Staunton Spectator

In our issue of the 20th of February we mentioned the fact that "a brigade of noble souls and gallant soldiers, about 2,000 in number, who not only perilled, but sacrificed their lives in defence of the South, were sleeping the sleep which knows no waking on the Cemetery Hill of this place," and urged upon our people the duty of subscribing money for the purpose of enclosing their graves in proper style, and decorating them with sod and flowers and shrubbery. We expected an immediate and satisfactory response, but are pained to confess that we were disappointed. These soldiers did their duty towards us when living, shall we fail to do our duty towards them, now that they are dead. When living, they performed their duty bravely, lagged not in the rear, but formed

"A picture in the foreground,

Nigh the flashing of the guns."

They will no more endure the "pelting of the pitiless storm" of leaden missiles, nor hear the stunning thunder of artillery, nor feel the terrible shock of contending hosts, for

"On Fame's eternal camping ground,

Their silent tents are spread,

And Glory guards with solemn round

The bivouac of the dead."

The appeal we made to the men in our issue of the 20th of February was unheeded, but it reached the willing cars, and touched the tender hearts of the women and we now feel confident that the object desired will be accomplished through their instrumentality. A committee of ladies of this place, representing every congregation in town has been organized for the purpose of securing subscriptions to defray the expense of enforcing the graves of those who were buried on the battle field at Piedmont, and bury them in the cemetery of this place. We hope the men will co-operate with this committee of ladies and give them the benefit of practical counsel.--Other towns and counties are performing their duty in this regard -- Staunton and Augusta must not be remiss.

In speaking of the Presidents message vetoing the civil rights bill, the Richmond Times says that the President has made another patriotic and determined effort to save the Constitution and the rights of the State from utter annihilation. The veto message is a powerful and noble argument, and in weight of logic and cogency of thought, fully sustains the high reputation won by the President at home and abroad by his former veto.

While the "civil rights bill," gainst which this veto is directed, is a far more dangerous and atrocious measure than that heretofore vetoed, we are by no means as confident as we have been of the power of the President to speedily and utterly demolish the strength of the Radical party. It must be to every patriotic citizen of the country a source of profound regret, that the President has not received in the free States that united, cordial and prompt support which was generally anticipated. While his patriotism and integrity are not questioned by any others than the "dirty ducks" of the Radical press, like Forney, Dana, Tilton and Greeley, the Radical influence with the Northern people is much greater than we had anticipated.

Notoriously hostile as that party is to the President's policy, it is giving at this time much fewer signs of disintegration and dissolution than it did a month hence. If the Radical party, of which Sumner and Stevens are the leaders, were not sustained by the masses at the North, the President's veto of the Freedmen's Bureau bill and his speech on the 23d of February would have long since shattered that party from capstone to foundation.

But recent State and municipal elections, the resolutions of various Legislatures, the tone of the Radical press, and the resolutions of various public meetings show that the influence of Congress is still very great with Northern people.

There is, too, upon the part of Congress, a rapidly increasing hostility to the President, which forebodes successful attempts, as no distant day, to pass bills which have been vetoed over the President's head.

In the Senate, especially, we behold an utterly lawless majority deliberately ejecting Senators whose votes are not in accordance with that majority's plans and wishes.

It was announced by a Radical Senator a few days ago, that a Republican Legislature in New Jersey was actually "meeting on their oars" until they could elect a Radical Senator in the place of Mr. Stockton, whose fate had been decided in caucus.

While no one can doubt the ultimate triumph of the President's policy, we can see at this time no indications of its speedy success.