Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1830-01-11

in the House OF Delegates, what man ever
heard that the memhnis--i speak OF them. OF
course, ia the aggregate thai the members
were too young Yet, even ihere-iti is 10 be
declared. that all men WHO might be elected 10
that body between the ages OF 81 and "a are To
be misunderstanding as regards the Senate
all between The ages Of 81 and 30. Yes. Sir,
mot only the spring and seed time, bot the
summer and harvest of life--ihat delightful sea
son which neither you, sir. nor can never REGAL
the dearest and The best Pc 'tion OF our lives
during this period OF nine years, the very prime
of human life-men are 10 be DISTINGUISHED.
And for what For a political mea grlm a
freak. No evil is suggested The case is ceI-
tainly very rare that man under 80 is elected
a member OF the Senate IL will then be said,
there is no priraton. and, therefore, no injury.
But, Sir, there is a wide difference between a
mans being not ected, and fJn6a menla
law stamping a Stigma upon him " which he
is excluded from the noblest privilege 10 which
no merit or exertion on his part can restore
him. But all this, suppose, is in obedience TO
the all prevailing principle that poL popuh poE
del aye, sir-,he all prevailing principle thai
Numbers, and Numbers alone, are to regulate
all things in political society, in ,he very teeth
of those abstract natural rights OF man. which
constitute the only shadow OF claim TO exercise
this mOnstrous tyranny.
With these general remarks, permit me TO
attempt--N am afraid il will prove an abortive
auempO TO say something on the observations
Of other gentlemen; TO which have given the
most profound attention | am capable Of Sir,
| have no other preparation for this task than n
most patient attention to what ha, been said
here, and in the Committee, of which | was
member, and deep, intense, aud almost annihi
lating thought on the subjects before us. This
is all The preparation that | have made. |
cannot follow the example which has been set
me. cannot 60 into the history of my past
lite, or defend my political consistency here or
elsewhere viii mol do this for this reason
| have always held l,unwi.e 10 plead ill | am
arragned--and arraisned before a uib NAL
having competent aud ample jurisdiction. My
political Consistency requires 40 such defence.
My claim 10 repnb'icanism rests on no patent
taken oft yesterday or 20 be taken out to-
morrow. My life ,'sel f is my only voucher,
life spent for 80 years in the service Of the
most grateful of constituents
The gentleman from A ieusta, who occupies
SO large a space, both in the time and in tue
eye of the House has told US that he fought
calamity by iha sile of his noble friend from
{ hes erfsld, s. long as victory was possible,
and that it was not until he was conquered that
he grounded his arms The gentleman farther
10 Id US that, finding his native country and his
early friends on this side the mountain, on
whose behalf he had wAged thar gallant war;
he found he heSitated what part 10 take not0.
until he found his constituents, aye, sir.-and
more than that, his property we're on the other
s de,-and'he has taken ms course accordingly.
Wei sir, and viii he not allow, our part,
that some consideration is due to our cOnsit-
uenls, although they happen TO be our neigh
bors, OF to our property although We reside
Opon ii Ale either or both Iess dear on that
account
But. sir, put il to the Committee, whether
the < ntieman is moi mistaken IN poinl al ldct
whether the victory is indeed won Every one,
t b sure, is the hest 'dge whether he 10
beaten or hot. But pu, it 10 the gentleman
himself whether, II re were now fighting
along side OF his noble iriend rom Cues er6elf,
the scale mi ht not possibly turn the other
way 7 No man. however, is compelled to fight
after he feels himself vanquiShed.
Sir, mean 10 timed pleasantly, either as
it regards the place where it is uttered, the
person to whom II refers, and least OF all, as II
respects him by whom the remark Is AIDE
when say, that IN this prudent resolution Of
the gentleman from Angus a, he could not
have been exceeded in caution and forecast by
a certain renowned Captain Dugad Ddgeuy
himself Sir, the war being ended, he takes
service on the other side the scrplre having
passed from Judah, the gentleman stretches out
his 'rm from Richmond to Roekb'h Gap, io
and clutch ii in ills passage.
Among various other observations with
which be favored he Committee, he protested
with great earnesness against opinions relating
to the Federal Government or its administration
beir & introduced here.
SIR, the gentleman is TOO great lawyer not
to know that tho Federal Government is Ou'
Government 1T is the Government # NT-i-
MIA land if a man were disposed to shut his
eyes TO the Constitution and the admin tratlon
Of the Federal Government, he could not do II
they would be forced open sir, by the interests,
and feelings, ave. and by The passions too which
have existed. do exist and viii continue TO exist
as long as Virginia herself shall have e1iS
tence
1t is not the least of my regrets that one of
the most inevitable conseq Of these chan
ges, if they shall take effect will be totally to-
change all the pslilics of Virginia in reference
to the Federal Government-(wh consid-
ering the hands in which it may happen TO be
placed) and do confidently believe that the
greatest cause of them is to be found in the
hope Of producing that all desired change. In
many cases know tito exist, Of my own per-
sonai knowledge.
Sir, we can't shut our eyes to the Federal
Government.
When in 1898, the Convention OF Virginia
adopted the Federal Gpvernment as part OF
her Constitution, they effected greater change
in our Constitution than the widest reformer
now sug gess TO AS to estimate the amount OF
that change we must have reference to her
interests and power at that day # not, we
may call ourselves statesmen, but the world
will apply TO US a very different epithet- A
mong innumerable causes why now oppose
change. is nv fall recollection of the change
which was then brought about. have. by
experience, learned that changes, even IN
the ordinary law of The land, do not always
operate as the drawer of the bill or the Leg sla-
tive body. may have anticipated; and of all
things 10 the world Government whether
ready made 10 suit casual customers, or made
per order, ia The very last tina, operates as its