, iii the executive councils Of the ma,
ton, felt that, ia the eye Of thefla a
tast / was the peer Of the lofticst in the
land. ] was privileged to think freely ane
to speak freely on all matters ofpublic con
Germ Were l tojoin your circle now
should feel painfully conscious Of the differ
enre, between your position and mine. NJ
military order can inusign you toa dungeon
beyond the reach Of h"beos corpus, aud II.
persuasive bayoneis a'inofish you to spcal
with dated breath. % With me the cas'
might he different But be that as it may
while Virginia mourus I cannot rejoice
While the cypress encirclcs her brow can
not twine the myrtle round my own. a
But may | not hope that the present con
| diti"n Of things is temporary? Ii | do no
lnisinterpret the signs Of the times, the. .da.
i near at hand WHEN, by the mandate, Of !
nagrianimous people, the sl.ackles will b
stricken from the limbs Of Virginia. am
her Southern sisters. and there shall be civ
en- mt" them beauty for ashes, the oil q
joy for mourning, and the garment Of prais
| for The spirit of hcaviness" When tina
glorious day shall have arrived shall y
| happy to meet you and your fellow, patriot
around The festive board and on behalf 9
! Virginia TO offer a willing and hearty tribut
of gratitude to the noble Conservative Dem