Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1839-02-25

Mr.. PREsroN then referred to tho many declara
lions contained IN the Report that il was tho duty as
wei ns the inherent right Of tho Office holders Il
Pfactisc this interference on every occasion. They
mol only find it prope, and comncdabc. bu, n mat
zero. solemn obligation 10 plunge in the elections
10 take part IN all tho caucussings aud direct and
control the result. Is this not call upon the whole
army OF of,cmls To rally TO the standard OF the Ad
| fnlnsltaton Is not this " Indictment
| lie commented with severe and most effective
sarcasm on tho idle defamation Of WALL IN talk
,nes Of these men controlling those who support OF
pose tho Administration by "the censorship OF pub.
lie opinion" The censorship OF pnblie opinion
OF Government officers! That ~ tho public opinon
TO which the acts of the Government ara TO be sub
milted.
The report says further that in doing the officer
may win he confidence oths Iciiowci by his de
oiarcd opinions. OF may become identified with some
great principle What is that principle (Mr. PRrs
foN askedl Self preservation This is their sole
principle OF action
The report says all tins is limo ent aud praiscwor-
thy Mr. w Ali even v,udeatcs the motive IL, ~
innocent and pfase"orihy the adds) II The mo
tue rs ne acquisition Of office" Mr.. PnEsroS com
mcn,ed with just indignation on tins extraordinary
declaration. This reasoning would revolt the mind.
ma ms species OF morality would revolt tho con
eioncc even ola Maehiavelli.
After fcicnlngio these. and similar passages. Mr..
PRESTON asked whether he had no property chaiac-
lcrlzed tho report lie asked whether they had
not directly assaed the very safe guard Of our llbcr
hes-the pure aud independent aud console nj 10 nv
exercise OF the elective right THAT which lies AT
overy foundation OF public morality and public
happiness.
Among the oo,sp plants f, fthc COMMITTEE arains,
Mr. Ca'NrENpEN's Bill is that III converts tie office
holders into MurEs'GD This IL xceilrn,. Ofcoutse
The committee want active, busy, NOISY elcotioncer-
els.
But the crowning objectionable "bc all aud end
all of this tissue of cavellng the bill is tia, IL IL
q m nu,t
OF the people towards those IN authority, The
grand purpose OF the COMMITTEE is to prevent every
thing approaching This Jealousy-to lulI tho people
INTO iuinous security
Bnt what, have we been taught, is ihe price Of
Liberty Eternal vigilance. unslccp ping watchful-
ness. This has been The maxim from, the DAYS OF
iiampdcn down 10 the present time. Powrn is con-
annually Stealing from LInrRrY. The argument Of
the COMMITTEE Is that the people should be eal-
ons-should not be yigllan--should not be careful.
whenever they cease 10 be 80, Freedom will be in
the greatest danger.
One OF the most striking proofs OF the sophs,ry
oil The Report IS that IN order to sustain the attempt
10 diminish the guardian vigilance of the people the
language oil washington, On another occasion, aud
designed for n far different purpose, il dragged into
tho service. Mr.. PnEsroN exposed this miserable
peVeision Of the pairioc sentiment Of the eat +
ther oil ms Country aud warned the supporters of
the Administration that however tho people may have
rested IN sccutity heretofore, tho time was coming
are on YOU" and would unite to u man against the
c. mmon enemy.
Sumo other topics in this admirable speech. | will
notice in my next.
Mr.. Preston showed mp the old icderast. Wall
and Buchanan excellenily-- kept the Senate and
the galleries IN roars of laughter.
lie put down tho extraordinarily uncandd and
dishonest statement of the committee that there is
no existing evidence of the Interference of Office
holders IN the elections, by reference to message
OF Governor Clinton of New York--to tho Glamour
That was got up and kept up by the very men who
sustain this report, az the administration of
MI. ADAMS, on the very ground Of bringing the pat
lonage OF the government into conflict with the
freedom OF elecons-io the allegatio made by The
supporters Of Mr.. Jefferson against the elder Ad-
ans.
lie brough, as corroboraiive testimony in fayo, of
the measure the doctrines Of Mr., Bcn,ons report on
Executive patronage during the administration of
Mr. Adans-Nlr. Calhonns report The same
subject in 1886, and the speeches Of several demo-
cratic" Senators.
He closed with earnestly calling the Senate to
put ON the Report The stigma of its severest reproba-
lion, But, il il should be sanctioned and not dsa-
vowed and condemned, he would have at least one
great consoation-the PEOPLE will be put on their
guard, and being rofEwARNED would be FOREARM
ED
As soon rs Mr.. Preston finished, Mr.. RoAsE of
Va. arose. il was now nearly o'clock. The crowd
that had wedged themselves in the galleries began
those movements which are sure TO be made The
appearance Of a "du actor after Star has left
The stage. The hum Of conversation TOO arose a.
Wong the privileged persons the floor, aud a.
mong the members of Congress within and without
the bar.
Mr.. Roane appeared good deal annoyed by
these natural and most expressive, though perhaps
involuntary NANTES tatons-bu declared his deter
niinaron to speak, and his willingness that those
who did not wish 10 hear him should go away. lie
was ansiousto speak ON Mis 18th day Of FeJruary
Of all The days in the year Your readers will ie-
member that on this day the Legislature of Virginia
are 10 elect u S. Senator for six years from the
fourth of March next
He then frankly ayowed that he had no intention to
speak to The business in hand but mean, to de
fine his position -"
Here is an instance in which the time llonored
cnstom Of The British House Of Commons-truly
sellpreservative in its character-whereby dull and
irreiecant speakers are summarily put down, would
have been Of service. Both houses OF Congress
will yet be forced 10 adopt something Of the Kind,
that IS easily foreseen-only think Of man gravey
pfeacing his Grafton with the statement that would
have no reference to the subject under considera-
lion ~
Mr.. RoaDe was true TO his word. He did "defne
his position" Ii could not be misunderstood sorry
am TO say H. who have been disposed to treat him
with all respect-but no man Of observation could
fail TO perceive that his position" was that ola we'll
meaning and weH. jeeting gentleman sci to task
by his party task which fealty induced him per-
form, but which, yet sincerely believe, in his hours
Of cool and dispassonae reflection. unexci,ed by the
" hsperngs Of The malevoence md rage of Others
he will look back to with deep modification aud re-
gret.
The peroraAon was neutrality-suspicious. the whole
speech Though can't ssy)--the conclusion
certainly was-aud i was disingenIou, and rather