Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1856-01-15
FLrurhunro z'froinfam.
rus-aay ueraias. .........Ja"".ry as, 1874.
Tho Ignoring Policy.

.ent,as candidate for Speakers gentleman per.
sonaly we'll suited for the office, who is for abid
ing by aud enforcing the past legislation on
slavery, and abstaining from all future legsla'
ton or agitation in regard to it-.leaving the
matter just where the Constitution has left it.
Another portion, unwilling to support candi
date entertaining these views. bring forward one
who is in favor ofre-opening the discussion in
Congress. repeating the Nebraska law, restoring
the Missouri Compromise. rejecting the applca-
ton Of new slave States for admission into the
Union. and continuing the agitation Of the sub
ject indefinitely. For the former Of these can
didates only some thirty odd members vote
while the latter is supported by more than hun
bred. Mr.. Bolts would ha We that port ion of tho
party represented by tho minority abandon tho
position they have taken inregard to slavery,
and 60 into alliance with the majority, without
terms or conditions. Suppose the Fuller men
in the House Of Representatives were to adopt
his recommendation, and, ignoring the slavery
question" unite with those who agree with them
in sustaining American princples--what would
be the conseQ uences! The election of Banks
and the endorsement Of the position beand his
friends have taken Immediately, the fight
would commence for the repeal Of the Nebraska
law-then perhaps of the Fugitive Slave Law
then for the abolition of slavery in the Distro,
of Columba-then for the introduction of the
trade in slaves among the States; and all the
while Southern Americans would have to sit
with their lips sealed and their hands folded
because they bad bound themselves to ignore
the question of slavery.
This is the legitimate result of Mr.. Bolts pro-
position. II is the Quaker doctrine of non re-
sistance it would compel us, when smtlen on
one check, toturn the other il would bind US
to criminal silence and non action. while trea-
son was doing its deadly work on the Consttu.
ton, and against the South: it would compel US
to dumbaess and nscton. when the incendiary
was applying the torch to the fabric Of the govern
ment. Let Mr.. Bolts go preach his doctrine Of
"ignoing slavery" "a the North bat. while they
continue Ia agiiate. let him not ask the South to
ignore that agitation while the pillows of ia
naicism are tossing so wildly there, lie, him not
ask the South to tear down the hrenk water they
have erected for their defence.
And for what we to make this suicidal sac.
rifoe? That we may succeed, Mr. Bolts trlls
US, in the coming Presidential election What
outlern man. who has The spirit and the intel
lect of man, would desire TO succeed in an
! ection led on by the Bsnks party. Who would
$ Import the candidate, and aid in promoting the
p olicy, which they would bring forward, if the
South would agree TO ignore slavery with
it the rights of the South
But Mr. Bolts thinks we can postpone the
settlement ofthe slavery question till the Ameri-
can party triumph and establish their policy in
he government. That very triumph, so obtain.
I'd, would be death TO the South. Let the South
bandon its position, and the North will give us
n administration on the Banks platform-nn
" will be hopelessly in the hands of our enemies
II is idle to talk about giving precrdence to 9th
, questions. That man has but little regard for
a character for sincerity who would pretend TINT
a ny thing else is source Of a. much danger To
his country, rs the abolition agitation. Talk
about postponing this till we have settled the
q uestions OF Foreignism, and Romanism- when,
too, that very postponement is ruin as well
might the man whose house is in flames wait till
he rapped the rats and mice infes,ing it, before
he went about extinguishing the fire! If MIR.
Bolts proposition were reversed, should re-
gard it with infinitely more favor. As it stands.
it s a sacrifice of principle to expedency, and
that by maa who raveo furiousy in 1913. he
cause. as he charged, the party to which he was
then attached proposed doing the same thing in
nominating Gen. Taylor in preference TO Mr..
Clay. for the Presidency. 1t is worse than n
sa criice of principle to expediency; it i. laying
down our arms in the presence of the enemy. -
1t is substituting destruction for safety-and all
to win triumph which woul be as fatal 10 us.
as it would be disgraceful.
For our part, we are not so anxious to no with
the majority. We have been accustomed TO the
minority. and regard it the position of true honor
and independence. We believe the republic ba:.
thus far been saved from utter decentralization and
ruin by the conservative aud restraining influence
exerted by the minority. They are the sentinel,
on the watch towers Of liberty aud law. and hay,
sounded the alarm thousand times when powe,
sought with stealthy step to invade the sanctua
res Of the peoples rights. The gauds Of office
and the glitter OF station glare in our eyes So
as to blind us to what is just and rght-to deader
our vision to the aggressions of one section ant
the grievances OF another. We would not hav.
power unless it can be honestly acquired and use
fully employed We will fight on while life last
with patriotic Opposition, sooner than join the
maddened and needless crowd that are willing I,
break through all the restraints of law, and tram
pie on the guarantees of the constitution. in ,
beggarly scramble for the spols of victory Mr.
Bolts and his followers may strike their colors.
go out from our ranks. We have no music I,
play them but 1.-THE rogues march,
1t does not strike US that the Presidents mes
sage has been received by the Democratic press