Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1851-03-27

The first discussion between DIR. Aver
eft and Mr.. Flournoy. was had at Pittsyl-
vania Court House on Monday last. With
out pretending TO give full or minute ac-
count of the discussion, we will briefly al
ludc to some of its features. 1t was OPEN
ed by DIR. Averett, who commenced by
entering into labored dissertation upon
the constitution and the limits placed upon
the federal government, to aportion only of
which we assent; but wecould notsee the
exact bearing of this portion of the Doc
tors speechup the questions before the
country. nor upon what followed. 1t very
forcibly reminded us of certain species Of
fish, which blackens the waters when pur-
sued, to pcrplex and evade the adversary,
with which, instinct teaches it, it is incom-
potent to cope. The DIR. having exhausted
his elaborate argument upon the nature of
the federal government, came to the ex-
animation ofthe compromise, averringthat
he was no disunionist, but that he with
held support from this measure, because
he could not force the people to submit tie
1t and he was bound to vote for sustaining
thecqusal rights Of the States. When Mr..
Flournoy came to reply, he demonstrated
by forcible array Of facts, that the South
did gain by the compromise, more especial
ly by the Texas Boundary Bill, against
which the DIR. had ACTED; and that the DR.,
IN opposingit voted not only with Gid
dings, Root and other abolitionists, but a.
gainst majority of the Southern mem
bcrs.
During the discussion, the DIR. alluded
TO Mr.. Fillmore in terms of disparagement
denouncing him as an abolitionist though
he did admit in his second speech, that he
was respectable gentleman, and yet a
faithless politician. Mr.. Flournoy's reply
to this portion of the Doctors remarks, was
peculiarly happy. He showed conclusive
ly, that the DR.. stood almost alone in this
denunciation that the great leaders Of the
Democratic party, that the organs of that
party, that the country were applauding
Mr.. Fillmore and pronouncing his acts
entitled to the appreciation and cordial
sanction ofthc nation.
In the conclusion Of his first speech, DIR.
| Averett considered that the Union was in
no danger; but, if we understood him, he
afterwards said, that if, danger We're to be
apprehended, it would arise from an effort
of the Southern States to take forcible pos
session of the territory now occupied by
the citizens of the free States This is al
together new scheme, and we have not
| before heard of an effort ofthis sort Surely
the disunionists must have been more busy
than we had believed. But probably we
do the DIR. injustice We think he only
fears and does not advocate this plan-
But whether one or the other, the necessi-
ty for the friends of the Union to rally to
its support is inferable from the danger of
dissolution as displayed even in the speech
Of DIR. Averett.
| The compromise was reviewed, the
limits of the general government were fully
considered, the rig hts of the States weigh
| ed, and the course of the President freely
commented upon; all resulting in the grand
conclusion to yield sullcn acquiescence
to the compromise, coupled with theprom-
Use not to interfere with it himself, but to
render and to those who would lead in re-
opening those issues, which have distract
cd the country, and which, if further agita-
ted, must lead to disunion. We therefore
beg thepeople Of this district to remember,
that DIR. Avcrett is pledged to oppose the
compromise and to give aid, if sent back,
to those who will seek to undo the work
which is happily and gloriously carrying to
its end the wearisomc and ceaseless clatter
about abolition and disunion.
DIR. Avcrett asserted, that a plot had
been got up to represent him as disunion-
lst. We are unadvised of any such plot,
and the friends of the Union are unaware
oft. Mr.. Flournoy, in addressing the
people, has stated the votes of his COMPETE
tor as found in the Journal Of the House,
and given the reasons why he would not
vote as the Dir. has done, leaving him to
tell why he has thus acted. No motives
have been imputed to Doctor Averett; but
the simple facts, which contain the course
of the Doctor, have been presented, and if
they havcinduced peopleto believe, that
the Doctor is disunionist, the responsible
ty rests upon the facts, and not upon those
Il n