Staunton Spectator

Our Domestic Interests

Let the people of Virginia and the South
address themselves to their material interests
and development. There is nothing to attract
us in the direction of Federal politics. There
is nothing we can do in that quarter to promote
either our own or the general interests. Nothing
is proposed to us which is worth our seeking.
The dominant party have determined to
keep the country unsettled, and exposed to all
the dangers which attend a people divided into
hostile bodies. Let them take the whole responsibility and bear the whole blame. The
representation in Congress, which they hold out
to us, on impossible or vague conditions, and
which retreats as we pursue it, like the rainbow, is, like the rainbow, only a painted fog.—
The fabled bag of gold is not to be found even
could the shadow be grasped. In the first place
our representation, already inadequate to afford
us any protection, is to be cut down below our
just number under the Constitution. In the
second place, it is to be confined to men who
can take the test-oath, and who would therefore
be no representatives at all. Unavailing for the
first reason, and pernicious because of the second, let us not trouble ourselves about it.

We might be the worse for having even an
honest representation. We would share the
responsibilities but not the powers of the Federal authority. The presence of our representatives might be made the excuse for additional
tyrranies. Any manly word uttered in debate
would be made the occasion for fresh vituperations and displays of hostility. We should be
there only to be voted down and to quarrel.

It does not seem possible for us, however circumspect or considerate, to take any part in
Federal politics, without being met, under one
artifice or another, and through one treachery
or another, by a united North;—and the great
questions of truth and justice and faith and
statesmanship, which the North owes it to its
own credit and honor to settle fairly, are quickly obscured and overridden by the clamors directed against us. The recent treachery of
Raymond and of the Herald should bring to
our minds our past experiences. Greeley and
Sickles and Cochrane deluded and betrayed us
by their encouragements to secession. Raymond and Bennett have deceived us with the
Philadelphia Convention, and then betrayed us
by abandoning that movement after committing us to it.

We are ready to perform our part in the constitutional system, and to discharge every duty
faithfully and loyally. We frankly demand our
rights as equal members of the Union, and we
plainly protest against their denial. We will
have no part and lend no sanction, where outrages are to be perpetrated. We will submit
with whatever of philosophy and patience we
can command, to the revolutionary proceedings
which we cannot prevent; but we will leave the
whole responsibility where it belongs, both for
the present evils, and for that future ruin which
sooner or later overtakes a country whose government commits the folly of maintaining a
state of alienation and hostility among the several divisions of its people. The stronger party
may feel safe in oppressing and alienating and
embittering the weak; but history teaches to
oppressors no lesson more plainly, than that
times bring opportunities, its retributions, and
its revenges. Let those who are providing the
future trouble, bear all its blame. As we cannot prevent it,—as all our attempts to do so,
but aggravate the danger—let us with a solemn
and dignified protest, turn to our local matters;
let us look to our farms, our workshops, our
State interests, our social development and happiness, and wait the coming of the day when
passion shall have exhausted itself, and even
malice shall have learned shame. We can do
much more for our happiness than we may suppose. Representation would not grow harvests for us,—non-representation will not prevent them from growing. The Cubans are the
most
oppressed and heaviest taxed people in Christendom, and yet none are thriftier and richer.
Let us fight thistles instead of Thad. Stevens,
and study the laws and the constitution of Nature which will never deceive us, but infallibly
rewards toil with treasure, and the sower with
sheaves.—Enquirer.