Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1851-08-25


Nm. STAPLES ADDRESS,
RICK.
On thefourth Thursdsy in October next
feliow-citizens, you will be called upon to
vote for q member to represent you In The
next General Assembly Of Virginia, which
il TO convene in the city Of Richmond on
the second Monday in January following
thereby declare myself a candidate for a
scat IN tina. body; and in thus announcing
myself, I do it, not at the dictation of any
caucus clique or convention, but by that
right which pertains to every man in this
government, from the highest to the lowest,
from the richest to the poorcst-the right
to present himself for any Office in the gift
of the people. UncomPromisingly oppos-
ed to that system Of party tactics known
a. "sAe ccscss sysfem," by which a few
persons assuming to themselves a sort Of
leadership owe the people. dictate to an
honest people for whom and for whom a.
lone they are to vote, l have not awaited
their movements. l do not rely upon their
support. I look to the people, the masses,
who have no other motive in view than the
good OF the country.
Intending that the people shall havs am
pie time and opportunity for canvassing
my claims, and discussing the principles
that will govern my action should l be cleo
ted. ! have thought proper thus early to
make a public annunciation OF the fact
l deem it the duty of every candidate for
Office to make publication o This principles,
that no opportunity may be afforded him
Of betraying a trust honestly reposcd in
him, and of violating obligations which he
voluntarily assumes His duty to himself
and more particularly to those whom it is
his desire to serve, emincntly require such
course.
1t is not my purpose during this canvass
to say one. word upon the political issues
If there be any) thatdivide the Wing and
Democratic parties. l have issues other
than these to discuss. 1t is a source Of
deep qualification to every true lover ofhis
country, to know, that the bitterness Of
party strife has beenmuch assuaged oflate,
and that whenever the interest Of the coun-
try requires it, the people are always
prompt and willing to lay their political
differences upon the altar Of their common
country; and to give a long pull, a strong
pull, and a pull all togther to advance the
prosperity and good of the country. There
will always be found the cur-dogs and fees
ofparty, who are necessarily barking SPAR
ty," 'the party" and "the party candi-
date" and when one presents himself as a
candidate for Office who is disposed to
pursue a middle ground between the ex-
trcmcs Of party. they growl and snarl and
snap in fierce Indignation, because they
well know, that possessing no merit other
WI they must rely upon party tactics and
discipline for their success. All have had
cause to lament the excess Of party strife:
that amid the excitement and heat Of party
contests, the real welfare and interest Of
the country have been too often forgotten
and merged into considerations of a mere
partisan victory. Party leaders, actuated
alone by a morbid desire for political pre-
fermcnt, and earnest longing to finger the
reeri''s money. have labored to make the
people believe that it Is to ti,ei. true in.or-
est to bow down to the great shibboleth of
party, and that, no matter whether or not
the Wing or Democratic nominee is quail
fed for the station he is a candidate to fill,
he by virtue of his mere nomination by a
party caucus, is the most marvellous proper
man.
1t was said during the proudest epoch
Of Roman history, hat while Cesar had a
party and Anthony had a party, Rome
had no party. And it may well be said in
reference to our own time, that while there
has been a Wing and a Democratic party,
our country has had no party. There are
periods in the history Of all governments,
when, owing to the influence of dangerous
factions, of misguided fanaticism, of the
madness Of party strife and ambition, and
OF uneas'ness under necessary and %salutary
restraints, the just and impartial admins
tration OF the government is impeded, and
its very existence threatened. Such occa.
SONS require all the 6rmness and patriotism
OF the country for its preservation; and he
who at such times cannot rise high above
mere considerations of party, and at least
tor a season bury the political t~omahawk,
Is fit only for treason, stratapems and
sPoils.' Such an occasion presents itself
now: Our country presents a spectacle
absolutely appalling to all who regard its
real interest, the preservation of our glori-
Gus Union, and the welfare and existence
OF our happy form of government. The
insane ravings of the Abolitionists and
Free Sollcrs on the one hand, and the RASH
ness and fanaticism of the Seceders on the
other. both aiming at the same end, though
~ different means, threaten TO sacrifice not
only. the peace and quiet of the country,
inc destruction ofevery thing we hold dear,
but the very dissolution of that Union un-
der which we have lived and under whose
fostering care and protection we have at
tanned to n lofty position among the ma
tons OF the earth. Look at our own
State, examine her condition shortly after
we assumed among the nations of the
earth the equal station to which the laws of
nature and natures God entitled u.s." and
contrast it with her present condition. AT
the close ofthe Revolution. Virginia occu-
pied a high and distinguished position in
the young confederacy. Her achiev ements
had won the applause of all, and the bones
OF her sons falling in the great struggle for
independence. now lie mingled with the
soil OF every State from Maine to Georgia;
and there will lie forever. She was first
IN wealth, In position, in moral influence,
commercial prosperity, and in all that
makes a State great and admired. For
years the wisdom of her sons and her moral
influence gave laws to the confederacy,
while her generosity. chivalry and hospi-
talty lave been admired the world over.
In point Unnatural advantages she has
had entrusted to her care, the fairest earth
" heritage v e bestowed by a kind Prov
idence upon erring man. Washed for
2oo miles on her western border by that
great and mighty highway. the Ohio
river; her eastern arm resting upon the
Chesapeake bay, abound;no IN sc. al