Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1830-04-26
,yNCHBURG. APRIL 20, 1880.

,g,,,ons Birth Day.-We shall content
.,a.lves with very few observations on the
oaeean. al Washington since, In bur esti-
.,;,n. II carries on its face much more for
.,hle comment than any which words can con-
- We will premise, however, that no man
:, The wide Universe is warmer admirer than
ourselves of the political principles Of Thomas
,.g.rson-We, indeed, go much farther than
,our newly made disciples of his school. We
ma, only believe, as they profess to do, that the
federal Government is one of limited powers,
IN, we Also believe. as he frequently declared,
dat the States have their prescribed orbits
likewise, beyond which, If they go, they Com.
;,tbe same VIC lence on the federal compact
that the general government does when it as
,anes Jurisdiction over The soil, or exercises
,ny other doubtful power. But who believes
mat reverence for these principles we're felt by
,be projectors of the Washington dinner :
That il might have been by P. 7. Barbour,
1,b, Roane. and few other such men, who
have abded by thess principles e through
GOOD and through evil report. there can be no
donbt. But did Hayne, who has himself voted
for the exercise, 10y The general government, of
all the doubtful powers il has usurped Did
Benton, or Rowan, or insham, or Eaton, or
Yam Buren, or Calhoun, or McDIfle, and so
an almost TO the end of the chapter, who have
no their votes, at several periods, sanctioned
me creates, stretches of power which the gene
raj government has ever claimed 70 exercise?
They who believe il, are blessed with most
hsnpy credulily. We have now before US, re-
ce,ed by the last mail, the ST. Louis Times, Ia
Jackson paper) accusing Col Benton with hav.
ing spostatzed from his former creed, in rela-
tion TO this very subject. Hear what II says
u That MIR. Benton should neglect even the
smallest matter in relation to internal improve.
men,s. NAV be thought little strange TO some
Of our readers bu, when they are informed,
that ne has, as to this great question, turned
complete somerset, and sci has sGaLto the South
ern breeze, for political purposes, his shence
IN The sahject of the great road, may he
accounted for. 1t is well known, that when
Mr. Benton was in alliance with Mr.. Clay, he
,xss the clamorous advocate of the tdrit. and
of the right Of the general government 10 force
a,ystem of Internal improvements upos the
States F.; and it is equally certain, that ne rs nop
opposed to both. Ii he was right in one case,
he is uaquestionably wrong in the other /; and
such sudden changes, NJ least, give GOOD
grounds to suspect the purity oil the mo
lives which produced them. and go great way
20 confirm the opinion, thst whatever MIR. Ben
ton does for Missouri, is only intended to buoy
him upon the political tide. until some con
venient season, when he will lriumpban'ly float
off to Virginia and leave Us TO make our own
roads without his assistance"
And such are the men who are attempting
10 play OFF upon the people the deepest game OF
hypocrisy that ever lured them onward TO
their ruin Such are the men who, with an as
tonishing mpudence, preach up doctrines, the
very reverse Of those by which they have been
heretofore guided, without giving ATTY reason
for the change of their opinion indeed, who
deny that there has been any change, and who
affirm that " coatrnrieS are ideatieGt and that
the straight tine of consistency is as sinuous
and serpea,iue as the line OF beauty"
But, it may be asked, ifthe Dinner was not
intended to do reverence TO the principles OF
MIR Jefferson, what vas its object Its oojec
may be discovered b, readinS Mr. Benton's
speech. He and his cunning associates lore
saw how happily they might turn to Their al
vantage The fact, that the " birthday Of him
who acquired Louisiana, was tirss celebrated
under The administration Of him who defended
ii" We pray the reader TO turn TO the Speech,
and he will admire the skill with which the
Missouri ma gician deals in the occult sciences
and see how sdrohlly he traces mysterious Of
feet 10 a still more mysterious cause. How
wonderful" he exclaims How full OF
meaning, that il never should have been
thought OF until noao :" Now, plain man,
like ourselves, who cannot read the stars, nor
interpret signs and mysteries, will see nothing
in this surprising circumstances but the TACK o.
the conjuror, who, like skilful juggIer, has
doubtless chosen his time and his agents most
aptly, that il might look like magic. and make
the wondering multitude cape and stare in
speechless astonishment. But, the conjuror
nius' oe uhWaskeo we, eVeh We,oa" 'o'' WI
Benton why MIR. Jeffersons Birth day has not
been celebrated before this year-SimpIy, De
cause he day Use # oas not before kno~" Thus
all the mystery is explained, and thus falls the
pretty castle of magic condolences, which the
fertile imag ination of the Senator from Missou-
a erected on this fact.
will be recollected that Mr.. JefTerson's
Memoirs were not published until towards the
close of las, year and we fad in that work, a
letter from Mr.. J. to Levi Lincoln (the present
Governor of Massachusetts dated " Monticet-
10, august 80, ls0s," containing the following
sentence: With respect to the day on which
they wish TO fix their anniversary. they may be