Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1851-05-01

efficacy OF our Federal Government 10 accumpIish
the purposes Of justice, enforce obedience to ifs an
thoriiy, and in all things fulfil the expectation q IFS
founders, will be demonstrated in a manner that
cannot fail more strongly to cement the bonds othe
Union and consnce ts enemies Of the utter futiify of
all attempts TO accomplish its dissolution.
Already has the controversy concerning slavery,
which upon the disposal of our acquisitions from
Mexico assumed such pcrtsnfous magnitude, ceased
To create an exclusively sectional aspect On our
part, acqnicscepce in temperate councils and sub
mission 10 moderate demands have excited action
the eonsideraie and patriotic Of our fellow citizens
of the free States; end accordingly lind the exis
ting contention removed from mids, 10 other the
aires more appropriate to the mad fury that has pro-
| duced and feclsit
flat once tbs cstirc body Of the Northern and
Northers uSt,aes-sheg great ovcr,uIins n,ass
Of their e.ucated po7ulation-las rot resumed its
duty its senses, ard the feelings which, in nobler
days, made all one, North and South in spite Of
slavery involuntary 10 US now as then, there is
grave excuse for thar fact, which all should re-
co-nise. II is this: that wild POLITICAL theories cap
tivaiing as long untied are abroad over the en-
tire civilized world: Red Republication and Com
| munism in France; the Ike in Germany and Italy;
| Chariism in England. The sudden opinions pecu-
liar to the day, all possess the singular characters
tic of being jealous and extreme, in proportion as
| they are new. Like chat in everything, they are
kes ii in this: that they must blaze, in order to burn
at all. Ideal doctrines of Liberty, personal and
POLITICAL limitIcss imprescrptble, prevail ev-
erywLere. From Europe, and especially England,
they had some time ago spread to the Northern States
of this Union; but merely asa speculation an idea,
until Demagogues-iar more criminal in this matter
| than Fanaiics-saw an opportunity of working TO
their personal or party profit The unopened mine OF
| these notions They fatiered, they heated them,
and drew them into politics. Parties were so near
IL on the equipoise, that the Liberty Men," the
| Abotionts, were enough to turn the scale either
wav OF course. competition Of both parties for
them begun. With their political importance swell
led their numbers and their zeal That zeal ofcourse
excited in an opposite quarter opposite doctrine
and zeal equally strong, and popular feeling OF the
South: which in its turn became passion and mo-
nomania capable ofbeng made to tell in elections:
and Dcmagogueism began to cherish and to iniiame
| it, Just as it doing, under an opposite name, in
the North. In a word great part Of the guilt OF
these ultrasms, OF these dissensons lies with poll
tcans and parties. They were one Of the ills that
are ever attendant upon Free Institutions and gov
ernments Of opinion The wise will bear them with
patience and treat them with moderation things
which, being very hol, must be allowed some time to
cool again. even when the bellows Of political incen-
| diaries have been made to cease blowing tue Goals
under them. Coniiding nevertheless in the ti1ter-
nal feelings and sober patriotism of the masses Of
our sister States we have little misrust of the
1
and entire devotion To our institutions, Witnessing
the gradual dissipation Of all sectional influences,
we cordially hail, brothers OF one blood the
ing restoration of those friend relations essential
to the safety Of our system and 10 the development
| oft great capacities.
We would, at this point gladly dismiss the SUBJ
ject of our Federal relations and conclude this adj
dress with brief remark or two upon topics more
intimately connected with State concerns. But
the gravity of the consequences likely to flow from
the dissatisfied condition of one of the States
forbids us to pass that matter unno;iced Having,
in regard to our relations with the Northern States
exhibited a sketch Of the Federal affairs iiattcring
| we would tuin believe, to our national hopes, we
would rejoice to leave fellow citizens 10 its con-
temptation; but SINCE unfortunately the picture has
another side truth requires that it should be turned
round and its darker aspect exposed to view.
The apparent determination of Congress to use
the Federal power for the exclusion of the peculiar
property of the Southern States from the territories
acquired from Mexico very naturally excited thi.
sensbity Of the people Of those States, and carried
some othem soiar to assume an attitude of threat
encd hostility to such action. The passage. how
ever of the Compromise measures assuaged for the
most part, the scnsiliiry and induced amongst the
people dspositiont to acquesce in the adjustment
such as with the exception of South Carolina brought
| about, in the States corresponding change of posi-
tion. That State alone rejects the prohercd Com
promise; and, with intentions hereafter to be explain
ed, has provided by law for the appointment Of de-
puties to the Southern Congress recommended BY
the Nashville Convention. tbs believed that such
n Congress cannot this time be assembled: for we
are not that any other State has taken steps
be represented in that body In the utter abor-
tion othat scheme, the country will be relieved from
the dangerous consequences too likely to flow from
il.
But at the came time--as If anticipating the fail
ra fl rho dConrresx---Sputh s,,,,,
n1u,.cd "a conve1.iia Ct her own people to meet at
some time vet to be cd, in order take into con-
sideration her relations with he Fedea government.
Elections TO that Convention have .sen held through
out her limits. Assured that IN the pr sent cohdl
ton OF our affairs, there is nothing to Justly ext nle
measures ON any part and trusting to the good
and patriotism of the people of that State we should
apprehend nothing really dangerous tohe L mon, did
we not know that, III the canvass proceeding the o.
lection candidates before the people openl, avowed
themselves in favor Of secession; and that the cleo
ton resulted the choice Of great acrity of,hose
who held that opinion.
The act for the appointment Of her deputies to
| the Congress and for the assembling of her State
Convention was formally communicated to the 9th
err Satesand was laid before the House of Deecatcs
at an early day of the session of,hc General Assem-
| bly, of Virginia.
In the presence Of these grave facts and Of others
around us, We are not a. liberty doubt the purpose
ci that STATE or 10 shut eyes, the evident dan
gers that threaten us from that quarter.
We do not deny that out of the acts ofthe Fede-
raj authorities or the conduct of other States
may arise to Justify aggrcvcd State in rcsorting
TO the strongest ofredress for has been
well said, deny this would be to question the very
title by which the people Of this country hold their
liberties. But we mean say that cause suli-
cent to justify member Of this coneIeracv in with
driving from it, and violating the faith plighted to
the rest must be OF such enormous magnitude mark
cd by such unqucstiouabc aggrayuiiun, and of such
imrciious necessity as TO leave doubt on the mind
OF an impartial public of its adequntcncss In the
present case, the injuries complained of are not pc
culnr to the State complaining; but are shared in
an equal if not superior degree, by the other South
ern States. And yet these States find in them no
sufficient excuse for disturbing the Union. Indeed
the very nets, from which the injuries are supposed
to proceed--the admission Of California as a State
and the settlement of the Texan boundary-dcrived
their validity in part, the records Of Congress
show, from the votes of Southern Representatives.
We think, therefore, we hazard nothing in declaring
that, in the present condition of Affairs Federal and
State. there is no Justification nor even excuse for
the mcditated secession.
Ii the act such in its consequences rs to lie
visited only upon that State, we might remain pas
svc yet not the less interested spectators Of the is
sue But, unfortunately, il is far otherwise and but
too well calculated to involve in the same indiscrn
mate ruin with the offending member Of the confc,-
eracy' the most innocent and even deserving.
we mean to express no opinion the controver-
ted question Of the right Of a State to secede from
the confcdcracy Of the constitutional duties of
the Federal authorities. in such an emergency We
Should certainly desire to see the soil of our
sister State pressed by the hostile tread of Federal
troops, nor her sons slaughtered in unnatural war
But We can give assurance that the other States
will nd 1t compatible with their safety to surrender
inc important port OF that State, to behold some
European power establish foothold there. and the
very fortress erected by revolutionary hands, pass
perhaps under cocrced treaties--into the posses
sion of the naughty foe against whose aggressions
was designed to be defence.
To Louisiana it would hardly be conceded that
she should secede with the mouth fthe Mississippi
or Florida, that she should secede with the com
mand of the Gnll,h since either unrlI LIS, tho net