Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1856-02-13
The Constitutional Protest against Radical.

The Constitutional Protest against Radical
| lam.
In these degenerate days. upon which VI have
fallen, when the "yalue Of the Union" is unfortu-
nately, a subject of speculation, IL may be
well (says the Mobile Adver,iser) for conserva-
tive men Of all parties to consider its Value
the vaue. we mean, of thu. Constitution as IL IS,
in the view expressed by our caption.
| The evils of disruption of the Union are not
to be estimated merely by the loss Of glory aud
Of greatness, the sunderng Of national aud social
ties the civil strife the jealouses. struggles and
disputes 10 which it would lead. These might be
borne or time might them, but what could
compensate for the loss Of that noble structure
Of political wisdom, the Federal Constitution
| In the multitude Of destructive, disorg anizing
theories that sweep pver the land whether i'm
ported from aheistic. rationazing Germany,
waited from the red region Of French democracy,
or springing from the tecming transcendentasm
Of our own New England brethrenf stands in
its steady, Anglo-Saxon strength, like one OF
those stately, Druidica oaks, that have stood un.
moved amidst the storms Of centuries, on the
plains Of the fast anchored isle
1t gives no countenance to the rampant de-
structivism so prevalent at this day. by its ad-
mirabc adjustment of powers md check .-espe-
caly as illustrated in the organism of the SEN
ate and Federal Judciary--it protests against
the abuses of an untempered democracy THE
despoiism Of majority. 1t protects liberty from
RIGHTEOUSNESS, as well as from perogative.
Suppose this goodly edifce destroyed, and tho
work of constitution making to be begun again. in
the present turbid state ofpotica feeling what
would be the result! Let the multiplicity of
botched and manglod remains, exhibited by a.
minded State Consultations. answer. But even
these can but family image the effects of de-
pendent judiciary, multiplication of elections
and eeelioneering eorruptions. and other like
evils, when exhibited on larger scale and in n
wider field. Who, that has any knowledge of
human nature OF human history, cannot readily
foresee the succession, first of anarchy, then
despoislr.
Such has ever been the process of decline in
other repubcs-such may it neper be in this.
The DEMOCRATIC JOURNALS are making "A fu
rious clamor over the election of Banks. as Sleuk
er of the House OF Representatives. Now we
suspect that mach of this is mere prctencc--
first, because they might have prevented it aud
would not and, second, because the thing they
attempted to do, by more than hundred ballots,
was not very different from the thing the Black
Republicans did. on the l}31 ballot. Tint wo
do not speak heedcssly we refer the reader, in
proof, to the following comparison of the opin-
ions of Messrs. Rich irdson and Banks, taken
from the Nashville Banner:
| Mr.. Banks holds thnt the Constitution does not
carry the institution of slavery into the Terrific
res. so does Mr. Richardson.
Mr.. Banks holds that the Constitution dos not
! protect slave property in the Territories. Mr..
| Richardson holds that the shareholders in ;he
| Territories are dcpendent--we quote his own
words-"are dependent upon the legislation of
| the Territorial Government for laws 10 protect
their property"
| Mr.. Banks believes ~ the constifptionaiuy Of
! the Wilmot Provso. SO does Mr.. Richardson.
| Mr.. Banks is in favor of restoring the Nilsson
ri Compromise line that is of, re prohibiting by
/ Act of Congress, the Introduction of slavery in
! to all that part of Nebraska and Kansas Terrific
! ry lying North Of 36 degrees and 30 minutes. -
! Mr. Richardson, while he holds that Congress
has the constitutional power IT, restore the line.
! that is. to re.enact the Missouri Compromise
prohibition Of slavery North of that line Is in ia
vor of leaving the decision Of the question of tho
!
tiers, Abolition Aid Society emigrants aud all,
! whether native born. naturnlized unnatural
! lied. who have hn-tened to "squat" down in that
immense region of country. nine times lnrger
! than Tennessee. and majority of whom ,ac-
| cordng to the latest and most reliable informa-
ton opposed TO the Introduction of slavery
! into the Territory
Mr. Banks believes that the Constitution
| of the United States twas contemplated by its
! trainers as an instrument of ultimate universal
! freedom" MIR. Richardson does not heGeye-we
! qu"te his own words. rs found in the extract
from his speech of 1850. which we have already
/ publshed-Alr. Richardson does not believe that
"our Constitution carries and protects slavery,
except in States. nor does he believe that its
trainers intended That it should extend this in
stitution. He believes it formed for far
higher and nobler purposes"
Such are the points,a and very significant points
they are, of resemblance IN the respective posi-
tions. on the exciting end absorbing subject of
slavery, If the Democratic AM the (Back)
Republican candidates for Speaker. The points
of difference between them-so far As the rights
of the South proclaimed and expounded by
the Democratic leaders and organs of the South,
are concorned-are not, we conceive. worth the
ink which would be consumed in pointing them
out.
a WONDERFUL MIRRoR.-lhere has lately