Staunton Vindicator

The Ordinance of Freedom.

The Ordinance which has been passed by the Virginia Convention, and which the People will be called upon to ratify on the fourth Thursday in this month, is commonly designated as "the Ordinance of Secession." Let no man be induced to vote against it because of party prejudices against the name. It is in fact an ordinance of separation. It simply provides that we shall no longer live in Union with them. Those Northern States have refused to keep the faith which their fathers plighted to our fathers; they first endeavored to rob us of our rights by electing men who were pledged to administer the government to our ruin. Virginia implored them to desist from their purposes. Virginia urged them to concede terms under which she might continue to live in union with them., but they turned a deaf ear to her entreaties, and are now in arms to reduce us to subjects. Seeing this, the Convention of Virginia have ordained that Virginia shall be free from the tyranny sought to be imposed upon her by the Northern States. Is there a freeman in Augusta who will vote against that ordinance and declare himself willing to be enslaved by the North? An answer will be given on the day of the election.

Beware.

While many of our young men and middle-aged are at Harper's Ferry to resist invasion of Virginia soil by the minions of Lincoln, we hear that there are a few men in the Valley who are still talking about the "Union." We look upon such conduct as treason, and deserving the halter. Any man who now votes against the separation of Virginia from the Northern States, records himself an enemy of Virginia, and virtually invest the myrmidons of Black Republican power to march upon and murder our brave soldiers now facing death in defense of our rights. There can be no other interpretation given to action of that character. Every such vote is a declaration of hostility to Virginia and the South; and should be so dealt with. Mark the prediction: the man who casts his suffrage against the Ordinance of Separation, will regret it as long as he lives, and posterity will curse his children. Beware, people of Virginia, how you vote on Thursday next.

Hon. A.H.H. Stuart's Position.

Staunton, May 13, 1861.

Hon. A.H.H. Stuart:

Sir:--As it is represented that diversity of sentiment exists in some portions of Western Virginia as to the course proper to be taken in regard to ratifying or rejecting the Ordinance of Secession, and as we have reason to believe that many of your constituents would place much confidence in your opinions on the subject, we respectfully ask that you will express them in writing with a view to their immediate publication.

Your friends and fellow citizens.

R. Turk, Jno. M. Lilly, R. Hawkins, D.J. Bumgardner, J.R. Bell, Jno. Newton, A.M. Hawpe, H.M. Bell, H.H. Peck, W.W. Donaghe, A.J. Garber, E.M. Taylor, R. Mauzy, J.N. Hendren, J.A. Waddell, H.W. Sheffey, Wm. P. Tate, William Kinney, N.K. Trout, J. Wayt, Jas. C. Cochran, Fras. T. Stribling, S.B. Finley, G.M. Cochran, Lucas P. Thompson.

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Staunton, May 13, 1861.

Gentlemen:--I have had the honor to receive your note of this morning, asking me to express "my opinion in writing," as to the course which the people of Augusta ought to pursue in regard to the ratification or rejection of the Ordinance of Secession with a view to its publication. I hasten to reply to it, and as the editor informs me his columns are very much occupied, my answer must necessarily be brief.

You all know I was a devoted friend of the Union. I was educated in the belief that it was the palladium of our liberties, and the best security for our rights at home and abroad. As such I cherished for it a cordial, habitual, and almost immovable attachment. I thought it unwise for Virginia to secede when she did. I believed that the proposed Border State Conference would probably lead to a peaceful and satisfactory settlement of our difficulties. But my counsels did not prevail, and the rash and ill-advised proclamation of President Lincoln has induced Virginia, through her Convention, to adopt an Ordinance of Secession.

The question now presents itself, what course our people should adopt in regard to the Ordinance. In my judgment, it is the duty of all good citizens to stand by the action of the State. It is no time for crimination or recrimination. We cannot stop now to enquire who brought the troubles upon us, or why. It is enough to know that they are upon us, and we must meet them like men. We must stand shoulder to shoulder. Our State is threatened with invasion, and we must repel them as best we can.

The only way to preserve peace is to present a united front. If we show divisions among ourselves, the enemy will be encouraged by them, and make them the pretext for sending armies into our borders for the purpose of sustaining the bands of the disaffected. Our true policy, then, is to stand together as one man in the hour of danger, and leave our family feuds to be adjusted after the contest is over.

Very respectfully,

Your ob't servant,

Alex. H. H. Stuart.

Suspicious.

Dr. Wm. Miller, formerly of Rockingham, and now of Baltimore, stopped at Waynesboro Thursday morning and delivered himself of very obnoxious sentiments, declaring that Lincoln was right and his Administration was Washington-like. The citizens became very much excited and were about to administer summary punishment, when the intervention of several gentlemen prevented it. He was ordered off, as we are informed, which he obeyed. Mr. Miller practices Dentistry, and has for years visited the counties of Rockingham, Augusta and Albemarle, where he is well known.