The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-06-11

one who hoporA HIN more than | and especially
do honor him for whatever part he bore in III
e,terprise, having any tendency, however remote.
to free his country from thraldom 10 u forsi9n
power. "What portioa have you in David
What inheritance in the son Of Jesse I" that has
not been bartered away for Texas script. ac-
cept your invitation us II is meant; as an invita-
ton to be- with you in heart; and as indicative
OF the belief that in heart, will be with you.
You are not mistaken, gentlemen. Will be
with you on that day in spirit; for on that day
shall not forget that the next day, (May bth,)
will be the anniversary Of the day on which
Virginia, standing alone in her own strength
took her own independent place among the ma
tons of the earth, AZ u free sovereign and indie
pendent State On that day, gentlemen, shall
think of you, and wherever ! may be, will fill
glass in honor Of General Qnitman, to the
most invaluable of all human rights--the last
that brave man will surrender, and without
which all other rights are worthless, and nc
more than shadows--"Ths right 10 Gght"
should be glad to believe, gentlemen, at the
moment, that you were in the act Of pledginQ
me- But the time though near ut hand, is moi
come, when men feel the full value Of the right
The present is but the season of portents
When the best men Of England put on mourn
ing for Lord Russell, and the populace followed
the hurdle that bore him to the scatlold, as il II
had been u conqueror's cor, what did 1t forbode
When Jsmes the IL. heard u shout on uoustj
Heath, and, having asked its meaning WAS told
it was f" nothing but rejoicings at the acquittn
of the seven bishops" "Call you that no
thing? :" said he. But added the sullen ty
| rant, so much the worse for them" Aye wa,
| it 80 ? SO much the worse indeed for cravens
and dastards, who putforth great swelling words
of vanity, and straightway retract them. Bu
not for them, for they were brave and true, ant
valued freedom at its full worth, and fell fol
England's honor as Englishmen should. Alas
| for Virginia! 1t is indeed so much the worse
for her-Shall it be so much the worse for Mis-
sissippi too! Yes if she suffers South Caroline
to DO trampled down in the breach to which
| Mississippi herself summoned her.
Gentlemen, it is in bad taste to mingle tht
memory of the dead with the festivities Of thu
| living. But when men meet together to com
pare the evils Of the present with the glories o.
the past, and the hopes of the future, no timt
can be more appropriate for recalling names il
lustrous for doing and suffering in the cause (.
right and liberty. | beg you, therefore, to &C
cept the following tribute to departed greatness
which beg may be drank standing and in 81
lence, and with all the tokens of respect We
are in the habit of awarding the mighty dead;
"The memory of the ancient and illustriou'
commonwealth Of Virginia"
Yes, she was iustrious. Fua Hum, Fui
mas Irois." What is she now, and what are
we! HOSTS habet nluros, Ruiz alle a culmin.
IrWa-"
Gentlemen, thank you for having afforded
me an opportunity to utter some Of the thoughts
which burn in my heart, to fhose whose hearts
(not their cheeks,) will burn at hearing them
rejoice that the sons of Virginia have found ,
home in distant land, where they may show
that though she is dead, her spirit still lives il
them.
With high respect and entire sympathy, am
gentlemen, yours, &C., B. TUCKER.
To Messrs. C. s. 1arplsy Geo. Scam, d
~. Barrocs, T.. Barksdale, C. d. Green
Comm tee.