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Staunton Spectator: March 19, 1861 Go To Page : 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |

Col. Baldwin's Report on Federal Relations
(Column 2)

Summary: Col. Baldwin (of Augusta Co.) issued a statement outlining several resolutions in his substitute for the majority report of the Committee on Federal Relations at the State Convention (see below for the Majority Report). According to Baldwin, the Convention should accept the amendments to the Constitution proposed by the Peace conference as an acceptable resolution of the current crisis. Second, the Convention should consult and act in concert with the other Border states. Third, any attempt at armed intervention in the seceded states will inevitably result in civil war, a war viewed as against the people and institutions of fifteen states to which "the people of Virginia cannot be inattentive or indifferent." The report makes clear that the conciliatory views of Virginia will change drastically if any military force is used to enforce Federal policies against the seceded states. Virginia will continue to pursue a peaceful redress of grievances within the Union as the Constitution provides.
(Names in announcement: Col. Baldwin)

A Southerner on Secession
(Column 3)

Summary: Quotes a letter from a Southern gentleman in Augusta, Georgia who says that, with taxes and tariffs rising under the Confederacy and the populace roaming about armed, the citizens of the South, if left alone for six months, would probably seek to re-enter the Union.

Full Text of Article:

A Southern gentleman who resides in Augusta, Ga., writes thus:--"If the South were merely let alone for six months, we would probably try at the next general election to get back. The new tariff will open both eyes and pockets; 3 to 4 cents per pound on cheese, 4 to 5 cents on butter, 2 to 2 1/2 cents on sugar, 2 1/2 to 25 cents on tobacco, affect every one, and that sensibly. Prices have advanced and are still ascending. Our regular army has 140 enlisted in this city, and as many in Savannah. Nine-tenths of our youth go constantly armed, and the common use of deadly weapons is quite disregarded. No control can be exercised over a lad after he is fourteen or fifteen. He becomes MR. So-and-so, and acknowledges no master. While our free trade doubles our tariff, our postal facilities will probably be raised to 10 or 25 cents, and off the immediate line of railways there will probably be at least one mail a week. Of course, therefore, we will like secession the better as we become the better acquainted with it!"

Majority Report on Federal Relations
(Column 4)

Summary: This article is a copy of the Majority Report of the Convention. The report of the Convention takes a more secessionist tone than the report of Col. Baldwin. The report makes it clear that Virginia will not tolerate disruptions in the institution of slavery and implies that compromises on the question of slavery in the Territories will have to be reached in order for Virginia to remain in the Union. The report also states that the Federal property in the seceded states actually belongs to those states. Thus, the jurisdiction over these properties rightfully reverts back to those states. The report states that enforcement of the fugitive slave laws are a prerequisite to any settlement. Any aggression against any seceded state will be considered an offensive against the Commonwealth of Virginia and will determine her future policy.

Patriotic Sentiments by Stephen Douglas
(Column 7)

Summary: A portion of a recent speech by Stephen Douglas where he implored Republicans to put aside party loyalties and vote to extend the line of the Missouri Compromise in order to save the Union.

Constitution of the New Confederacy
(Column 1)

Summary: Relates some of the features of the new Confederate Constitution. According to this document, suffrage will be limited to those of Confederate birth and state legislatures will have the right to impeach Confederate office holders. In addition, the institution of slavery is acknowledged and protected everywhere.

Mr. Skinner and Ten of His Supporters
(Column 1)

Summary: The last issue of the "Vindicator" contained correspondence between James H. Skinner and ten persons of Crab Bottom, who accused Skinner of being a secessionists. The Spectator believes that Skinner did not offer them a clear reply. Instead, "his amplification had the effect to obscure rather than elucidate."

The Secessionists Complaining
(Column 2)

Summary: Points out that the Secessionists, who insisted that a Convention be called, are now complaining about the Convention, which was carried by conservatives who did not favor disunion at this time. The secessionists "would not be satisfied until a Convention was called and they are not satisfied now that one has been called." The article states that the secessionist will only be satisfied in the event of war, which will force the Border States out of the Union.

Reference to the People
(Column 2)

Summary: The Spectator charges The Vindicator with switching positions, having before the call of the Convention been opposed to holding a popular vote on the subject of secession. Now that the Convention has supported unionism, the Vindicator believes that the Convention's resolutions should be put to a popular vote.

Full Text of Article:

In an editorial article advocating the propriety of referring the question of secession to the vote of the people, the last "Vindicator" says:

"This brings the question immediately before the people. We ask that they may act for themselves on this important question. They are honest and capable and patriotic, their interests are immediately concerned. Which member or members of the Convention will vote against this resolution, and record himself as fearing to trust the people in the management of their own business."

When the vote was taken on the 4th day of February last, for members of the Convention, and for or against referring to the people, the editor of the "Vindicator" voted AGAINST referring to the people. The people were as "honest and capable and patriotic" then as now, and "their interests were as immediately concerned". . . [text missing] . . . of the "Vindicator" voted AGAINST giving them an opportunity to vote upon the action of the Convention in which "their interests are immediately concerned," and by his own admission "recorded himself as fearing to trust the people in the management of their own business."

Beware of Traps
(Column 2)

Summary: Reports that, in the name of harmonizing the party, secessionist Democrats are trying to lure Union Democrats to take part in meetings under the banner of States-Rights Democracy. The Spectator warns Union men to beware of these meetings as they are an attempt to recruit for the secessionist cause.

Reports on Federal Relations
(Column 2)

Summary: Calls attention to the various reports that came out of the Committee on Federal Relations, including the majority report, signed by fourteen of twenty-one committee members. The Spectator maintains that the majority report has an "awful squinting" to the right of secession and prefers the report of Col. Baldwin.
(Names in announcement: Col. Baldwin)

[No Title]
(Column 2)

Summary: Item reports that Gov. Houston of Texas refuses to acknowledge the State Convention and opposes Texas' joining the Confederacy.

[No Title]
(Column 7)

Summary: Notes that Secretary of State Seward has informed the Commissioners of the Confederated States that the Government of the U.S. declines to receive them.

[No Title]
(Column 1)

Summary: Praises North Carolina, which has not only decided against secession at this time, but also against holding a Convention to that end. The item states that if all the Southern states had waited and sought joint counsel, all grievances would have been addressed within the Union.

Origin of Article: Alexandria Gazette