Staunton Vindicator

Points out that the border slaveholding states have carried out a great deal of internal improvements, especially in railroads. The collapse of these railroads in the event of a civil war would have a disastrous impact upon the currencies of the North.

The Baltimore Sun reports that Fort Sumpter is to be evacuated by the Federal government.

Details the method of importing slaves illegally. The trade goes through Havana, Cuba.

Reminds local Democrats that a meeting will be held to appoint delegates to the Congressional Convention in Harrisonburg. The Vindicator argues that the election in May will be a contest between State Rights and Federalism.

Criticizes the "submissionists" of the State Convention, who have agreed to hold a Border State Convention in Kentucky. The Vindicator believes that the members of the State Convention "are determined to make all they possibly can out of their present position."

Reminds voters that the Staunton election is next Wednesday week and urges the city authorities to fix the streets.

The Legislature has passed a bill creating the Southern Express Company, which will establish express lines through the Southern States. Harman and Ficklin are the incorporators.

The Vindicator once again urges voters to support the holding of a district Democratic Convention. The paper supports this course because it is angry at Congressman Harris, who is nominally a Democrat, but who has placed himself "above every consideration of party interest." Harris has adopted a policy that "cannot fail to demoralize and hopelessly break up our organization, and eventuate in turning the District over to the Opposition."

The Vindicator chides the Spectator for its expressed belief that a fusion will occur between Douglas and Bell supporters. The Vindicator argues that "Never was a delusion more complete."

In reply to the Spectator's statement that "'States-Rights Democracy' now means Secession," the Vindicator states that "submission means Black Republicanism."

The Laymen's Convention of the M.E. Church has declared itself in favor of the separation of the Baltimore Conference from the General Conference of the Church. The Vindicator believes that the ministry must follow the lead of the laymen.

Disputes an article from the Baltimore American, which claimed that the people in Staunton perceive the Methodists to be so abolitionist that the local preacher is "supported almost entirely by the contributions of the colored people."

Argues that the "pride and manhood of every Virginian" has been humiliated by the cowardly policies the state has adopted.

Replies to the Spectator, which criticized the Vindicator for changing its policy on putting the question of secession to the people. The Vindicator claims that it didn't support a popular referendum before Lincoln's inauguration because the time was so short. Now that Lincoln is in power and the State Convention is in session, however, the Vindicator wants the people to vote on the question.

Criticizes the Virginia Unionists for their repeated delays and failures to act. They first supported separate state action, then a Peace Conference, and then a Border State Conference. The Vindicator argues that these are all dodges, and the paper hopes that the people will "discard from their councils such miserable tricksters."

The Vindicator directs its readers' attention to the plan of ordinance for Virginia written by Hon. W.L. Goggin, the former Opposition candidate for governor. The paper supports the "tangible points in the proposition" and wonders if the Spectator will say the same.

Compares the Morrill tariff, recently adopted by the Federal Government, with the tariff policies adopted by the Confederacy. The former raises the prices of "every article of consumption used by the farming and laboring classes of Virginia" and protects the interests of Northern manufacturers. The latter reduces the taxes on goods by about one-fourth.

Argues that, as soon as the Morrill tariff goes into effect in the North and the Southern Confederacy is recognized by foreign nations, trade and specie will begin to flow into the South because of the Confederacy's lower tariffs on foreign goods.

Claims that the "Whig and Know Nothing fossils" in the State Convention don't want Virginia to unite with the Confederacy because they know that such a shift would destroy their political power.

Claims that the letter that the Spectator published purporting to be from Judge Robert Lyon of Abbeville, South Carolina was a "tissue of the most unmitigated falsehoods."

The Vindicator believes that George Rye of Shenandoah will be named the new U.S. Marshall for the Western District of Virginia. The paper fears that the Lincoln administration will use all its power and patronage to "abolitionize" the state.

Request that Bolivar Christian, a Whig, become a candidate for Congress.

Minutes of the third through eighth days of the meeting of the Baltimore Conference being held in Staunton. The new chapter on slavery was a prime topic of discussion, but the meeting had not yet come to any final decision by the eighth day.

Reprint of the resolution introduced by W.L. Goggin to the State Convention. The resolution states that, now that all of Virginia's efforts to restore friendly relations with the Federal Government have been rebuffed, the state of Virginia should leave the Union.

Reprint of the report of the Laymen's Convention of the Baltimore Conference of the M.E. Church. The report calls on the Baltimore Annual Conference to separate itself from the General Conference of the M.E. Church.

Married on March 14.

Mr. Seawright, former Justice of the Peace of Augusta county, died on March 4 at age 80.