Staunton Spectator

Peace and Reaction

In an article upon this subject, the Petersburg Index says: "The Republican party has for five years endeavored, in its own way, to restore to the country unity and peace. It has failed. It is the sword-sustained Southern governments, the destroyed Southern labor, the hybrid Southern administrations, the subordination of Southern capital to irresponsible vagrant bonds, the entrustment of political power in the South to a horde of ignorant brutes-it is these things which have given rise to all the late National troubles; for in accomplishment of these results the Republican party, represented by Congress, has disregarded the Constitution, depleted the Treasury, muzzled the Supreme Court, disarmed the Presidency, and done all those other acts of usurpation which have made of peace, war, and of hope, despair. Having brought the country to the verge of ruin, it asks for an extension of power in which to complete it-it asks for peace where there is no peace, and deprecates reaction as dangerous-why? Simply because in reaction is the grave of Radicalism, and the cradle of newborn freedom."

The Democracy of the land has entrusted to it the duty of obtaining Peace. That is the boon for which it has longed throughout these weary years, while Radicalism has been making war upon all that was worth preserving of our Republican institutions. It is to obtain Peace that we enter the lists, and nothing but a return to a Constitutional basis will ever bring the consummation so devoutly to be wished.

It will not satisfy Democracy to secure control of the Government merely to leniently execute unconstitutional Radical measures.

It will not satisfy Democracy to come into possession of and perpetuate a Union pinned together by Radical bayonets.

It will not satisfy Democracy to administer Radical theories, to put a new Sinbad on the Southern neck, and to win the privilege of experiencing all the consequences of uncorrected Radical mistakes.

It will not satisfy Democracy to inherit negro suffrage from the dead Radicals, and to control a black man's vote in that Hall in which Douglas declared that this was a white man's government, formed by white men, for white men and their children forever.

It will not satisfy Democracy to hold the offices of the country while the South writhes under the heel of a deposed tyrant, and is ruled by a radically enthroned negro oligarchy.

No! No! NO. A thousand times NO.

We will gain Peace by Reaction which shall remove the leprosy from the afflicted South. We must undo all that has been wrongly done. We must go back to the very day and moment when the Constitution was disregarded, and begin anew-to build up a Union of law, of love, of peace, and of permanence, with the great Charter for its corner stone.

If such be not the purpose, avowed and resolute, with which Democracy shall enter the field, it ought to and will be beaten, and we shall have neither Reaction nor Peace.