The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1826-05-15
~LYNCHBURG MAY u. lagG.

were expressed, when the sketch of Mr..
handolph's unique speech. published IN
thu Nnginian last week, > fret appeared, AS
10 the fact Of IFS correctness. We wee
Inclined 70 think il somewhat Of a carira.
tnfe but we see so many eoncurrire wi.
dences OF It's authenticity, IN letters from
Washington published almost slmnlf9ne.
o"sly in different ard distant parts of the
Union, that Ne can no longer hesitate to
give II credence. II IS no doubt a correct
sample of the whole speech.
! QT' We committed an error IN our last
No in saying that the Baptist As.ocia.
ton commenced IFS session on the eo,b
inst. We should have said tn. 27lh.
~-s0s.-
u Men of Acknowledged political 81.
eaelty, and nf nnrquivocal honesty. have
always been divided in opiniun as IT, tn,
utllty OF encouraging the existence of pqr
Ties in a Republic. They who have main
tanned the affirmative ofthp question, h.>.
coni"nd'd, with no littlr plauslbilry, that
the watchtnlness of thr minori,, will al
ways b" an e%firctuaI suard against IN,
corruptions of the maioriiy that, being
excluded by Their numerical wpakne,.
from any participation in affairs Of govern.
ment, they would bling to the considera-
ton OF all great questions of policy no,
only maturcd hut dispass,onare judgments,
checking the enthnsiasm of thrlr probe.
tors, and pointing nut errors into Niich
that enthusiasm might betray them. Whrn
II has been objected, that, parties are not
SO often based upon principle as prejudice
that passion has general. more infu-
cnce on THEN conduct than ~reason--ilIat
they decide for aud aglinst measures not
because they are lntrlnslrally ught ~
wrong, but because they originate with A
or u that they act upon the perniclous
maxim that the oots must oppose the ms,
and that their opposition is guided by ~
Dictate of Justice, aud graduated By no con
slderatlons of d~eccncy ; Ne confrss that II,
are among these who have not yet brough,
ourselves Ia a conviction of the utilit, of
party sptrit. Som" rrctltss spirits, who
anguish IN Inactivity, when The horizon j.
serene, and when no forrbodinss ola com
ing tempest are d~lscerned, deprccatr u
political calm as the %forerunner if not tn,
cause OF that lethargy generally deemed
so fatal TO liberty ; l. consequently delight
IN the outrageous and not ~unfrcqusnlly
dissracefnl scenes of party strife. Tbr,
prefer what they are pleased to call The
I" whirlwiod ofllherty 10 the calm Of des-
potlsm." And we should ccrtalnI, make
a similar choice if we could be convinced
that slavery was necessary consequence
OF peace, or that liberty wax the natural
growth Of turbulence and violence. But,
until we can he convinced of this fact -
uutli the History Of nations can be adduc
ed To support these assumed axioms, ""
shall adhere TO our present opinion, aod
act upon it. It IS this hat all p~arties form
Cd tn moments Of anger and d,sagpoint-
ment, hapinr for thar object the proatra-
ten Of poliiieat %riUais, and for this yp
pose JormlaE n un1on u persynS Whoae
whole interior conduct lad demonst,a tea
TINT they had noJeelings, opinions or prin-
cipleS IN common, are diSgraccfA IN them
@setres, and necessarily detrimental 10 the
interests of the nation. Such an opposi-
ton IS that which, during the present Sea-
sion of Congress, has exhibited its front
at Washington, and given the watcAword
to its scattered forces throughout the L
Mon. Is it possible to doubt this, when W.
see associated together in the laudaLie
work of tearing down the administration,
men who have never acted together for a
ny other purpose ? who even now, with
this great object. so dear to them al, in
view, cannot move on peaCeably together
To It's contamination, but snarl and snap at
each other IN the way We submit it to
the wisdom of the many honest and un-
suspecting individuals who have been in
weighed INTO this opposition. whether they
have n'tbeen compelled to suspect the pu-
rity of the motives of individuals WHO
thus, for the qualification Of their ambition
or revenge, war against principles, which
most, ifnot all ofthem, have at SOME time
of their lives, either openly advocated o.
tacitIy sanctioned? We appeal to their
candor TO say, whether the admioisira-
ton is not more worthy of confidence aud