The Orangeburg news. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1867-1875, 1870-01-29
Virginia Restored.

The bill for tho readmission of the
State Of Virginia to the Union was passed
in Congress, on the 22d.
The announcement of the fact was the
signal for great rejoicing ut Richmond
A salute of u hundred guns was fred in
honor. of the event. Several thousand
persons were present. National flags
We're raised on the capitol. Governor
Walker made speech congratula,ing
the people and predicting glorious fu-
tu,e for the State.
A'colored conservative made speech
to the same effect.
Concession after concession was made.
and Virginia is admitted, upon terms, to
the Union, of which, free soverei n,
she contributed SO largely to establish,
and which she adorned The "AIother
of Presidents" the home and the grave
OF Washington, subjected to terms, aud
permitted to return, to her allegiance to
her conquerors
Alas. days of yorc, notions of State
rights, obligations Of contracts rccogni-
tion ofrishts, of sovereigns, spirit of the
Constitution, alas all these, where arc
they? Echo answers, They are glim-
mering with the things that were. The
genius OF this Union, methinks, must
hover around the grave of Washington
as the whole theory aud fact of its cxis-
tence is associated with his name; aud
yet how unnatural, how passing strange
this spot, hallowed with its associations,
identified in its wrcathed memory of pa.
triotism, would be reduced to the status
of territory. Stripped of her SOW
eroign rights and prerogatiycs and hum
blcd conquered suppliant, Virginia
pleads of her conqucrors, and is read
mitted by their sufcrance, to the posi-
tion of her rights.
Changed, changed be thy device, Vir
ginia, and instead of defiance and tri
umph express in bcautcous and eloquent
symbol, the language of suppliancc and
appeal.
Instead Of the attitude of erect victo-
ry, thy heel upon the tyrnnt's neck, pros
tr'te, prone upon the arth; assume that
of supplication, knceling bring the re-
cord of thy devotion to the Union of the
past, bear in thy arms, and resting OH
thy bosom the urns, wherein the ashes
of thy. sons, the Presidents arc stored.
And around the eloquent device, be
engraven no longer the proud motto,
"'Thus to tyrants :" but changed, alas
let the circumscrirtion read: Vac Tc-
les !" Wo to the conquered!
How times change, and relative posi-
tions alter! The sovereign, the peer of
yesterday, becomes the suppliant of to-
day !ztThc wrong of yesterday is the
right to-day!
Pointing to the establishment of this
Union of States, this compact of SOW
ereigns, like thine own Washington,
"the first in war, the first in peace" re-
hearsing the history of thy country, of
which you may say, quorum magma
pars fui," let these plead for thee, Yir-
ginia, aad thy sister States, once tsy
equals, now thy eoDqaerors cannot resist
the appeal. They may impose condi-
tions, revolving to the logic of the past,
but still they will admit her.
Where is he now, who talks of love
for this great Union? Are not all its
tenderest, holiest, brightest associations
wleathed around Virginia; are not its
relics, its archives, deposited with her,
does not its great father sleep meath her
soil ? And yet, these lovers and perpet-
uators of their Union, would revel over
humiliation, would reduce her to con-
quered territory, would turn the spirit
and tenor of its Constitution, into an in
strument Of ruffian force, and apply its
keenest edge to her bosom.
Methinks this love for this great
Union, is the canting hlasphemy of the
holy name of patriotism The spirit of
this Union has departed, and its love is
changed to an unholy thing. Mono love
this Unionl Those States which have
coeyeed their sister States, love not the
Union, but they love the tribute of sup
plianee and Of vealth oxtor.ea from
them.
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OueI-y.