Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1851-11-13

like "liviug water" To say, that those
who listened to him were carried away
by his fervid language-his high conccP-
tons, and the noble devotion that he mani
tested towards the old Commonwealth,
would convey no idea of the deep and
glowing enthusiasm he excited.
Before concluding he referred to charg-
es which had been made against him, based
upon garb!ed extracts from a speech de-
livered by him. in the Legislature Of Vir-
GINA. in 1882. He spoke Of the wide
spread and anxious concern that had been
excited in the public mind. by events Of a
deeply tragic character in the county of
Southampton. The occurrences had been
brought to the notice of the Legislature.
by the Governor, in his annual message
Petitions numcrously signed came in from
various p%ortiuns Of Eastern Virginia, and
prominent men, some Of whom had since
received high honors and trusts from the
Democratic party, took decided ground IN
favor of some action by the Legislature,
looking to the ultimate radiance Of the
State, from what was then almost univer-
sally regarded an evil. 1t was in this state
of things, that he made the speech, isolated
portions of which had been torn from 1t
and tortured into meanings that could not
be given to them,if the whole speech were
published. 1t was a proposition for action
by ourselves, which then seemed to be in
accordance with the general desire of the
STATE. Very shortly afterwards, the aboli-
%tionists of the North commenced their in,
famous plottiags, and a revolution passed
through the sentiments Of our peo-
pic. changing the entire tone Of feel
ing upon the subject. and no mans
more thoroughly than his OWN. Ev-
er since he had looked into the sub
jcct, he had been firmly of opinion that
Congress had no more right to legislate up
on slavery either in the States or terrific
ries Of the Union, than had the govern
ment ofRussia. In bis position as a mem
Der of Congress, he had uniformly held
this doctrine and he had voted against the
repeal of the 21st rule, prohibiting the intro
duction of abolition petitions, because
he was UNIV Hing that the South should re-
cede from any position that it had taken.-
- L. Ii
voted for the clause in the new Constitution,
denying to the Legislature the right to e.
mancipate slaves. He had moi only voted
for it, but in a speech made some weeks
before its adoption-hc had invited East
ern gentlemen TO bring it forward and had
declared his own opinion, that, even with
out a constitutional Inhibition, the Legisla-
turc would have no such power. He had
also voted for the clause exempting slaves
under twelve years Of age from taxation.
He had held and expressed these VIEWS,
not only in the Convention, but in his
canvass for a seat in that body, and uni
formly for years. He declared that there
was no portion of the State more kecnly
sensitive upon this subject.tlian the partlc-
ular vicinity in which he resldcd--thcre,
on account of the salt works, slave proper
tv was more valuable than in any other
portion Of the State-and more cxposed,o on
Gccount of the facilities for escaping into a
free State. He had lost slaves in. this way.
With an emphasis and a manner that con-
WINGED every one ofhis sincerity, he declar-
ed, there was no man in this Common
wealth-East or West, Highlander or
Lowlandcr, more decided in his opposition
to any and every scheme, calculated to ef-
feet the rights and interests Of the slave
holder, h nhc-that before he would Yield
one inch to the foul spirit of northern IA
naticism-he would be torn to pieces, limb
by limb. He had never regarded slavery
a moral evil,anl thought it migatnot irrcv-
erently or unreasonably be considered the
great system that Providence had design
cd for civilizing and outstanding a barba-
rous race.
When he had concluded, under the limi-
tation of time, Mr.. Bocock took the stand.
If we had the time, we would most cheer
fully give a full report ofhis speech, as far
as we recollect either It's words or subs a 1cc.
We are in too good a humor, TO consent
that any injustice should be done him, but
we have neither space nor tine. He saw
no necessity for a Democratic State with a
Democratic Legislature, (both Of which
assumptions, are to be tested in the com
ing elections,) choosing a Wing Governor
to direct its affairs. He thought that so far
as the renovation oftle State was concern.
ed, it could be as well effected, under
Democratic policy, as Wing policy, for
getting that the State has been laboring
and sinking under that policy, almost with
out interruption, for 80 years.) He would
be unwilling to have a man at the head Of
the State, whose opinions could be quoted
by Northern agiiators, to the .detriment Of
our interests. although he acknowledged
Mr.. Summers rccantation of those opin-
ions to be eloquent, distinct and decided"
and did not doubt bis sinccrity) Those
opinions had been deliberately expressed
by Mr.. Summers, who was a "reMdrk ain
cool man." If the same circumstances
should o~ccuragain, Mr. Summers who
was a "remarkably ercitable man" nigh,
give way to them again. Col. Johnson
could do as much to carry on the In
tcrnal Improvement policy of the State
as Mr.. Summers, Notwithstanding he