Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1851-09-11
the ooNcREssrosAL CANVASS.

- SpAAfkSA QpSNQSSlN1 LOOK pace NJ luS /
Court House, last Nenhay evening, between /
Messrs. Faulkner and Bedinger Although
the heatwas extremely oppressive, they were
listened to by a crowd, with great attention.
Mr. Beaiager ayoNedI very openly the doc
tfine Of secession in the course OF his speech.
The patriotic sentiments expressed by Mr.
Faulkner met With hearty approval from
the Union loving gentlemen of both parties
Mr. Faulkner, after some preliminary re-
marks, said that before he proceeded with
his arguments he would state the opinions
Of Mn, Beaiuger upon the great issue new
before the country, and as be did net wish
10 misreprssent that gentleman, he wished
BIN to correct him if he did not state them
precisely He understood Mr. p. $ opinions
to be these
list Taat State in the exercise Of It's re.
served sovereignty, had a fight, IN case OF
oppression, to seredefrom the Union.
ID That such state was the~sole and ex-
clasive judge Of the causes which justified
her in the act Of secession
Sd That the Federal Government had NO
rightful authority toenforce the execution Of
the laws Of the United States within the
limits Of such seeding State after she had
declared her purpose 70 sedede from the Uni
4 on.
Il Mr.. Faulkner then. enquired If he had cor
rtctly stated his opinions TO which Mr.. Bed
4 niger nodded assent
Mr. F next proceeded TO state the opin-
\ ions of Mr.. 3, upon the compromise meas.
uros which had passed Congress. lie under
stood that whilst Mr. 3 acquiesced in these
measures as laws upon the statute boek-yet
that, nevertheless, he still regarded that ad
justment as fraud upon the, Southland
4 that in that compromise " the South was
\ cheated.n and that had Ito been then mem
H Der Of Congress, he would not have sustained
\ or voted for that compromise,
Mr.. H. here again enqaired if he correctly
stated the opinions of his competitor, to
which Mr.. B responded that be had
Mr.. 9. then proceeded to show the practi-
cal influence which such opinions must exer-
else upon Mr.. B's conductlas representa-.
! tive in Congress South Carolina had her
/ Convention elected, a majority of forty-two
of whom we're pledged I'd the immediate sep
.aration7of that State from the Unioa, and to
It's erection into foreign and independent
nation upon eur SELL That Convention
meets il February, 1882, and many think the
] declaration Of secession will be made, If
| that act is successful, the Union is dissolved
! What would be lhe condition Of this District,
/ under such circuH stances, if represented by
"a person Of Mr.. BIS epiaieHs,9 Its voice
would be hushed+-its arm paraiyzed in ey
/ cry attempt to msintain the Integrity Of the
/ Onion. lie believes that State has right
/ to seeede-and 50 believing, he could inter
/ pose nc difficulties 10 the aceomplishn ent Of
that fatal act Was this the sentiment of
/ the 10th Congressional District He, Mr.
! r., did not believe ii He believed the Dis
i triet to be sound to the core upon the Union,
and the result ofIhis election would show it.
Mr. Fsargued 10 shov that the doctrine
Of secession, in the present condition Of af-
fairs in the country, necessarily led to aisu-
/ nien. Those who maintained the doctrine
might be unconscious Of the conclusions to
which it was leading them, but the result was.
inevitable IF they maintained the right,
however much they disapproved Of the
| grounds upon which South Carolina acted,
still, when she did act, they mustbec6me her
allies in disunion, if the General Govern
ment attemptedto enforce the authority Of
the Government
Mr. I. enquired what wrong South Caro-
lima suffered, that she should thus hazard the
happiness Of twentg4four millions Of human
H beings by her mad and reckless course? IF
she could peintto any grievances under which
\ she labered, there was patriotism enough in
1 the country to come to- her relief and remove
/ the oppression. But She was without even
/ decent pfetext for this DISCRIMINATION. and
/ netting. seemed to animate her politicians
but determination wickedly and wilfully to
destroy the Unien, Could this be allowed q
Was the happiness Of the millions who now
inhabit this cohfeaeraey, and til e. hundreds
Of milliens who in time are destined to in.
habit it, matter Of no concern Must all
this be sacrificed to crafty the petulant ca
price Of . governmental majority in that
State, which governmental majority did moi
from the very nature Of her constitution llreu-
j-esent truly. the masses Of the people of that
! commonwealth
| WS.have given only few Of the ideas con-
tanned in tSat gentlenhan's speech, and abich
have occurred Is US since in rejecting upon
I the discussion
Mr., Bedinger, We think, made very IN
successful attempt I'd show that the resolu.
tons adopted BY Virgins in 1889. and
for which Mr. T voted, ,countenanced the
/ present course Of South Carolina These
resolutions passed the general Assembly Of
this State, in l847, by an unanimous Uoie.-
/ They were re. afirmedsin l849 with but four
I dissenting votes And yet, who before ever
/ heard the idea Of SECESSION connected with
] these resolutiens2 They declare thai in case
L Of a violated compact the State viii yesix a
! every hazaTd and to the lastextrenity. Now
s'idea Of resistance is the very reverse Of
the doctrine Of secession. WHY resist an
unconstitutional law. j: she is d libers7 :
her ,ewn will and pleasure Is withdraw from
tho DRion and thus escape its effects IF
/ these resolutions mean any thing they nlaca.
/ the State manifestly upon the ultimate s;oSt
Of revolution And certainly there Is no
man 50 i'll informed that does not knew. that
secession as coutended for BY its advocates
and rer0l1ttoR are as wide asIthe poles. Sr,
cEssIoN is doctrine confined to 4 limita5
class Of most dangerous politicians. Rrvo-
LUTON is a doctrine recognized in proner
case BY every American citizen w;thont :
solitary exception.
The Virginia reseiutisns Of 1852. lad !.
the great CoMPRosusE which established tbe
peace ofthe Dpntry, and with which conpro-
miss, Virginia declared herself satisfied IL
resolutions unanimously adopted IN 1851.
Mr. Bedinger attempted to eVade ser;.
Gus argument on tie important question f.
the times, By raillery and sport. Wit NAV
/ de very well to create laugh, but it is not
satisfactory where matters Of great national
esneern are as stake When people assemble
TO hear sound reasoning, they are not to b
put off with ests.--[ IVinehester Repub.