Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1868-05-05
The Right Course.

guage, and open, bold cOnuuct. Nv n"u
should be able to plead the excuse tor remlss-
ness that he did not appreciate the issue or un-
derstand what it was his duty to do. The char
acter of those who will vote for, or abstain from
voting against, the ratification of the infamous
Constitution should be held up to the scorn OF
an indignant and outraged people. With the
Petersburg Inder, 1--WE take it for granted that
every man in Virginia, white or black, native
or emigrant, who has the interest of the State
at heart, sympathises with us In the great OBJ
iect which We wish to attain-that is, the res
toration of this State to the Union which our
fathers founded, with all its constitutional rights
in tact, and with the power to regulate the
question of franchise within its own borders.
If there were not negro in the State, 1t
would still be matter of vital Importance to
control the right of suffrage, free from Federal
interference. Otherwise, all municipal indie
pendence is but mockery and a farce.
Congress has created horde of pauper ne
gro electors, who, instigated and led by I'M
principled interlopers, are now endeavoring to
foist upon Virginia Constitution which wrests
from the hands of the taxpayers and property
holders of the State all control over its govern
ment and legislation A Constitution which,
if adopted, will fasten upon Virginia burden
intolerable, and too heavy to be borne, and
faint her whole social, moral and political life
with incurable leprosy
We would be recreant to our trust, it We did
not treat the aiders and abettors of this infa-
nous plot as public enemies.
| Those who would have US adapt our style to
the tone of an appeal to gentlemen and honest
men, should remember that argument and en-
treaty to the native traitors and foreign scala
wags, who infest the State, are as completely
thrown away as flea bite upon the hide of a
rhinoceros
| They are determined upon our ruin, if they
can effect it. They are even now aiming 9
deadly blow at US.
We do not intend to mollfy Radical wrath
or propitiate Republican patronage by base
surrender or compromise Of the cause of Vir
ginia.
We will cling to her in her fallen fortunes
with the love Of love. We will turn upon hel
enemies with the nate OF hate
We are not careful in this matter
There are crises in human affairs, when who
soever would save his life, shall lose it. Some
awful moment to which heaven has joined
great issues, for good or for evil, when the Gun
ming expediency Of the fox is poor substitute
for the courage of the ''Lon of the tribe O
Judah, beleaguered by the hounds of hell"
We are here to speak for the proud, pure
women of Virginia, who would make her thu
ideal of perfect State, where every man i
brave, and every woman is virtuous.
We arc here to speak for the fatherless ant
the widow, who have been bcqueathed to ou
care-who have waited long for the footstep o
the unreturning brave, which larry, and do no
come.
We speak for Virginia Her cause is GU
cause. Her people our people, and her Col
our GOD.
She struggles with the storms of fate annie
the yeast of waters. We will rise With he
bright on the crest of the wave, or sink witt
her dark in the trough of the sea.
Not line have We written in her caus
which, dying, We would wish to biots for it i
the cause of Truth, and we will plead it in th
clarion voice of Liberty or be silent forever.
1t is cause which will survive the mutsbil
ity of passing events, and among the pleasan
memories of our past, will be the recollection
that we helped to gibbet upon the scaffold Of
common infamy, the knaves who assailed, ant
the dastards who deserted it.
The New York Times, leading Republican
paper, takes it for granted that the infamou
Constitution submitted by the aaongrel Conven
ton in this State will be defeated. 1t think
that it ought to be rejected 1t is, says tn
Times, Insulting to the white population"
is designed as means of keeping the Stat
forever in negro hands, Now, what woul
the Times. or thousands of other decent Re
publicans-to say nothing Of the millions @
Conservatives, North--think of us if we shoul
ratify this yillainous scheme TO bring "degra
dation and bondage on the white e,tNeps Q
Virginia." What would the world think G
us ?-and what would we think of ourselves ?
These are the questions for us to ask ourselves
regardless Of all others. Let Us not be conten
with anything short of the most Overwhelming
majority against this covenant with death an'
agreement with hell"
The declared purpose Of the suffrage section
of the proposed Constitution is to ensure fo
the negro party good working majority. -
White people of Virginia. strike blow to aver
such destructive fate by VOTING AGAINS,
THE CONSTITUTION.
Buffers fame surrounds him with an atmos
phere of reproaches wherever he goes. At tn
theatre in Washington the other night Their
were loud cries of ''Butler!" ''Butler!' be
cause sone reference had been made to spoons
Yesterday, in the Senate Mr.. Nelson declined
to hand document to him unless the Beas