The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-02-07


HSThs Richmond Exss.isr. : paper which
appsalsto the true Virginia sentiment. and shrinks
ffen no enunciaiion Of truth, however unpala-
table to the weak stomachs Of srquiescents"-
administers the following dose to the National
IuteHigsacey;
RANDOLPH AND THE UsIou-rJo John Randolph,
although he did not entertain very exalted
opinion OF the Yankee. was a firm and uncom-
promising friend of the Union Of the States. In
one OF his speeches in Congress- he once made
use Of the following language. which should be
engraven on the portals OF the capitol:
The very mention of disunion OF the States
IL great public injury. II goes to unhinge the
tone Of the public mind 1t makes men ac-
quainted with the possibility Of the thing, and
once admitted into their breasts, they will not
contemplate it with that abhmrencs IN uhich il
ought 10 he held by ep,ry true pafriot.
We clip the foregoing from the Nctional In
telIigencer. We do not know that Mr. Ram
dolph ever entertained or expressed any senti-
ment ut variance with that to be found in this
extract We have always understood that be
continued to the day of his DEATH consistent
friend Of that Union, 10 the foundation of which
his Kindred, the Randolphs of the revolutionary
renOwn, contributed no humble or unimportani
part. Ito could not contemplate" without
T" abilorrence' dissolution of that Union, which
was formed ITO establish Justice, insure domestic
tranquility provide for the common defence, and
promote the general welfare" But it is well
known that he contemplated" without sorrow
a dissolution OF the Union when it should fail to
answer the ends for which it was established---
No Virginian will pretend that John Randolph
OF Roanoke was, at any p. Rod of his life, a
submissi0nist in the sense in which the word
is now applied. We all know better. The Ma
tional Ialeiligencer knows better. But MS some
Of its readers may not be so well informed on
the subject, We ask that paper to publish the
following extract from the proceedings of a
meeting held in Charlotte county on the 4th Of
February, 1888, a few months previous to Dir.
Kandolph's death:
MIR. Randolph" says the official report of
the proceedings, "though in a state Of extreme
ieebleness, made his appearance last night, and
to day at II O'Clock, spoke few minutes, hut
soon sat down exhausted, and continued to
speak sitting, though sometimes for moment
the excitement of his feelings brought him to
ms feet He ended his speech by moving set
OF resolutions" The lntelligencer may Judge
OF the "set' OF resolutions by the four which
we subjon:
ASS"Veceu, Auut viiBiuM IL, dllO OuEIit W NC,
a free, sovereign, and independent State-that
she became so by her own separate act, which
has since been recognized by the civilized world,
and has never been disavowed retracted. or in
any wise impaired or weakened by any subse-
quent net of hers.
"Res0lred, That when for purposes Of COM
mon defence and common welfare, Virginia en-
tered into a strict league Of amity and alliance
with the other twelve colonies OF British North
America, she parted with no portion Of her
| sovereignty; although, from the necessity Of the
| case, the authority to enforce obedience thereto
was in certain cases, and for certain purposes,
delegated TO the common agents of the whole
Contederacy.
| "Resolued, That Virginia has never parted with
the right to recall the authority delegated, for
good aud sufficient cause, nor with the right TO
| judge of the sufficiently of such cause, and to
secede from the Confederacy whatsoever she
shall find the benefits Of Union exceeded by its
evils Union being the means of securing lib
erty and happiness, and not an end to which
these should be sacrificed.
| "Resolred, Tint the allegiance Of the people
of Virginia is due 10 her-that to her their al
legiance is due, while to them she owes protec-
ton against the consequences of such obedi.
ence'
| We suggest to the intelliecncer the propriety
of engraving these resolutions Of Mr. Randolph
'on the portals of the Capitol" Immediately
beneath the extract ~from one of his speeches il
| Congress-
sB- As the National Wing organs in this
cty,with great discretion, have forborne to agiiah
the minds of their Southern readers, by full re-
cital of the proceedings in the N. York Legislature
We have determined to supply the deficiency. To
effect this object, we shall continue TO make
copious extracts from the sectional" organs OF
New York.
From the Tribune of "Wednesday we give
| the statement that follows. 1t is eminently sug-
gestive, and gives the points of the game now
being played at Albany. The defeat of Mr. FISH
hung on the vote Of solitary SENATOR who il
seems has already recanted, and stands ready TO
act with his party.
| The u. s. SENAroRsHTP-Wit n clear Wing
majority of thirty-six in the two Houses, and
with majority Of thirty for Hamilton Fish over
the votes cast in both Houses for all other per
| sons, an election Of u. S. senator was yesierd Y
| prevented in the senate. Mr.. James w. Beck
man Of his city with, lXlh and XlVth wards
assumed the grave responsibility of casting II
scattering vote, and thus preventing any nomi
nation by the senate. The Locofocos we arr
led to presume, scattered their vo es as wideI,
as possible. But had all the sixteen Wings
who voted for Mr.. Fish been hearty and jealous
in his support, they might have ensured an cleo
zion by simply voting in body for any one o,
the gentlemen voted for by the other senators.
and so making a nomination.. (no matter OF
whomD thus carrying the election into joint
ballot, where Mr. Fish's election was certain
! We presume this would have ultimately been
done--unless there are several who vote for Mr..
Fish, because they dare not rote Otherwise, yet do
not at heart desire his election. But the sud-
denness with which the sennte WINS brought to
an adjournment by the junction of Mr.. Beck
man with all the opposition senators in voting
for and thus enabling the opposition lieutenant
governor to carry an adjournment, p obably
prevented any consultation among tho Wings MS
to the best course to he pursued. Hardly half
an hour had been devoted TO the grave duty
which long standing law Of the State and n
joint resolution Of the two Houses had expli-