Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1851-06-12

MIllrDsrv..Lr, June ed. 1861.

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MhLrpsEvsLLE, June 2d, 1851.
The Delegates to the Constitutional Y
mon Convention assembled this day at the
Cspifoi
On motion of Hon. w. B. Woford, Il
delegate from the county OF Understand
Gen. John w. A. Sanford, of Baldwin, was|
|caIleJ to the char for the purpose oforga
'nization.
Uupon taking the Chair. Gen. Sanford
addressed the assembly in the following
brief, inappropriate aud eloquent remarks
In looking around me, gentlemen, be
hold new order Of tlsins. The strange
ness Of the time has brought together those
who have hitherto been strangers to each
|other in their political associations. OPP
posed heretofore ia many of our views Of
national policy. and occasion is upon as
that commands US to forget our past differ
|enccs, no longer to occupy ourselves in de-
batting questions of former partisan strife.
but looking beyond this, to an object inn
mcasurably ,ranscending all others in it,
overshadowing magnitude, TO devote our
'clvcs steadfastly to the maintenance oftheI
Union, the constitutional Union Of our coun-
TRY. Familiar as we all are with the histo-
! ~ Of recent events, and their disquie,ing
influence upon the public mind in certain
quarters, it is not permitted us TO doubt
hat crisis Is near at hand which is to test
he stability oftLis govcrnmcnt,-to deter
nine whether it has SO slight hold upon
The affections of the American people that
it can be mobbed down by canting hypo-
critics with the rabble at their heels, or be
,vcr,llrown by gallant cavaliers with an
,rmcd posse at their command; whether
| ihe Constitution, the covenant that binds us
ogcther as one people is to be spiritualizcd|
into noncntity by the wild reveries Of fana-
).icism--or the Union, the bulwark of our
strength is TO be dissolved into its original
Elements. by the reckless impulse of vindic-
i've resentment, These are, indeed ques-|
ions of tremendous moment, involving IND
.heirdecisionthe destiny ola people happier
nthcir form of government. and enjoyinga|
argershare of liberty than was evervouch
,afcd to our race in any former age Of the
world; revealing | may sag to thevery excess
,fthcir privileges; doing, without let or him
! trance, whatever interest Or inclination,
nay prompt them to do--cvcn doing fear
lessly and with IMMUNITY what no other
people under Heaven dare do without risk
/ IF the halter and the gibbet. And yet,
Notwithstanding isslnduIgent policy in cv-
cry thing, and benefc;ent operation every
where, there are those who affect to regard
the Federal Union as the embodiment of
every moral and political cvil--unhapp.y
md discontinued spirits in the North and
IN the South, who labor with all the ardoiI
4 unrclcnting purpose to instigaie popular
,dium against it, and who. in pursuit oil
hclr vocation, stigmntise all who do NOT
Join in their clamor of resistance, with the|
gnominy of servilcly submitting to ag1
gressions upon their rights and their hber
| ties.
With these palpablc, unmistakcable in
locations Of arrangement from the govern
neut, AID of hostility to its supporters, ii
pehooves those who value the Union iorI
what it has been worth, and for what il
nay YET DG NOitfi-Wuo lttIJ III TIT oiSro
ings Of undisturbed freedom and prospect
10y that they have no rcmorselcss tyranny
TO resist-no irsuflerable wrongs to redress
TO establish that efficient organization
which will enable them to concentrate their
strength upon every occasion requiring their
united action for its defence. Gentlemen,
he occasion does not require that | should
'eview or discuss the causes, real or ima;,i
,ary, that have led to this extraordinary
tate of public feeling. Every man within!
he reach of my voice has maturely reflect
d upon them, and resolved upon his course
# action. Our commingling here to-day
$ mi evidence they nre of a character toy
give birth to new parties, and it is an evil
lence too, thank God, that when the old
snba,;led lines have been forced to give
way by pressure from every point, and
whilst the rallying shout is still ringing IN I
our ears. for new and far different contests
we are found rallying around the stanard
Of the Union and the Constitution; chngingi
70 the Union as it is, and to the Constitu-
ZION without change. with all its compro
mise and with all its guarantees. For
more than sixty years have these been our
'owcr Of strength-the cloud by day and
the pillar of fire by night. they have con-
iuctcd us in our journeyings 10 that pima
s,e of greatness, which has caused the ma I
fions Of the earth 10 look upon us as the I
iapPiest, frecst people that the sun in his|
journey Of ages ever shone upon. And let
as resolve to continue so, by remaining be-
hind our ramparts: for in them we shall }
ind law, order and security of our rights /
Failing in this, let our revilers lie ready for
resistance in the honr of trial, and we will
follow where they dare lead
On motion Of Col. Ashurst, Of Putnam. +
William Steel and B. L. Bethune, Esqs.. +
were requested TO act us Secretaries.
On motion of Mr. Staple,on of Jefferson l.
he Secretaries proceeded to call of they
counties, when one hundred and sixty
delegates were asccr,ained to be present /
On motion Of Hon. w. b. Wofiord. thee
Hon. John J. Floyd, from the county off
Newton, was chosen by reclamation Prcsi
len; OF the Convention.
On motion of Hon. Il. Toombs, thcS
ssfiair was requested toappolnt commltteci
IF three from each judicial circuit, whose
iury i shall be to report matter fort the &C
ion OF the Convention.
The Convention then adjourncdtil o.
;lock this afternoon.
]
4O'cLooK, p. NJ.
The Convention met pursuant to ad
journmcnt.
Mr.. Toomhs, chairman of the committed
IF 80, made the following report:
The committee of thirty-tlrcc to whom
was referred the duty of submitting bust
aess for the action of the Convention, beg +
leave to report, that after taking the sub
lect into full consideration, they recon
mehd to the Convention, the adoption OF
the following resolutions, to wit:
Res0/yed That the Constitutional m