Virginia advocate. [volume] (Charlottesville, Va.) 1827-1860, 1830-08-06
T. p. BARBOURS SPEECH

At dinner given to him at Lynchburg on
the 18th ult. while on visit to his relatives
ncar that place. Although we may seem
rather tardy in putting it on record, and tho
many of our readers have already read
al nd admired it = yet. as early as circum-
stances would permit. we take pleasure in
enrching our columns with the production of
| a gentleman, whose public course has been
marked by spotless integrity and ackno wledg.
ed ability.
Ater the 9Th toast" The Hon. Philip
Pcndlq,on Barbour. The general well
fare" his end measures, strictly limited by
the Constitution, his means the appreciation
and gratitude of his coun,rymen, his re.
ward"-was given, Mr. Barbour rose and
made the following remarks:
Mr.. President and Gentlemen:
rise TO return my CORDIAL thanks, not in
form, but i'll sincerity of heart, for the
favorable opinion which you have just
expressed.
know of nothing which can be so
gratifying to public man as the APP
probation of his country. 1t is at once
the great object Of his pursuit, the hop
ed tor reward of all his tolls, and the
incentive TO every virtuous action.
10 attain this, is enough TO fill the
measure of any mans ambition-to for
Ieit II, is punishment enough for almost
any dereliclion of duty.
Judge. then, how highly appreciate
this voluntary proof of your unexpected
appro5ation-I say unexpected; be-
cause l am stranger among you.
And, what adds to its value is, that this
grateful Offering is attended ~ gene
rous, warm hearted hospitality.
| Occasions like the present furnish
new motives to exertion, because they
demonstrate, that, SO far from the peo-
pie being ungrate!ul, they, with notle
lIberaiity OF feeling, are ready to do
more than justice TO those who are em-
| ployed In their service.
| Who is there, then, standing iii this
relation who does not feel an irresisti-
bic impulse to be just and fear not?'
Who does not say to himself, " Let all
the ends thou aim'st at be. thy coun-
try's!" 1t would be out of place here
to enter INTO discussion OF what is
commonly called party politics There
happily prevails III this land 4 political
as well as religious liberation, which
makes every man as free as the air he
| breathes, III vindicat,on of his favorite
men aud measures; but these topics
become not the festive board. Although,
In relation to these, we all have our
preference; yet | am sure we shall all
unite in some general principles. upon
the maintenance of which, essentially
depend the happiness and prosperity OF
your COMMON county.
The system of government under
which we live is a great, nay, sub
lime moral spectacle, exhibited to the
would, formidable to the monarchs of
the earth, because " there is a daily
! beauty III IT., which makes them ugly"
1t Is, however, in its nature, unavolda-
oily complicated it proposes To attain
two objects which are elsewhere deemed
to be incompalible-hberty at home,
| and strength and energy abroad. To
effect this, the power OF the people is
distributed between two sets Of agents.
10 the one are given in charge the in
teIests OF the whole, as a whole; to the
others. respectively, the interest of the
several parts. To the people belongs
, the high power of supervising these
agents, and of calling them to account.
Aud let me tell you, gentlemen. that no
matter TO what party weNnay belong,
no matter under what banner we may
| fight, we owe it TO ourselves and our
dearest interesls-we owe 1t to mau-
Kind and posterlty-to guard with
sleepless vigilance, and preserve invio-
late, the boundaries between our Fede-
raj and State authorities. Each within
Its appropriate orbit, is as necessary TO
the healthiul and regular action of the
body polite, as the circulation of the
blood is 10 the natural body-Enter,
shot madly from Its sphere, will de-
range the whole political system. If,
Tor example, the Federal government
! should cross its constitutional barrier,
and impInge upon the jurisdiction OF
'''N o'"'SoJ W WIG eAV'SiSC VI iOCdi anu
municipal powers, must 1t not strike all
who hear me that the diversified and
conflicting interests OF twenty-iour
States cannot be accommodated in any
one act OF local legislation? Must it
not inevitably happen that in this way
tho interests Of some States will be ad-
yanced while those of others will be sa-
crItice6 ? Amongst men and commu-
mites OF men, strong feeling of injus-
uce will oveJpower every other cousi-
deraiion controversies will arise be-
tween the Federal Government and the
States, parties who have no common
arbncr And who shall decide then
1t is the duty of every man who loves
lIIs cnIInirY To nhuis to Lh,S ..ax.I.....-