Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1852-10-13

Meeting at StdtespiHe on the 1Oth snsut.
HrLLLsBoRouGH, Sept. A, 1852.
GENTLEMEN: l gratefully acknowledge
your favor of the Goth ut., inviting me to =
Mass Meeting of our political friends in that
part ofthe State at Statesville. on the 10 inst.
in honor ofthe nominees of the Wing Conyen-
ton at Baltimore. for the Presidency and Vice
Presidency Of the United States. g ..
You are pleased to add that this assemblage
has beenappointed at the site of the old States
vile Academy. not very distant from tho
place Of my birth. and whittier l was sent
when first left my parental home to pursue
TINT course of education, which was to deter
mine my destiny in life: and that the friends of
my youth, and associates and acquaintances of
maturer !, cars, will be there in large numbers,
to offer me kindly greeting
Few events, beg to assure you. could af-
ford me more qualification than to comply with
this flattering and cordial invitation. 1t awak-
ems recollections dear To my heart, and adds
the charms of personal friendship to political
appreciation. Confidence has been said 10
be plant of growth After life, now past
meridian, and for near twenty consecutive
years connected with public affairs. it is to me,
refreshing to be re.assured, that as regards
myself, it is yet fresh and unbroken in the soil
where 1t first took root.
You likewise suggest, that the occasion will
be an appropriate one to vindicate the great
man with whom am associated in this cleo
ton from charges of hostility TO the South. and
infidelty to the Compromise of the last Con-
gress.
1t is one of the shallowest and commonest
devices of party, to find out what is most
odious or dstasteful TO the prevailing senti-
ment OF u country section, and impute that
20 its opponent. This charge of favoring abo-
lition, Of being under its influence has been
standing accusation of the South against every
Wing candidate for the last sixteen years. It
was alleged against HARRISON whose competi-
tor has since been the abolition candidate for
that high sation--against Clay. whose success
ful competitor approved the Oregon Territor-
ial Bill, nhibiting slavery thereip,-against
Taylor, whose rival declined to vote for the
Fugitive Slave Law, because it did not provide
Jury trial for the returned Fugitive; in the
Federal courts, Of course. 1t was alleged a.
galnst Mr. Webster SO long as he stood a chance
for the nomination, and his most patriotic
speeches, advising acqulescence in the Com
promise, were garbled and criticised to sub
stantiate it; and it was freely imputed to Mr..
Fillmore by the opposition press of this State.
even after he had approved all the compro-
misc measures, and had issued orders for the
execution Of the Fugitive Slave Law by mill
tary force, if occasion should demand it. Had
he or Mr.. Webster been the nominee of the
Convention, instead Of Gen. Scott, there would
have been, so far as regards this objection il
we may judge of the future by the past but
the change Of a name. The tale would have
been repeated, and probably with more en-
phasis. While the people Of tho South will
be vigilant and firm in the maintenance of their
just rights. trust they will be misIcd by no
IDLE clamor. After an agitation of many years.
on matters connected with slavery, there has
been an ad ustment, in which | am persuaded
the mass Of the American people has acqu-
esced The authors and friends of that id
justment, | am sure. will be the last to reopen
the controversy. ~.
SO far as may depend on me, the charges a,
gainst Gen.Scott 10 which you refer. have been.
already neg atived, and that in manner indica-
ting a stronger Conviction on my part than any
reasoning can employ. Bound to North Caro-
lima by every tie of interest and affection which
attaches other men, | am under the additional
obligation of gratitude for her higest honors re-
peatedly bestowed. If could consent to com.
promit her interests or honor in a matter vi
tai to the South and the Union by any combi-
nation or association adverse to her, should be
untrue, not merely to the impulses OF patriotism,
but to the instincts of nature. When therefore,
accepted the nomination for the Vice Presi
dency, (Which your delegates in the Conven-
ton will bear me witness L had not sought,)
knowing what principles had been declared by
the convention and that Gen. Scott was my as
sociate for the Presidency by that act, pro-
claimed my confidence in him more emphati-
caly than | Can now do in words. had known
him familiarly for twelve years. and was intl-
mately associated with him during the most try
ing period of the compromise, when its fate was
sus spected in doutful scales. know that he had
been the friend OF these measures when they
stood in need Of friends, and that independent
ly Of his ilostrious services, and underworld
fame, which viii place him. in American histo-
ry, side by side with Plutarch's men in the re-
publics ofantiquity, and which forbid any pret.
ty sectional or factious views TO be entertained
by him. he was committed to the compromise
as one of Its most effective supporters. at the
time ofits adoption. And to me. who have been
in position ever since to observe the progress