Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1851-01-02

gusta county, Va, assembled at Staun!on,
on the 25,h ult., to give expression to
their sentiments in relation 10 the Compro-
mise measures of Congress. Col. JAMES
CRAWFORD acted as president, assisted by
four Vice Presidents. JAMES McDowEL,
in Congress from that Dis
trict, was present by invitation, and deliv-
cred highly patriotic and eloquent adj
dress, which was repeatedly interrupted
by enthusiastic applause. Letters were
read from Messrs. Cass Clay, Webster,
Dickinson and Stuart. Below will be
found the one from Mr. Webster.
WAsHINGTos. ID. c.,
Nov %, 1850.
GENTLEMEN: On my arrival in this
city last evening, / had the pleasure TO re-
ceive your communication Of the 7,h inst.
1t is a refreshing, an encouraging and a
patriotic letter. You speak :he sentiments
which become the people of the great and
ancient Commonwealth of Virginia. You
speak as Wythe, and Pendeton, and
Jefferson, Marshall and Madison would
speak were they now among us. You
speak of the Union of these States; and
what idea can suggest more lively emotion
in the minds Of the American people, of
present prosperity, past renown, and fu-
,ure hopes. Gladly would l be with You
gentlemen, OH the proposed occasion, and
as one Of your countrymen and fellow
citizens, assure you ofmy hearty sympathy
with you, in The opinions which you ex-
press, and my interchangeable purpose 10
cooperate with you and other good men
in upholding the honor of the States and
the Constitution of the Government
! How happy should be 10 be present my
SELF in Virginia, west Of the Blue Ridge,
ard there TO pledge mutual faith with the
men Of Augusta and Rockbridge, Bath,
Alleghany, and Pocahon,as, Highland,
Pend'e,on and Rockingham, that while we
live, the institutions of our wise and pa
iriotc sires shall not want supporters, and
that so far as may depend Oh us, the civil
lied world shall never he shocked by be-
holding such prodigy as the voluntary
disembermeT OF this glorious Republic.
/ No, gentlemen, never, never. II il shall
come to that, political mar,yrdom is pre-
lerabe to such sight. /, is better TO die
while the honor OF the country is un,a.n-
'ished, and the flag Of the Union still fly
ing over our heads, than to live to behold
that honor gone forever and that flag pros
trale in the dust. Gentlemen, speak
warmly. because feel warmly, and be-
cause know that lspesk to men whose
hearts know are as warm "a my own in
support of the country and its Union.
am lately from the Nor,h,s where
have mixed extensively with men Of al
; classes and all parties, and assure yot
| gentlemen, through The masses Of 'h'
; Northern people, the general feeling ant
the grea, cry is for the Union and fer il
; preservation. There are, it is true, incl
to be found, some of perverse purposes
, and some of bewildered Imagination, WIN
affect TO suppose that some possible bu
| underlined good would arise from a disso
, luton of the ties which bind these Unite
l States together, bu, be assured the mum
Der OF these men is small, the emineii
, leaders of all parties rebuke them an,
while there prevails a general purpose 4
maintain the Union as it is. that purpos'
: embraces, as its just and ne cessary means
firm resolution of supporting the rights
! OF all the States, precisely as they stant
: guaranteed and secured by the constitution
! And you may depend upon it that every
provision in that instrument in favor ofths
rights Of Virginia, and the other Southern
States, and every constitutional act o
D Congress, passed TO uphold and eniorc'
those rights, will be upheld and maintain
Y ed not only by the power Of the law, bu
also by the prevailing influence Of publi
opinion. Accidents may occur TO defeat th'
o execution of law in a particular instance
misguided men may, it is possible some
| times enable others to elude the claims o
Justice and rights founded in solemn con
e stitu,ional compact but on the Whole, ant
;, in the end, the law will be executed ant
. obeyed the South will see that there i
: principle and patriotism, good sense, ant
honesty, in the general minds oithe North
r and that, among the great mass OF n'elli
e gent citizens in that quarter, the genera
:. dis position to ask for justice is not strong
: er than the disposition to grant it 10 9th
;, ers.
= Gentlemen, we are brethren, we ar
ueSCeuGaitS Vi thoSC iio toSStbc
: with intense anxiety for the establishmer
h of the present Federal constitution; l.
; me ask you, gentlemen, 10 teach you
e young men, into whose hands the powe
10 of the country must soon fall, TO 60 bac
IN to the close of the revolutionary war.
ID contemplate the ieebleness and incompe
a ,ency of the confederation Of states the
id existing; and to trace the steps by wkic
to the intelligence and patriotism OF The gre'
st men of tha, day led the country to III
to adoption OF the existing constitution; 'eac
- them TO study the proceedings, votes ar
n reports of committees in the old Congress
it especially draw their attention to the lea'
EN- ing par, taken by the Assembly Of vi
III cinia from 1888 onward; direct the
minds TO the Convention al Annapolis
l7s6; and, by the contemplation and stu'
EN- of these events and these efforts, let the
see what mighty thing it was +" es'ablI
, the government under which we have no
ne lived so prosperously and so e'or'ors
he for sixty years. But pardon me; mi
not write an essay or write speech.
Iy, Virginia, rue-hesrted Virginia. stand
your country, stand by the work Of ye
nal fathers, stand by the Union of the Stat