Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1851-05-26
OF the LyncHaourg Re
publican, and MIR. Powell,

The Lynchburg RepuiLcan, after paving our Cir.
cnlar Chat for which Mr.. Goggin who never saw or
heard OF it, until its Appearance, and never signed
is held responsibility sundry compliments, has much
to our qualification. published tive were going m
say cn''re but we will not mssntc the known rules
OF warfare of our cotemporary-ia payt. and sept il
IN extra sheets, TO various parts OF this Compression
al District. We note this fact for several rea
sons The Editor Of the Republican, not long since
apologised to its readers for giving too much promi
nence to our opinions. In two weeks afterwards.
nc not only published an obsolete Circular of ours
~ tc, with some accidental omissions, but mmor-
tased the occasion by issuing large number of Or.
tras for general distribution.
Mr.. Powell has, also, we understand, parted him.
self upon the Circular aforesaid, and holds il up
as triumphant vindication of his course on the
Compromise question. In fact he has gone so far
as 10 say, that he looked upon it, in Congress an
tndeE of the opinions of the people of Bedford ON
that subject. The shallowness OF this pretext will
strike every at a glance. In the first placc i,
was written in n very few weeks after Mr.. Claws
Compromise plan had been reported and when the
discussion it had barely commenced. so ,ba, the
people OF Bedfrd had, in all probability, af that
time, formed no dctiritc opinion on the su'iiect-
In the second place, what right had Mr. Powell 10
regard our individual opinions as an index to those
o' the people Of Bedford We did not then know
a hall dozen people in the county. and had never
q
wrote that Circuarthat the people might know o,,r
Opinions, and not as an exposition of theirs This
Is evident to any one capable of spelling in three
syables Mr. Powell Ind no occasion to look TO
us, stranger and Ifhig as a reable exponen,
Of the sentiments of his constituents. He had friends
herc-Democratic friends-who were far more Gu
Pabie ct forming correct conclusion. in the prcmi-
ses,fhan were. Why did he not rely upon the mi
why did he not ask of them what were the opiuions
Of the Bedford people on this question: The truth
Is, the Hon. gentleman was misled-hc msrerrc
ted his constituents, and since he has become con-
vinced Of his blunder, he is endeavorinc TO right
himself by making tallas; Of us. WIN don't he
defend himseyH Why don't he write a Circular.
ana tell the people how he voted. and why be so
voted' 1t would be much more satisfactory to them
to have his defence from his own lips or pen. than
to see him throw himself upon the Circular of a
hh'g opponent. which written from personal
considerations, and intended for local purposes n
lone. II what school-boys call n poor excusc.u
We hive, heretofore. satisfied every candid req
der OF our paper. that the Compromise measures,
which we opposed, in June last and those which we
supported several months afterwards are totally
and radically different. If Mr.. Powell attached 50
much Importance to our opinions, and placed so
much faith IN our Judgment, to adopt the one
ana follow the other, whist he was surrounded bv
so many greater and more prominCnt men than we
arc why does he forsahe nowl If his firth in u.
was as strong as he pretends ,hat it was--so much
so, that he dropped all other guides 70 follow us-
he surely ought to have concluded that we had
cause .-r our change ii change :. were. If we had
faith enough in a mans ,,.,.-ment and discretion rs
to adopt him fer guide in our official di,,te-
and as cur shield Of defence before dissatisfied
constituency. we should certainly have equal faitL
m any change OF position which be might make as
being both prudent and right. If Mr.. Powell re-
any rcearded the Circular aforesaid" true ex-
position oil the opinions of the people of Bedford
trusting as he processes to have done in our iudr
ment in the premises VIC tell MIN that in his pre-e5,
attitude he misrcpresenis very large ma ;ority OF
tnem. Ii they were opposed To the Cornpron,ise |
winch we denounced in June last they are. over |
whemingly in favor cf that which was adnptea. IL |
September afterwards and we call upon him tn act
accoriirgiy II he had much fifth in our opin- |
IONS men we demand the same exercise of it nosc.''
Thus by his own witness, whose veraci-
ty Mr. Powell is lawyer enough to know
he cannot impeach, have we established |
several interesting facts against Mr.. P. and
ms editorial-his by adoption if not BY
right of authorship-fac,s which it may be
well to notice more particularly, viz:
l. That the circular, Oh which he has
planted himself, not as a platform. for
sooth! but as Wing evidence in his ia
YOUR, refers to Compromise which is a
totally and radically different" thing from
the one against which Mr. Powell voted
and denounced, and which the witness
=. Although the manifest design of Mr..
roweifs editorial, is to identity Mr.. Cog.
sin With this circular, yet his witness. on
'ross-examina'ion. di-.inc,ly proves. no,