Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1850-11-27
MIR. wEBsTER's LETTER.

Condemnation my arrival in this city last evening.
had the pleasure to receive your communication OF the 9TH
inst. is refreshing land encouraging and patriotic let
ter You speak the sentiments which become the people
Of the great and ancient Commonwealth of Virginia You
speak Wythe, and Pendeton, Jefferson, Marshall and
Madison would speak were they yet among US. You
speak of the Union Of these States and what idea
suggest lively emotion in the minds of the American
people, Of present prosperity past and future hopes
Gladly would be with you Gentlemen, the proposed
occasion ard of your countrymen and feowczens,
assure you of my hearty sympathy with you in the opinions
which you express and my Interchangeable purpose
with you and other good in unfolding The honor
of the States and the Constitution ofhe Government How
happy should be to present myself in Virginia Of the
Blue Ridge, and there TO pledge mutual faith with the
of Augusta and Rockbridge, Bath Allegheny and Po-
cahontas. Highland Pendleon and Rockingham, that while
we lve the institutions of wise aud patriotic sires
shall supporters and that far may depend
u.s. the civilized world shall be shocked by beholdng
such prodigy the voluntary dlsmembermen of this go
rious Republic No, Gentleman never, If it shall
come to that political marlyrdom is preferable 10 such
sight 1t better to de- while The honor of the country
unarnshed and the flag of the Union still flying
heads than to live till behold that honor gone forever
and that flag PROSTATE in the dust Gentlemen, speak
warmly, because feel warmly and because know that |
speak to whose hearts know are as warm as my own
in support of the country and its Union.
am lately from the North where have mixed extensively
gentlemen, that through the OF the Northern peo-
pie the general feeling and the great cry for the Union
and for preservation. Theeare tits true men be found
OF peverse purposes, and some of bewdeed magma
ton who affect suppose that possible but underlined
good would arise from dissolution of the tes which bind
these United States together but be assured the number Of
these men is small, the eminent leaders of all parties re-
buke them, and while there prevails general purpose
maintain the Union ishat purpose embraces lis just
necessary affirm resolution disappearing the rights Of
all the States precisely they stand guaranteed and secured
by the Constitution. And you may depend upon it, that
every provision in that instrument, in favor Of the rights of
Virginia and the other Southern States. and every Cons
tu,ona of Congress- passed uphold and enforce those
rights will be upheld and maintained not only by the pow
er the law but also by the prevailing influence of public
opinion Accidents may occur to defeat the execution of
law in particular men may possible
sometimes enable others eude the claims Of Justice and
the rights founded in snemn constitutional compact but
on the whole and in the end the law will be executed and o.
beyed the South will see, that there is principle and par
osm, good sense and honesty in the general minds Of the
North and that among The great mass of intelligent citi
zens in that quarter the genera disposition to ask for us
tce not stronger, than the disposition te grant it TO
others.
Gentleman, BRETHREN descendants of those
who abored together with intense anxiety for the establish
ment of the present federal Constitution let ask you
gentlemen teach your young into whose hands the
power of the country fall 90 back the close
of the Revolutionary war; to contemplate the eebeness and
incompeency of the confederation Of States then existing
and to trace the steps by which thenegence and patriot
ism of the great of that day. led the country the
dop,on of the existing Constitution teach them to study
the proceedings voes and reports OF committees in the old
Congress especially draw their attention TO the LEADING
part taken by the Assembly ofVignia from 1888 onward
direct their minds tothe Convention at Annapolis in 1856 &
by the contemplation and study othese and these e
fos,et them what mighty thing was establish the
under which we have now lived posperously
and gloousy for 60 years. But pardon me; must not
write essay make speech. Virginia true hearted
Virginia Stand by your country stand by the work of vour
fathers by the Union of the States may Amipbtv
God prosper all our eorn the cause of Liberty land in the