Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1856-06-25

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| own upon il. but cannot refrain from calling
your attention 10 the recorded opinions mosi thor
ougly considered aud argued. of cfdrum ct
| rsner fbiie nofen, who from his large paricpa-
! ton in the formation of the CONSTITUTIONAL pro-
| found knowledge and long experience. and above
! all. hi. and animpasioned wisdom, was
by general consent. appealed to by both the North
| aud the South a. the living oracle OF the Con
siitntion. ! can al course mean none other than
/ Mr. Madison. II 50 happens. that In his noble
and dignifed retirement. two ar three years at
| ter he had closed his great public career, and IN
| the very crisis ofthe Missouri agitation, which
/ he looked upon with the soicitude Of a state
| whose patriotism ever embraced the whole Union.
! he was applied to by Mr.. Wash,of Philadelphia.
/ for his opinions the various constitutional
questions involved in that memorable discussion
! lie answered the inquiries propounded TO him
fully and thoroughly; passing in successive re-
| view all Of those clauses of the Constitution from
| which the power in question was claimed, and
on each OF them arriving at n negative conclu-
sion. fortified by clearness of state nent and
simplicity and force oflogio, not 10 speak of the
weight Of his personal testimony. which appear
ed to me to be absolutely irresistible. am not
aware that these opinions of Mr.. Madison have
ever yet been given to the public. therefore
enclose a copy Of them for your perusa, well
knowing that they will receive from you, that re-
lgous attention and respect which it is hoped
they will obtain at some future day, from the
whole country,
sincerely rpe, my dear sir, that in the fur
ther progress and final decision of these painful
controversies there will be on all sides more of
that spirit Of moderation and farhearance of lnn-
tua courtesy and respect which you have So
properly invoked and which can alone lead t"
happy solution of questions delicate. We
have been Of late rapidly and fearfully drifting
into that geographical antagonism of parle,
which all good and wise men have earnestly
deprecated, and in which. whent shall have
been consummated, what Mr. Madison impress
sively asks. is To 'contro those great repulsive
masses from awful shocks against each other!'
Passing events have given soemnity to this
prophetic warming which is no longer possible to
disregard, and which calls upon poirlotic aud
rejecting men every whore tn unite in Il strenu-
Gus and determined effort to exclude from the
arena OF national politics question SO fruitful of
sectional strife. aud 10 delegate it henceforward
to those independent local sovereign tics which
alone have the rigbiful cognizance oft.
This effort, trust may yet be made IN the
spirit of peace, of ancient brotherhood,of heredi
tnry Difference and cancellation, derived from the
example and conduct Of our fathers Above all,
let us, in the words of great state sman of II kin
dred land, endeavor $50 to be patriots not to
forget we are gentlemen" May we not hope. al
so. that the Press, which in this country exerci-
SEES so potent an influence for good or evil, will
prove itself worthy of its high ministry by alb
staining from language calculated to foment and
infiame those unnatural prejudces and animosi
ties which array one section Of the Union against
another, and gradually destroy all its moral trsi
| have thus, my dear sir. private citizen, aspi
ring 10 no office public distinction of any kind.
but snlictous ns | shall he content. to see my
country happy and glorious under whatsoever
auspices may direct htr destinies yentured, up
on your encouragement, 10 give you these my
humble thoughts and prayers for her welfare.
at moment which seems full of uncertainty and
peril
lremain. most truly AID faithfully your friend,
VIC. RIVES.
Hon ROBERT G. WINTHROP. Boston.
Mr.. DALLAS AND THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT.
The London correspondent of the New York
Journal of Commerce says dthe general opinion
In London is, that Mr. Champions dismissal will
be follow by the dismissal of Mr.. Dallas. This
however, the writer does not believe, and he adds
that great exertions making. and by power.
full men. TO influence the Government not TO ten
der Mr.. Dallas his passports, and the writer Is of
opinion that they will not fail 1t is proper to
state that Mr.. Dallas has exercised no agency.
directly indirectly, on the subjects ut there is
such unbounded confidence, in every intelligent
circle in the metropolis, in the rcctitude of
ed. The writer adds:
IF Gen. Pierce will give to Mr.. Dallas the
exclusive control OF all the matters in dispute
between Great Britain and the United States, no
will have the pleasure of handing over TO his
successor ON the 4th of March next clear re-
cordjas for relates to'that county-and n most
satisfactory one ms concerns the interests Of the
Union. 1t is certain that successor to Mr..
Champion will not be appointed until after the in
stallation of a new President"
Henry CLAY AND JAMES BuCHANAN.-The
Louisville journal remarks:
$50 far as Mr.. Buchanans conduct toward
Henry Clay is concerned, his record is most ac-
cursed one As soon rs we can lay our hands
upon the document we want we shull make this
abundantly manifest. Henry Clay is dead but
he did not die without leaving in his avn hand
writing. the most damung testimony against
James Buchanan. In mercy he spared Mr.. Buch.
anan for nearly quarter of century, bat near
the close Of his illuetrous life. he deemed rx.
position of Mr.. Buchanans conduct in the Con
gres>ional election of Presidentn 1925. due to
his own fame with posterity and he made it,"
~
"IIE Has TAKEN Me- OFr.."-One evening
in London, Martin MADAM sitting in coffee
! house with some of his gay companions. AT a
loss for amusement. they proposed to him to 90
and hear Mr.. Wesley, who was preaching in the
neighborhood: and 10 return and"take him off,
As he entered the place Mr.. Wesley was an.
nnuncing with great solcmuty the text. Pre-
pare To meet tn, God" The Young harris,er wa =
arrested. A. Wesley proceeded to exhort his
hearers 10 repentance. strange awe came over
Madan's heart. When the service was over he
returned TO the coife house. well" cxclaim
cd his boon companions, who by this time had
become impatient for his return, ''have you ta-
ken off the old Methodist" mo-" replied Mad