Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1851-09-15

union in the South, and yet acknowledg-
ing the right Of revolution or rebellion in
any people against oppression, at home or
abroad, Ireoice inthe Compromise made
by an union Of the patriotic portion Of both
psrtics, It the last session OF the Congress
Of the United States. Whilst. as South
| crn man. l should have preferred better
! terms. that is TO say. the geographical line
| ofs6 deg. 80 min. to the Pacific Ocean, yet
/ acquiesce in the adjustment as made.
believe. and have often expressed the
sentiment, that the chief cause ofirritatios
between the sections, was the incfiicierfcy
Of the law Of Congress of 1893 which pro-
vided for the restoration of our Fugitive
Slaves. There were SO few Federal Courts
and officers charged with the execution
of that law) that it was dead icter-val-
ueless when opposed 70 the counteracting
influences Of Statelegislation andindividual
organization to Illustrate it. Ifmy memory
serves me right, the third session Of Con-
gress atten an application was made to a
| mend the law, and the second session af
ter. ocr Legislature formally instructed
their Senators, and requested their represen-
tatives to procure its amendment. 1t was
amended, and, verify believe. that if it is
left on your statute book, and fairly en-
forced, 1t will restore good feelings be-
4 tween US. l will not trust Esyseif to
give utterance to my opinions ofwhat would
be the consequences Of repeal or essen
tial modification OF that law, because il is
my deliberate judgment that nothing but
madness could promptthe act 1t is law to
effectuate anexpress provision of our Fed
eral Constitution and to repeal or modify
essentially, will itsefbe dissolution of that
Union the Constitution was made to
secure. Since opposition has been made
to my reelection, have heard of no spe-
ci6c objection to my past course, save my
vote opposing the call Of what was denom-
mated the Nashville Convention.
Never justifying. but always viewing
with de:estation,the movements in the Free
States. having for their object, the inter
ference with our slave property, yet I con-
sidercd that not the proper remedy, but an
appeal to Congress to amend the act of
1898 and temperate appeal to the sober
judgment of the people Of the non slave
holding States. ganst the asitat;ons in their
midst Of doctrines injurious and irritating
10 us.
feared also, that oat Of that Conven-
ton might spring Southern Confederacy.
upon the ruins Of our present Union. My
vote was cast against this scheme in all its
forms. That Albemarle justified the vote
is evinced by the fact of more than one
public meeting composed, as have heard,
Of both parties. That the whole State re
pudiated the movement, or nearly so, is
evinced by the fact that ct the first meet
ing ofthat body, but four delegates atten-
ded from Virginia, and at the last meeting
but one delegate appeared from this State.
At the last session of your Legislature,
the true sentiment Of our State was de-
clared; insubstance, rebuking the fanatics
both North and South
1t would have been pleasing TO me
Fellow-ciiizcns, 10 Rave been able to have
| gone out amongst you, as well for the
purpose OF rendering TO you personally,
an account of my stewardship, as to have
thanked you personally. for your steady
1
in times past, on two other occasions, but
my private, and professional business for
babe it.
| Many may suppose, that my failure to
do so proceeds from insensibility to their
claims uponmy gratitude. Let ME, how
ever, assure all such, that whatever may
be the result of the present election. my
heart overAows with gratitude to my for
mer constituents, who SO generously took
me by the hand. unknown to most Of
them. and without effort on my part. to
win their favor, and placed me in their
Senate, and continued me there for eight
years. a position so long honored by your
Cabell, your Cooke and others.
And in conclusion Fellow -ci,zcns, per-
init me to say. that whilst regard the
present election as merely a formal one,
yet tits more deeply interesting to Inc, than
if service of four years was tofollow my
success. It's interesting TO me. because
employment in your service, unless you
deem me worthy, lie no object; can 10
better, much better, at home in my private
pursuits, but defeat under the circum-
stances fmy position, would be regarded
as condemnation of my past public
course. In taking leave of you, perhaps
for the last time, and without reference to
the presen, election, How me to coneratu-
late you on the prospect ofso much more
popular power conferred by the new, or
proposed Constit liion. The friends of the
enlargement. advocated it on the ground,
that it would elevate and ennoble the popu-
lar element of our system, whilst those W no
opposed. predicted greater rcrklessness.
Let me urge you to watchfulness and eau
ton, in all your selections to Office, and
thereby justify the predictions of friends.
Very respectfully,
| Your ob't servt.
JOHN THOMPSON, Jn.
AMHERsTC. H. Sept. sth 1851.
~ Lynch5wg Republican, Frgimia
.ddrocatc and Jeeersoriar Republican uiH
please cory.
| For he rirgia,an.
Mr.. EbrfoR: Many Of your readers will
hear with pleasure of the successful COM
pleton Of the dam cross James River at
Judith Creek, in the unprccedentedly short
time Of 6 months from the period ofits re-
commencement. This truly magnificent
structure is a wall Of solid masonry, built
entirely of cut stone, SO feet high at its
highest point. and is probably second to
no similar work in the Union, unless it be
the Croton Water Works dam in the vi
cinity of the city of New York. To all
human appearance the greathills by which
1T is surrounded will be lcvellcd with the
vallies, and the solid rock upon which i,