Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1856-07-12

other result the annnfy in costly aud dsas
unrcdeemed By principle which me national
Received That The Of foreign influence lute
,sonr Innions against which warning voice Of
esntors loudly and earnestly raised s W the sue
cal returns Presidential eseiion for series OF years
arising from the jealous rivalry Il political paf.s "a bidding
COR tho foreign to apprcheud that That vote
,rn Indeed has not already bceotne The e"niring
Element national eieeifnsand hat state OF things
90 dangerous 10 the purity an1 stability 81 our institutions
be viewed by al sho rtgafd the Vita ava Isnnanen
sdcqasto and wei eonsdered REFORM which shall egard
ganst the evil wanndng principle oil ciNh or
sous liberty Justly hold dear By the Amercrn people
I Ss s"cary ~ Repnbean liberty mainly depcnd
pF.serv alton 81 just balance between We es osps
that 81 late years tendency has been manifested
powerful party under speeiens nsne 70 era. ih' -
uya virtual supremacy over the rest and
thus TO convert balanced Republican system Into what tue
an aloailse dsspasm which lmprcssvey
told ma NOT The government he and fathers fought
or aud that Wig party asi took It's origin IN Residing
h fatal tendency stu called 10 exert all ~ vigilance In
srrcsng the degenerasy Of cur political system IRON h1s
principles guarded limitation and reciprocal control OF the
which oarliepnbican Institutions were
wisely founded
The Hon. ". C. Riyes, who was present at the
meeting oeing loudly called for came forward and
said: lie had come the meeting, in obedience TO
the patriotic call addressed 10 the citizens oil tue
county, because he felt that the condition OF the
country made it the duty OF every man. however re-
tired his manner oil lie, OF iDNNfNi MS 'h-
racity, TO come forward and take bis equal respon-
.ble part In common deliberations for the common
good. lie had come To the meeting as one ohe
peopic, pretending TO no lead, intending to make no
-pecch for which he was entirely unpreparedi put
simply TO take counsel with his countymen OF the
same general way of thinking rs himself as to the
line OF conduct IL was their duty 10 pursue in the
present distracted state oil public affairs. am no
longer politician, aaid NJ. Riyes If, indeed have
ever been one; but in eeasing to be politician,
- Iii t1IE II /
ever shall be- whatever concerns the interests the
honor and the happiness Of my country
Mr.. Riycs referred 10 good old custom OF the Ro-
mans which granted to "a soldier, who had faithfully
served n certain number of campaigns an honorable
discharge from further service. But there was one
case i'm which the most war-worn veteran, notwith
standing his discharge, and whatever number OF
campaigns he may have already served, was requir-
ed again to take up his shield and aVein That call
was an iupasioa Of tls country By tie Gduts. But our
present situation far worse than an invasion Of
the Gauls, or Of any foreign enemy We have war
among ourselvcs--eiyH war, with all its unnatural
horrors on the border, aud political warfare In the
interior which has arrayed one half OF the Union
against the other, the "perilous edge OF battle"
upon the most exciting of all questions while denun-
citation violence, and uproar, have been regriing SUI
rremc in the capitol Such state of things If not
arrested have but one termination and that the
speedy overthrow Of our institutions, with all the
bright hopes for mankind founded upon Ameri-
example.
The only remedy, in his Judgment, lies in the in
terposton of the I0y ofhe people, in the independent
exercise Of their righttnl sovereignty There was no
country said Mr. Rives, in which the sovereignty of
the people is fully recognised IA theory rs in this
but the practice under the modern system of par
ty discipline, confornable to the theory We vote,
indeed, for Representatives and public function
aries but, in this vital function Unpopular sovereign
ty, we left free In ehoce2 On the contrary,
do not know and feel that, under this sys-
tam, orpo hc Int tv iaI in Inv
the fiat Of the few persons who work the machinery
of party conventions And then, when we have by
this process, elected the public functonaries, are
they servants according TO the theory of our in
stiuons, or are they not, to every practical intent,
the masters, and we the seryants2 Does not the
modern code of political ethics require of every good
party man, to support the President or Representa-
tive of his party in whatever he does while in Office
he II right wrong beneficial or injurious to the
country; and does not this doctrine make the public
officer in effect, the sovereign and master, and the
people his tools and servants2
Mr.. Rves said, the natural result of this virtual
abdicaon of their sovereignty by the people was to
be seen in the present unhappy condition of the
country. lie referred TO the recent speech of Col
Benton at ST Louis, ms presenting matter for the
her reflection of every man in the country, TO what
ever party he may belong. Here was picture of
the actual administration of the government, for the
last three years by n veteran statesman profoundly
Ycrsed in public affairs distinguished member OF
the party which brought that administration into ex
lscnce, and leading champion OF the present nomi-
nee Of the same party for the succession And what
does that picture present TO the view OF the whole
country An amount of mn-administraton and
misruc in the abuse of the public patronage in the
dapdaton of the public resources in the neglect of
the public interests, in the Reorganization of every
branch of the public service, in discord and confu
sion at home, and the embodiment of our relations
abroad, to which, If but one half of the allegations
be sustained, il would he hard to find parallel
der the most irresponsible government earth
And how could all these abuses have grown up, in so
short period, but under the fatal influence of that
system which blindy abandons all the great interests
of the country TO the uncontrolled management of
party leaders, for party ends2
Mr.. h. reminded his countrymen that in the down
fall of the Roman Republic il said Octavius had
his party, Anthony had his party, hut the Common
wealth had none Let il not be said, in this critical
and oventfu moment of our national fortunes, that
Mr. Buchanan has his party, Mr.. Fillmore his party,
Mr. Fremont his party, Mr., Stockton his party, but
that the country has none II there ever was mo-
ment when the country should have party, looking
at men and political associations only in subservi-
ence to the great interests of the public peace and
the public happiness that moment is and never
was there set of men who from their antecedents
and their position, however reduced in numbers, are
better fitted to meet the high responsibilities ota co'-
yy party than the Old Line Wings. They have no
ambitious aspirations consult for they have and
| will have candidate in the field for the disputed
| honors the Republic They under no party
/ bonds inconsistent with n conscientious freedom OF
choice among the candidates presented by others
choice in which they will be guided solely by con-
sdcration of what shall appear to them to be the best
interests of the country and of the solid guarantees
offered in the history and character as well pro-
fessed principles of the respective candidates for
upright, prudent honorable aud national administra
! ton of the government 1t is noble position and
noby will it be sustained he doubted not by the In
! dependent Wings ofyrgina and the Union.
| Mr.. r. said he proud and happy to find him
self in meeting of his county, freeman among free
men, to take equal, responsible, and unobtrusvt