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

t.
IN Congress, on the 22d.
The announcement of the fact was tn
signal for great rejoicing ut Richmond
A salute of u hundred guns was fired il
honoriof the event. Several thousans
persons We're present National flag
were raised on the capitol Governo
Walker made a speech congratula.iut
the people and predicting glorious flu
tu,e for the State. .a>
Acolored conservative made a speech
to the same effect
Concession after concession was made
aud Virginia is admitted, upon terms t.
the Union, of which, free soverei n
she contributed SO largely to establish
and which she adorned. The another
of President" J" 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, recogni-
ton OF rights, of sovereigns, spirit of the
Consultation, alas all these, where arc
they? Echo answers, They are glim-
mcring with the things that were. The
genius of this Union, methinks, must
hover around the grave of Washington ;
as the whole theory and fact of it's exis-
tence is associated with his name; and
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
ereign rights and prerogativcs and hum
blcd conquered suppliant, Virginia
pleads of her conquerors, and is read
mitted by their sufferance, to the posi-
tion of her rights.
Changed, changed be thy device, Vir-
ginia, and instead of defiance and tri.
umph, express in bcauteous 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
trate, prone upon the earth; assume that
OF supplication, kneeling 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
lot the circumscription read "Tae T.c-
tes !" Wo to the conquered!
How times change, and relative posi-
tions alter The sovereign, the peer of
yesterday, becomes the suppliant of to-
day 1.-the 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 FIJI" let these plead for thee, Vir-
ginia, aad thy sister States, once thy
equals, now thy eoDquerors 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
w,eathed 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-
untors of their Union, would revel over
humiliation, would reduce her to con-
quered territory, would turn the spirit
and tenor of it's 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 Union Those States which have
coerced their sister States, love not the
Up:9s, but they 'aya the tribute Of sup.
pliance and of wealth extorted from
them.