Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1835-11-09

probation. Ii accidcntal circumstances or a par
tlcular position have sometimes rendered me more
prominent, equal patriotism and equal zeal have
Vet made them equally deserving. 1t were in,d-
ionS To cnumcratc these fellow laborerS or To dis
cr'minae among them. Long may they live and
could hardly express better wish for the inter-
est and honor OF the States than that the public
men, who may follow them, may be as dninielest-
ed, as patriotic aud as able as they have proved
themselves
There have been, gentlemen, il is true, anxious
moments. That was an ANXIOUS occasion, 10 which
the gentleman who has addressed me, in Your be-
halt, has alluded; ! mean the debate IN January,
1870. II seemed to me then that the Constitution
was abou, TO be abandoned. Threatened with
most serious dangers, it was not only not defend
ed, but attacked rs thought, and weakened and
wounded III IFS vital powers aud faculties by those
10 whom the country naturally looked tor its de-
fence and protection II appeared To me that the
Union was about to 90 to pieces, before the peo-
pie were AT all aware of the extent OF the danger.
The occasion was not sought, Lul forced upon US,
II seemed 10 me momcntous, and confess that
felt that even tho little that | could do, in such
crisis, was called for hy every motive which could
be addressed TO "A lover of the Constitution. |
took par, in the debate, ihcrci with IN,
whole heart already in the subject, and careless Tor
every thing in the result, except the Judgment
which the people of the United States should form
upon the questions involved in the discussion. |
believe that JUDGMENT has been definitely pro.
nounccd; but nothing is due To me, beyond the
merit OF having made an earnest effort To present
the true question to the people, and To invoke or
IT that attention from them, which its hiph lmpor-
lance appeared to me to demand.
The Constitution Of the United States, gentle
men, is peculiar structure. Our whole system is
pcculiar-lt is fashioned according To no existing
model l,kcncd to no prcccdcni and vet founded
on principles which lie at the foundation of all
free 20, crnmeniS, wherever said Governments eN-
Isl. 1T Is Il complicated system Ii is elaborate,
and, in some sense, artificial, in its composition.
We have twenty four State sovcrcignies, all ever
cising legislative, judicial and executive powers
Some OF the sovcrcipntics, or States, had long es-
iscd, and subject only to the restraint Of the pow
or of the parent country, had been accustomed to
the form, and to the exercise of the powers OF
Representative Republics Others of them are
new creations, coming into existence only under
the Constitution itself; bat all now Standing on an
equal footing
The General Governments under which all
these States are united, is not, as has been Justly
remarked hv Mr.. GRAY. A considerations II is
much more than Il confederation 1t isa popular
representative government, with all the depart
mcnts, and all the functions and organs of such u
government. But it i, still limited u restrained
a severely guarded government. Ii exists under
written Constitution, and ali that human wisdom
could do is done to define its powers, aud TO pre-
vent then abuse. 1t is placed in what was sup
posed to be the safest medium between dangerous,
authority, on the one hand, and debility and incf-
ficcncv on the other. I think that happy me-
dunn was found, by the exercise Of the greatest
political Saracitv and the influence Of the highest
rood fortune. We cannot move the sy stem either
way, vithou, the probability of hnr,ful change
and ~ experience has taught us its safety aud lis
usefulness, when left where j, is, our duty is plain
one.
1t cannot be doubted that a system thus compli. |
Gated, must be accompanied by more or less of
danger, in every stage of its existence. 1t has not
the simplicity Of dcspotism. 1t is not PLAIN col
umn that stands Sclrpoiscd, and scliSupportod.
Nor is ii loose, irregular, unixcd and underlined
system of rule, which admits of constant and vio-
len, changes without losing its character But il
is balanced and guarded system; system of
are carefully delegated and as carefully limited
a system, in which the symmetry of the parts is
designed to produce an aggregate whole, which
shall be favorable to personal liberty favorable 10
public prosperity, and favorable to national glory
And who can deny, that, by "A trial OF fifty years,
this American system of government has proved
itself capable Of comforting all these blessings
These years have been years of great agitation
throughout the civilized word In the course of
them the face Of Europe has been completely
changed. Old and corrupt governments have been
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