Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1855-05-21
MI Preston's speech.

o. the citizens OF IYnchourg anu IL N'e'h''Ni III
n speech of two hours and half marked with
large and statesman like views. profound aud phi
bsophic study and research, aud calm md con-
yincing argument. 1t our intention to have
taken full notes and have written out a. nearly
as possible the language of his address, bu, be
coming more interested in listening than in the
execution of that task, we abandoned II, aud can.
not now do more than refer to the topics discuss
ed and the impression produced,
After thanking the audience for the cordial
welcome with which It greeted him. and referring
20 himself a. Withdrawn from public life, and re
mote from the more excited contests OF the Pc
Ttioal arena Mr. p, adeerted to the exiraordina.
~ revolution in parties and popular sentiment
which had taken place within a brei period, aud
i still progressing, tracing II to IT. source IN the
conservative and national charucleraf n prcpon-
lr,tinsr norton of the American peoFle--iu
sentiment Of LOYALTY and patriotism which was
TOO enlarged for the narrow platforms Of pohtl.
Clans and too honest for longer fellowship with
the depationazed and demoraized partics TINT
had hitherto divided the country and by turn di.
rccted the policy of the government. uerct"red
10 humble origin of this movcment,its first i'e-
bledeman-trations its miraculous growth, oudIt
astonishing achicvmenis From modest attempt.
n FIRST 10 recilfy local abuses and reform m 'n.ci-
rnl Encouragement. i'll bud gone on eaarglng ani
strengthening till States began 20 fall beneath It's
s,,ov-pn1 the Government itsrG endowed with
the beste.ssl IF Princeiy hanors an3 patronage
almost h4undje-,, had been stripped ut power
and Pc doomed 10 defeat. The President who
b.,> than three ycnrs ago, wa, oorne into his hEh
station by the mighticst tide of popular prefer
cnce tina, had ever risen IN this country had nj
rendv more than lost tie control, through ms
friends, ofCongrcss, md stood almost without
party in the country. Even the granite D"moc.
racy Of Lis own native New Hampshire had melt
cd like was,in the ardor and fire of Ameticansm,
and the keystone OF Pennsylvania bud crumbod,
buryinr in its dust the last vestige of party De.
mocracy. Not only had judgment gone forth
against the administration, but II decree MS un
changabe us fate had established. that 1t wonld
never be succeeded by another elected upon the
Old partisan appeal of Democracy specially II
at it, head stood Northern man with southern
feelings \ Democrat might sgun be President
but he must bo one who had renowned all nero
partisanship--n Northern man might agan he
President, but he must have nationa y American
feelings. The speaker said that he made
these illusions in no spirit of party reproach or
triumph, but TO show how radical aud sweeping |
the revolution that had overturned, in so brici a
time, an administration and a party TINT bat yes
terdav seemed lodged upon immoyabe basis.
The Wing party he declared had no longer ma
tional existence. At THE North, under the DANCE
rous lead of Seward, intent ON forming a sec
tonal party it had become abotion1ed to such |
a de gree, as to render farther aiiation by South
ern Wings an impossiblIity. He would never
aqain as a Wing sit with them in national con
yention organized under former regulations.
Upon what party then could the South with its |
peculiar interests, and the country one and WHOLE
rely. Not upon either OF the lmpotent aud shat
tered wrecks of party 10 which he had reterred-
not upon that which, in the coming Presidential
election, would stand opposed 70 the American
for that opposition would be composed OF all the
selfish and corrupt isms of the day, the wrctched
odds and ends of faction and fanatieism with no
common creed and no bond of union except a
kindred and intense hostility to the party that had
overpowered them all. The hope OF the country
and the reliance of the South were i'll the Amer
lean party, or nowhere. Was not that reliance
sufficient Its power was established: the ques
ton Of the next Presidency was already settled :
but its power was not the best guarantee IT had
given, nor the only one that should be requncd.
Its principles, as agreed upon in its councils and
avowed by its organs were the true pohcy Oh the
country. the essential elements of repubhcausm,
the bonds of union and the basis of the eonsut0-
tion. The lately published ritual of the lmfd
Degree, recognized as genuine, brenthed they very
shirt Of national concord and obedience TO tue
constitution 1t embodied II creed apan winch
good men and patriots from every CLINE ond
quarter of the confederacy might lay their hand.
and pledge an amending fdelity to the public
Upon that platform all might stand who desired
to preserve the Union and perpeiaate our form
of government-tbere was no place on 1t for the
man opposed TO either
MIR. Preston discussed at length the question
of INN grafton. 1t had come, he said, to be
.l'i4e If tn ya,test moment 10 this country to
determine the regulations under which the natives
of other countries, reared under different laws
and religions, with ideas in many cases ut war
with the principles of our constitution, should
be admitted not only to residence on our soil
and competition in all the arts and rewards OF
industry, but to a participation in our govern
ment and a contest for the offices and donors of
State. Years ago, even before the beginning of
the century, when the proportion of foreign-bo born
citizens among us was insignificant, the subject
had excited the apprehension of the wise men of
that day, and the statute books of Virginia would
sbos more than one instanceo of legislation limit
,oL IA h.ru a