Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1854-08-28
senator Hunter in 1859 a,t5 1850

StualCI T1uuIcf lll 1907 HslL 1904.
In reply to Mr.. Bell of Tennessee upon
the Iowa land bill, in February, 1852, Mr..
Hunter said
beg leave to tell thot Senator that there
is still States Rights party in existence +;
that it has neither surrendered nor dlsban-
ded. They may be few in numbers their
line may have been shaken and shattered
by the onset of superior numbers; but still
they stand by the defences of the rights
o! :he States and cling to the Constitution
Of the country. Their 6eg is sill living.
and upon its broad feds e:e yet to be found
the stars, eacl. one Of which maintains
separate place and its distinct identity.-
Upon tia, field at least they do no, pale
ter Intellectual fires" before the excessive
light OF the great Federal sun. ], for one.
do not believe so poorly Of the power Of
truth over the American people as to sup
pose that such cause can be lost by their
verdict. On the contrary, say to Them,
and 10 all who hear my voice, that | con-
jure them in the language Of the
dying Calhoun to his colleague, and bid
them "neser despond.!'.
Sir, they are few, know, but perhaps
not Too few to stand IN the breach uhtt:a
others may come 20 the rescue
Let them do their duty for the day, and
take an appeal from the present to the ris.
! ing generation, who may come TO relieve
them OIL the morrow. Sir, if were 10 tel
the dream Of ms fancy, should say that
seem 10 hear the distant tread of the thick
coming hosts who will rally upon the de.
fences which guard the rights of the States
and who will restore the Constitution o.
the country net, sir, The Constitution a.
it Is now known in federal CLOSES and de.
generate commentaries, but in ell the Wig.
oaods simplicity and punty Of its origina
creation"
In the same speech re said
1--WE, see, too, rroposiioEs 10 give eve.
rs man farm; "A proposition to give land
to all the exiles whe may come from abroad
and who may be said to be victims OF op.
piesslcn and propablv we shall soon have
q proposition TO put the lands down to &
merely nominal price. Such schemes a;
these most ntalibly lead to agrarian agi-
tations, TO strifes between the different sec,
Z tons of the Coniedera-y, and warfare ii
the very bosom of society. amongst its va.
rious classes, contending with each other
for plumber under the forms of legislation. .
This very proposition TO put down The
lands TO fnerel,s nominal price Mr.. Hun
ter has himself made Again he said
"Io give every man a farm, te put doF'
the lands to mere nominal prices 10 hold
out the idea Of giving farm to every man
who come here from abroad as soon rs he
reaches our county. would have the effect
TO turn the emigration to peculiar section
Of the country, and produce results like
those to which have referred.
say, SIT, that we ought to treat the stream,
Of emigration and population precisely like
that Of commerce ard trade leave all open
to free competition under Just ard equal
laws, resorting 10 no eytravagant !egisla-
ton and giving no unnatural direction nor
false ans artificial impulse to it,
On the same occasion Mr.. Iluntei said
dSir wish to pursue the old path OF
our progress and 10 follow the landmarks
to which American experience has direct
ed us. am willing TO receive all The adj
diticnai information and assistance. all the
new light and knowledge " bich may BE-
derived from any source; but still feel
bound TO say that choose to follow in that
path which OH foreia.hsIs marked cut for
US, when. if may borrow woodtnap's
phrase, they eriszed their way Through
the wilderness"