Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1833-04-11
ToR THE VIRGINIA FREE PRESS.
THOUGHTS ON SECEssION.-No. 2.

Lmpefnm facjie ne arnbus refines1r, o,aSus iu;tio
| bsIrfhn est.
government is easily preserved by those
means ny which il VIA, originally eStabiisl,ed.-
ny what means, then, was the political comtact
now existing in the United States brought into be-
ing Was II by the employment Of brute force,
oy swords, bayonets, cangon, and staggering SOL
dcrsf -Dad one or more states take zap arms and
compel their neighbours Tn form n connection with
them: or did they, in orlcr TO induce their neigh
bors TO comply With their wishes, endcsvor to cx-
cite among them n sense Of mutual interest, Aud
IN this atternp'. did they dcception-tIid they
employ representations or motives which had no
exisicuee but IN their mouths Or did they
employ such aa the compact which ticy proposed
really eontaiucd' II the latter, what has become
OF the irresistible effect which they then produe-
ed' Have the people since discovered the falIacy
OF their motives-or has their union really Ioss
some part Of its original tendency and fitness to
benefit the unitedl We presume not But if il
retains all It's pristine WoStif il presents to the
minds Of the people the same irresistible mo-
tives which II presented when first proposed 10
their acceptance, what has happened 10 render ths.
people indifferent about il, and through that indif-
ference to put its existence ia danger, For,
through popular indifference alonc, can ts exis-
tence be put in danger. Hss the present genera
ton become more anpid, blind. and inScnsible TO
their interest than the precctingp Or have s.,iue-
ing demagogucs led the popular mind into error.
and public fuBctiOnaries abused and perverted the.
power vith which they have been vested, 20 the
oppression and dctriment Of tlsosc who bestowed
~ IS, u tue existence Of the first Of these pos
/ aibie eau~rs, we can entertain no suspicion, Nc
must necessarily look To the latter as the source a
our preseut evil, and apply a remedy calculated
10 remove 81, and not one ten thousand times worse
than the disease. - oppression H., removed, and
sense ct mutual Interest in their union be re-
vivcd among the people, and their union Is Seclrr-;
bat employ brrIte force To give IL pcrpetuty and
tie IRA drop II blood that IL s,ed will inevitably
prove its destruction. Ia the brrast Of the actual
" oppressed, ennity, hatrrd, and Indignation
viii naturally and necessarily arise; aud even
those whom injustice, oppression, aud dsgr.sla-
ton have not yet selected Or their victims xiIi
unite - crush the blood stained monster b,f nv
they actually suffer ~ fact the advocates nf brute
force arr t'e btsertst snd most eicctrnI enemies
/ oi the Union; and \ their cOunstls be ever car
ned INTO effect, they will certainly pat an end %
a. They go tlse prvsiimpfiOn that the people.
have noe only lost that expectation ~ adya,tags.
from their union which they once sut.ftaiD,d bat
have adopted sn opposite opinion, that they nov
rgHrl - a. ours, and not blessing. For With
Oh such chang, ~ q impossible that IT, cont,-
uanoe ear be- 10 danger And II such = change
has taken place, Is nOt Uniosi IN ~ prccargs
= stAle a. Nse nipsi totteFiag government 90 Eu-
/ roTf-nay, more 80 Foo fsr 80 have rns The
ssn'e o'ers~ing military forrr which European
dcspOsic gDveFnmrnts can par,asl~ T,rs tl,s. uiso
this day trCasl American enI ul,o uiu yetf,r,. A.,
sssTt, fhsi, however lirv0,sly bis fellow
may D. injured and oppressed b, = w0ttl,Ies. 81
uinistrsfiOn. they szll n0t b. suffered a. exrrri..
their Inherent right e csimating tl,e trao1,i,,,,l.
oi their Ovn srOngs, and q e.ca,,iug from thsIn.
but b. compelled ~ mere brute Crve a. submit a.
ui'lr bur7bcns ard grievances, hgScycr fpfrtirio,
" them, and c0tIiinur a. grosn undcr iptn sfer-
nally, u tle Orgn ~ tlfir oppression should last
- long " siteii fnonsr really sNisss afsolg % 4.
lily infleed does h. deserve tie ground ou utst,
b. trcs'is tise air ~hieh inspires, 81 place w. ~
community uhich b. insuita
FRIEND TO RATIONAL LITF.HTY.