Washington sentinel. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1853-1856, 1855-05-15

aught we know, theYmay proyeto be the letters
of Bellerophon, and we may become the uncon-
scious bearers of the warrant for our own DIES.
truction. The time has been when Virginia
and Massachusetts exchanged presents Of sent
ment and opinion, but they were sentiments in
favor Of human freedom, and not declarations
against that greatest Of all liberties, the liberty
OF conscience. For myself ] have closed the
pages of Massachusetts history, since it became
evident that this new party had complete pos
session OF her State Government. | have not
followed to the conclusions any Of their pro
positions; to translate their old Latin motto
into English, because the language is foreign;
or to introduce the Songs of the Hutchinson
family into legislative session, or to exclude
from their public schools the study Of all Ian
guages but. the vernacular. Nor have 1 en-
quired very curiously into the precise amount
OF KNOWN othing literature which existed, to
I'LL the immense void which would be made by
excluding all that was not English. But,
beg pardon, there have been some events in
her recent history so startling as to enforce the
most unwilling attention. | have seen, with
pain and modification, that committee Of her
Legislature, armed with the majesty and power
of the State. did, but the other day, make a
who were conducting private school, and used
or rather abused, their authority to insult these
defenceless females. j have watched, too
with the deepest interest, the case Of Loring,
to see if the power of that great State is to be
used to crush man, merely because he obeyed
the obligations of his oath, of the constitution,
and of the law which he was appointed to adj
minister If that deed be conshmmaeed. then
say, let her face be turned to the wall; let us
endeavor to forget it for a while, at least until
these terrible delusions shall have passed away,
which vex the brain and disturb the brow
Fellow-citizens, if the long cherished prin-
cples of Virginia are to fall, let it be at another
time, and not now. Let US perish in some
open field, in fair and manly fight; but let us
not die by the bow-string of the mute. If the
good old flag ship of Democracy is to go down,
let it be with colors flying, and to the sound of
martial music, and firing the last shot in the
locker, in token that the Old Guard may die,
but cannot surrender But who talks of failure?
These principles will live, and trust endure
for centuries yet to come; that old ship will not
go down, -but
g It's flag shall brave thousand years,
The battle and the breeze"
Virginia is now aroused to a true sense Of the
Importance of the contest. She understands
be in the field with all her banners waving, and
ready to charge with all chivalry. In the
darkest hour of the revolution, General Wash
ington said, that when all else failed, he would
plant his flag in west Augusta, and there de-
tend it to the last. If the Democratic party
should be defeated in all other places, let it
come to its favorite stronghold in the Old Do
minion, and plant its banner there And let
us defend and protect it, until the people come
up to its rescue, as come they will, if we pre-.
serve the liberty to know, to argue, and to
utter freely, according to conscience, and thus
afford them the opportunity to understand their
interests. Whilst that continues, will neither
bate in heart, nor hope, nor consider all is lost
until that too is taken from US.
-. But fellow-citizens, Itax your patience much
too far. / have been carried on by my earnest
wish to impress you as deeply with sense Of,
the importance of the present crises, as / feel
it myself have not had the power 10 do it,
as | ought to have known beforehand; yet |
struggled on under the hope that some chance
arrow might reach its mark. felt too it was
my duty to warn you of the danger, which, in
my opinion, lies before you. have shown you
the issues which we are to meet; the trials that
are not to be avoided. If there be any peace
fnl solution Of these difficulties, have pointed
you TO the only direction in which think it
can be found. In this case, believe it to be
not only the path of safety, but that of honor
also. You will see, therefore, why j have
pressed you so earnestly to take it. / do not
say, that there is no other peaceful solution of
our difficulties, but merely that do not see it,
if it exists. Providence sometimes opens up
unexpected avenues of escape from peril. NY
own knowledge too, even Of the past is very
limited; my fore knowledge still more so. There
are chances which do not pretend to estimate
shall be glad to avail myself Of any which
may turn up; fot next to the safety and honor
of my country, | desire its peace. Yes, sir
its peace; for sometimes the whole story of
national happiness may be written in that one
word. | must aver, therefore, that / regard
these interests as too vast to be staked upon
chance. But let me say now, and once for nll
that whatever may betide her, stand by my
State. If troubles should come, ! will take
my full share, without pausing to inquire what
party, or who of her sons, brought them upon
her We are the children Of a common mother,
and it is our first duty to defend her.
But if these responsibilities are to be met.
and admit my obligations to do so, let me at
least have the satisfaction Of feeling, that il
Virginia goes into the contest with no faint
upon her brow, or reproach upon her fidelity
to the sacred obligations of friendship, may It
never be said of her, that she brought her
trouble upon herself by deserving her friends
when in peril and difficulty, and may the cry of
craven never pursue her as :" the pilot that
blenched at the helm, when the storm blew the
loudest" If all else is lost, let Us at least
save her honor. To do this, nothing more is
necessary than that she should be true to her
self; for that much we surely ought to be able
TO answer. s. sii =.
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