Washington telegraph., 1851-07-30
THE CLOSE qE THE CANVASS.

On next Monday the Candidates speak
at this place, and then the Congressional
canvass closes. John Preston, the Union
standard bearer has boldly and gaNantly
discharged his duty; and a good cause
has lost nothing by being entrusted to
his hands. After speaking at Little Rock,
the candidates. accompanied by Major
Borland, proceeded on their Southern
tour. On next Saturday they will speak
at Lewisville, in Lafayette county; and
on tae day of the election, here,
The people were never caAed upon to
exercise their sovereign privilege OF vo-
ting. upon more important occasion.
The land is teeming with sentiments of
disunion,. which, if anything could, would
awaken our siumbering patriots from their
graves, moisten their hollow cheeks with
tears Of sorrow, and re-animate their dead
lips with words ofdenuncia.ion and warn
ing. Disupion To- them was word un-
known. They never entertained the
thought that it would SO soon become
matter of every day comment, and be re-
garded as a remedy TO. be sesorted. to, for
the redress of every fancied wrong.
On next Monday the people will be
called upon to decide, at the polls. wheth.
er they value this Union as our fathers
did, or are willing to cast their influence
in the scale of disunion, and TO- array
themselves by the side of the South
ment of a government whose only security
and strength is in Union.
Were the people permitted to look
coolly and dispassionately at the question,
we should have no fears as to the result.
! We should have no fears that the people
of this State, would say. by their votes,
that they are ,eady for disunion-that
they have been oppressed until they can
endure it no longer-that our govern
ment is an unjust one, and our national
flag mockery!
We know there are but few in the
State who really believe this. and yet by
a blind and Inconsistent vote, we may
/ lay ourselves open 10 the charge that
such are our sentiments. Has not Robt.
! w. johnson sided with the secessionists
and disunionists OF South Carolina? Has
he not gone further than mere intemper-
ate zeal, although this, at suck crisis,
might Lead to disastrous consequences?
Has he not considerably and mathemati-
cally calculated the value of the Union
to the South, and figured it out to be
unjust, oppressive and worthless? How
can those who are disposed 20 excuse
Mr. Jobnson's violence, on the score OF
excessive attachment to the South, for
give this cool calculation Of Southern
advantages to be derived from disunion?
For the hasty errors of an excitable and
ardent temperament there might be some
indulgence. but.this CALM, aispassionate
and critical estimate in figures can claim
no lenity from any one who thinks this
Union worth preserving.
! We know that the people of our State
are strongly for the Union; and we would
have no fears of the result, if they will
only consider that in voting Eor Mr. John
son they are Strengthening the cause of
disunion. Our only fears spring from the
efforts that are made to make the people
believe that the cry of disunion is all a
humbug, and that Mr.. Johnson is a
staunch friend of the Upiop-yea, even
better one than Its standard.hearer,
JOHN PRESTON.
The canvass is drawing to close, and
we trust the people will not he thus
blinded and deceived We know they
prize our glorious Union, with love
akin to that with which our fathers
cherished it; and we believe they have
the judgment TO discriminate between its
friend and foe We believe, too, they
will have the patriotic independence to
vote as their judgment dictates, and bv
giving to John Preston, on Monday next,
a redeeming majority, say to the U!tras
and Disunionists every where, who have
been boastfully anticipating the election
of Mr. sJohnson-'you have mistaken
Arkansas-she glories in the Union-and
feels proud to be counted a star in con-
stellation so glorious
Mr.. WEBSTER AGAIN.-We publish in another
column second speech of Mr.. Webster at Capon