Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1851-03-27
Mr.. Benoni Harrison, the Bayard of the Viz
ginia Chiralry

The attention of all Virginia will be arrested by
the important attitude assumed by Mr.. BENoNI
HARRISON, the delegate from the county ofPrince
William, with respect to the resolutions passed
by the House of Delegates on Tuesday evening
last. The reporter states that the first resolution
"was adopted by the following vote, ayes ITO, no
l. MIR. Benon, Harrison, who said he gloried in
standing solitary and alone."] Now, the princi-
pal affirmative matter of this resolution was the
following declaration
1.-THE Legislature of Virginia deems it duty to de-
clare her sister State of South Carolina that The peo-
pie OF this State are unwilling TO take any action lin
consequence OF the of the late Conpress) cal
culated to destroy the integrity OF this Union.'
1t is to be presumed that Mr.. Benoni Harrison,
by his negative vote, intended to affirm the con-
verse of this proposition, and declare, that the
people of Virginia (and if they are not he is)
willing, in consequence of the Compromise, to
destroy the integrity of the Union. In this posi-
ton he stands ;solitary and alone and glories in
his solitude. notwithstanding all that we have
heard from the life of other gentlemen who claim
to be the peculiar standard bearers of Southern
Rights, Mr.. Benoni Harrison is the only man
amongst them who stands by his colours True
Mr., Tomln and Mr.. Butt voted with him against
the second resolution which disapproved of send
Ing delegates to a Southern Congress- but they
were not by his side in procaimine present, down
right, unconditional Disunion And when the
hour came to vote on the third resolution, which
earnestly and af1ectonately appeals to South Ca
rolina to desist from any meditated secession, Mr.
Benont Harrison again stood SOLITARY and aone,'
and was the only man who had the courage 10
raise his voice against that appeal.
When the report of these things shall have
reached the latitude of Charleston, we doubt
not the question will arise there in the mouth
of every immediate and prospective Disu-
nionist, "pho is Mr.. Benont Harrison" some
will probably imagine him to be preur cheuaier,
whose fiery daring is only equaled by his stern
controlling will, whose visage bears the impress
OF genius no less than of resolution, whose speech
fsllsupon the ear like peals of"pent up thunder"
whose glance withers like the lightning-stroke
whose amending person lowers above the stature
of ordinary men,
Like some tall cliff that lifts its awful form
thigh above the PLAN, and midway meets the storm.
Others, less ardent of fancy, may be content with
assuring themselves that, however deporably
every other Delegate may lave fallen short of
proper support of the honour of Virginia, Mr..
Be'Oni Harrison is its true faithful and appro-
pirate representative. REett and his retinuc
of Secessionists will look to him as the sole
remaining embodiment of their policy and their
hopes in the Old Dominion.
We do not know how far it would, in courtesy
be allowable to explain to our South Carolina
friends the precise degree of importance that
should be attached by them to the course of Mr.
Benoni Harrison. The record undoubtedly dis
covers the fact that he is the single unaded up-
holder of Dsu nionism in the House of Delegates
of Virginia: and, inasnuch as it has been propos-
ed to send commissioners to lay in person before
the authorities of South Carolina candid EXPOSE
ton of the public sentiment of Virginia, we would
respectfully suggest that no happier method could
be devised of imparting correct information than
to appoint Mr.. Benoni Harrison himself on the
commission, with special instructions to speak
freely his own sentiments and those of the whole
Disunlon party of the State. The South Carroll.
mans would then be able to judge from the leader
the strength of his followers