Virginia advocate. [volume] (Charlottesville, Va.) 1827-1860, 1829-11-20
CCMMpEECAT-OYys
FOR THE ADVOCATE.
TO THE CITIZENS OF ALBEMARLE.

TO THE CITIZENS OF ALBEMARLE
These are not times when men should adopt
this or that opinion because it is fashionable. Ii
becomes every man who loves his country, to
deliberate calmly-to resolve cautiously-and to
act firmly and fearcssly. One, who has right
by birth, by the ties of kindred feelings and in
terests,-by devoted attachment to your pros
perity and honor, TO call you his couDtrymen,-
would invoke you to pause, and to ponder well
the Importance of tho present crisis in our af-
fairs, before it is too late. The damon of dis
cord is busy in our land.-And his fell purposes
will he effected, if the people not alive to
the call o: patriotism. Tie dicision Of Tiry;na
IS a L1te suffice! OF remark in erory company,-
tie t"faL line Of separation is aiready drann IN
the detsG.ed ia:oginations Of many Let this
dreadful app rehcnsion be realized and the fair
prospects which dawned on our infant Republic,
are blighted forever. 1t will only remain for
history to rcciie tn, melancholy tale Of our
calamitics,-a for sou.a future patriot to drop
a tear on the memory of thu last Republic. Rest
assured that the partition vi Virginia. happen
when it may, will convnlsc this Union TO its GEN.
trc,- and with it the last buiwark of freedom i'll
the world. When the chief pillar of our Union
falls, the edifcc itself will toticr-its foundations
will be broken up and scattered to the winds
1t is your patrotsm-your cool intrepidity-
your calm sense of jus;ice-not your fears, your
prejudices or your passions, which must avert
these incalcrlabe evils, and save on. country
Yes fellow citizens, it IS to this district that the
eyes and the hopes vi Virginia are turncd-it is
for you, per.Inps to seal The dcsincs of the Com
n.onwealth, a'd settle the vital questions which
are agit"ied i'll Conventions. Will you discard
that lofty and DISTINGUISHED patriotism which has
heretofore distinguished you, and mingle in this
angry contest as partizaDs, latent only on gain
Ing speculative advantage for yourselves, at
the hazard OF your cauntrvs peacc-or will you
act the far nn5icr part of reconciliation will you
cast yourselves in the breach, and hold forth the
Olive bra;ch of mutual toi bearancc and ccmces-
sion to these contcnding parties? Will yon--
can you, forget that you Virg ADAMS, and
cherish the unnatural and nvidious distinctions
which arc already taking deep root ii, the pub
lie mind VIII you limit your devotion to your
country by IFS tides, its inountains-or will you
dlfiuse the benign influence of your attach
mert over every inch Of soil and every human
being that is sheltered under the broad mantle
iou "'' "'"' ''a' you nave Pecu"ar interests
a. S''"o, "'." mat ""'y requires y"" 70 protect
'"s''' inns 10 very rue h' h"''oie 'hdiVid
''' ""' "o'' 'fS'S l""' ""u'u DC u'''""g the last
- ''u,S'' 20" u" ""'''"'h Jour ''s"'S' oFS''ripk
noun .''o i''iH'''n''''e o. your ""''es' but you
s''o"'' ''S'o' WIN c"',''"S III" o'S.fuS'ul car
to tho tongue which tells you only of your local
"''" S'"'oS J"'' 'eH'S VI your prey"
u'eS " '''''"''oe' g""''F'oeS 'hy' @"a 10 forget
your c'""t'! rae" c'''"'u'.y IS "'a'' up oi
numerous interests al "i WHO" h'"st be oDJects
OF V'slan' protection I'd Sche'"e OF govern