Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1855-08-31


the passions aud preiadieeS Of party strife have
passed away. that the conviction has settled up
an the public mind that, in your conduct of na
tonal ailar- you aetuated by pure motives,
and that high purposes were bravely and wisely
executed.
The President did mol fail Ia appreciate the
comprehensive and national tone of the remarks
which had iust been made. They were in the
only spirit worthy Of an American citizen. An
opposite spirit--one sectional or fanatical-gould
have stamped disgrace and defeat upon the en-
,ign Of the revolution. II would have parnyzed
the energies. which in that great contest for the
right If self government, inspired words OF def
nnce and gave blows Of vigor when sigor was 80
much needed. II would have made this glorious
con.iituiion-under which have lived togeih-
er in peace under the controlling influence OF
which we have enjoyed for mese than sixty years
such a degree Of advancement, prosperity aud
happiness. individually and socially. MS States
and a. a confederaoy. rs the world has never yet
witnessed. and Which only mad !anaticsm would
rrcklesslY destroy-an impossibility.
Strive. said he, TO compute the ynue OF this
peerless inheritance. both by what it cost and by
the blessings which it has already conferred aud
see how vain all efforts at computation. The
great and nngrossing question which, under ex-
isting circumstances should call for the pro-
foundest deliberations Of every man who values
the boon of civil and religious liberty, IS how to
preserve that which, if once lost. never be
recovered. The general answer must be. by all
possible means, but chiefly by an habitual rev.
crenee for every principle, end a cheerful obedi-
ence to whit our fathers pledged themselves,
and bound US their children to. By sacred main
tenance, not only in letter but in spirit, Of all
the provisions OF the common bond. Ina coun-
try 50 vast as this 50 diversified in climate soil,
productions, interests, and population. it were
vain 10 expect the prevalence of the same senii-
ttF,f
this was true during the revolution. just
true at the adoption of the constitution, which
embraced the then thirteen States. il is now.
II then perfectly understood. But the gen
Grafton of our fathers we're not merely brave and
patriotic, they were rminentlg vi lisa and pract
cal men. ih'V ~ how vain wnuld he the at
tempt tu pfs-erse tho Liberties 90 fiis country
without cordial unian upon aii Questions which
could no. b. hrttrr ana moro eai,.iF rUtru.tei to
the States mud they made the best provision for
this diversity which human wisdom. could devise.
Under that provision, s4dd h.. Can cherish ind
love. as do, the Institutions Of tie 5 ate in
which was reared. fou, md thesp our coun-
trymen. from whatever region they may have
come, from the Mudcwasia t. the Capes of Flor
ida can do the same. aud the man who interferes
with the enjoyment Of our rights and privileges
in this regard, and in all others fails TO keep
faith, aud is reoreant to the most sacred injune-
tons of duty. tits no matter what peculiar
views may be, or what prcjudices may take pos
session of our minds or hearts, if American
citizens we find ourselves constrained by law
higher or more Imperative than this law, we then
deny the obligations which the constitution i'm.
poses and can have 10 just claim u the protee-
ton and blessing which it confers
The President said he apprehended that the
great danger to be guarded against, at the pres
ent time, the prevalence of heresies viii oh
were indirect antagonism with the basis, doctrines
and principles of the constitution, and, per-
hRps he might say, general want of Difference
to the authority of law. Let it be remembered
that whenever in State or territory, from the
Atlantic TO the Pacific coast, single citizen of
the Republic is deprived f the rights guaranteed
TO him by law, there is blow aimed at the con
stitution itself 1t matters not whether that
citizen be wronged by evasion or violence; and
let it also be remembered that he suffers not
alone The whole framework of our system to
greater or less extent inevitably feels the shock.
Hence obedience 10 the fundamental law. and to
all laws, national or State, local or municipal, en-
acted in subordjnaton thereto, is the lesson
first to be taught aud the last to be disregard
ed.
The President remarked in conclusion, that
although were assembled here for relaxation,
and to enjoy the noble scenery and bracing at
mospherc, could not be unmindful Of the soil
upon which we trod, nor could we, if we would,
WITHHOLD our cueelIul, pfalSiui homage from lHe
"mother of States and of statesmen" Here she
stood, with all the glorious memories of the past
and the kiudling hopes of the future. clustering
pre- eminenily around the fields of her victory,
and the tombs Of her sages Here upon her cain
bosom reposed the ashes of the Great Captain,
who, thoroughly inspired with the idea of patriot
ic nationality, solved, under the Providence of
God, the problem of Independent sovereignty for
this continent Here, near the seat of learning
Ia abp1 Wis he modest
which points to the burial spot of the bold but
sagaeious and philosophic reformer who promul-
gated n the Declaration of Independence, and in
the act of 1857 .'to establish religious freedom
in Virginia" now incorporated into her oonstitu-
ton, the great principles Of civi. and religious
liberty
Here too lived and died the calm and learned
statesman who. more than any other, contributed
to the formation and the perfection of the details
of the complicated system of government under
which we live, who may justly De said to have
launched the constitution, and to have been the
pilot during the first years oftho great experiment.
Here vas the home Of the matchless orator whose
tongue seemed to have been touched with n
live coal from OF the altar of liberty; and whose
silver tongued voice pronounced those inspired
sentiments which cheered the hearts of Samuel
Adams and John Hancock in Faneul Hall. How
amazing that in the development of great talents
in the world history, such an allotment should
have fallen to a single State, Long may she main.
tain her present position, encouraging by her
precept and her example hopes of union which
shall never perish.
The President assured exPresident Tyler
that he should gladly accept his invitation to be-
come better acquainted with the concourse of his
countrymen here assembled, and who had given
him a reception so cordial, in manner SO agree
able"
Picnic OF SpIRITUALIsTs.-A picnic of
Spiritualists took place on Tuesday at West
Flushing, as we learn from the New York Tri-