Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1850-02-11
THE LYNCHBURG VIRGINIAN.
BLAcKFoRD, TowNLEY Il CO.,
IYNcuBuRG. FERRUAHYII, 1850
OUR NATIONAL STABILITY.


When il is announced that great man Is await
inc the summons of death, communities and ma
tions in bIeathlcSs anxiety and suspense, listen TO
every rnmor. which speaks his fate. And when
the sad tidings of bis departure have come "a uni
yersal moan speaks the general regret When
public benefactor sinks TO rest in peace beneath
the sods upon which he has trodden the orld feels
its loss and, shedding tears of regret, sings re-
oncm over the tomb of the lost. SO when great
Government is threatened with extinction from
among the powers of earth, nations watch with
eagerness its progress TO decay and mourn over
its fall. Then with what interest do the nations
of the earth contemplate the great struggle being
made in our own land Heretofore they have
paused 10 reflect upon the rapidity of our growth;
and the mind brought thither to contemplate the
vastncss Of our advancement has turned away con-
WINGED OF the supremacy OF our institutions Thus
convinced, many oppressed with the bad Govern
ments of other nations, have sought an asylum
under the protection of ouI laws; while others,
more deeply impressed with the efficacy of our
Government have revouonzed their countries
and sought to establish in them Governments
modelled after our pattern.
But now, when mighty agitation shakes the
Union and threatens the Government with an
overthrow, what sentiments will these admirers
of American Government entertain? Even this
agitation will be converted into proof ofthe wis
dom of those who founded our great Republic.
The wise principles, taught in our system of
Government embody the inherent qualities of ma
tiona strength The system is built upon the
true theory Of national economy. 1t recognizes
the province Of Government TO be the promotion
/ of the peoples interest and the power of the peo-
pie to direct the Government into that channel
which they deem best adapted to the production
Of this result. 1t teaches the theory of self-gov-
eminent, and by its wise and equitable operations
endowS the people with power to discharge the
important task. Government, by encouraging
the dissemination of intelligence among the peo-
pie, and promoting the development of genius,
capacitates them to adopt the wiseN and most DO
tent means OF efecting the great objects of legis-
lation. In fact, the object of our Government be-
ing the peoples good and they being the admin
istrators Of the Government it has become endear-
ed to the people. Its operations hitherto having
resulted in the promotion of the peoples interest
and the encouragement of the peoples freedom
common sense and prudence dictate the propri-
ETY. of preserving and protecting those institutions
upon which it is based
Thus loyal in their attachment 10 the Govern
ment the people will seek to preserve, in full
force and efficacy, all OF It's operations. Govern
ments, like men, are endowed with latent powers,
the development of which requires the existence
OF extraordinary occasions. Such indeed, is the
application which nature designed in the creation
such powers. Latent endowments are gener-
ally proPuruoned IL tIa Atrvus III in actual en-
ployment and are augmented by the exercise of
power These theories being true, no Govern
meni is endowed with fuller share of latent en-
ergy than our own. The unemployed strength
exists, the loyalty OF the of the people seeks
to avert the fatal blow being aimed at this Gov
eminent; then, as a natural and unavoidable con-
sequence the development of strenth will en-
. sue.
What, though the difficulty 10 be encountered
be great Never IS power more fully displayed
than when brought INTO full exercise, surmount-
ing some great obstacle. Overcoming a slioht
obstacle may be the work of patience. but when
the power of men enables them to turn aside that
opposition, which seeks to crush them to ruin,
we are forced into the admission of their superb
!; or powers. The nation may be called on to en-
counter great difficulties, but from them it will
emerge as brightly as a Summers sun bursting
from the darkness of the threatening storm. We
shall rise higher in the scale ofnational grandeur
and bid the nations of the earth admire the supre-
macy OF our laws and the force of our institutions
THE 1NTELLIGENCER ON SLAVERY.
:, The National Intellgencer, in its issue of the
!, I'd instant, has devoted considerable space 10 the
=. consideration OF Slavery in connection with the
Pi'eFHl eACIleu state OF the natiOn. III denOuncPS
the efforts of those seeking to effect diSunion ex-
presses its adherence TO the constitutional rights
OF the South, and disapproves of the proposed
/ Southern Convention. The Editor brings to bear
upon the subject, the act of December, 1907 pass
ed In secret session of Congress. This act had
the direct tendency 10 make an unconditional
and unlimited withdrawal of our trading vessels
from the oceans thus putting an entire stop to
commerce The plea for this act, it will be re.
membered was to keep the vessels safe from the
British and French denunciaors of the neutralists
IN the war between them. About year after
the passage of this act, the people of Massachu-
setts, feeling sensibly the oppression arising from
ITS operations, appealed to Congress for its repeal
The resolutions asking for repeal were sent to
Congress on the 25th of November 1908, and
were answered early in January of the next wear,
by the passage of an act providing for the further
enforcement of the law. Such being the fate of
thelr petition, the case was carried TO the Supreme
Court. Here it was decided against them. Meet
ing with tins fate they tamely submitted 10 the
4 operations ofthe obnoxious law The Intelligent
I Ger holds up this action of the people of Massa-
chuSetS as an example 10 the country. While
we are not prepared to follow Massachusetts, to
Inc point of submission, we most cordially APP
] OF hat wi I