Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1857-03-19
Apmchburo 1ir0imian.
Thursday Morning. March 10. 1887.
Eaers. Of Party.


Nos. ,ha, ;,,ere., having divided men into bands
principles are professed for the purpose OF oe'
ter comprising their objects by maintaining
character aud gaining the support OF the people
Observe how plainly the course pursued by on'
class dictates that TO be taken by the other
Ths,e INNS, be combinations and there must be
on,o.;tion., and therefore things to differ upon
as well as things to agree upon must needs Dc
found" This unhappy tendency of party'to ar
raw the best men of the country on different sides
of n question. without reference TO its real merits
works in the United States with even more yo'
lent and fatal effect than in England = he
evils says the same grea, political philosopher
lust quoted. (which flow from this manner oi
conducting public affairs, are manifest ne
two greatest are unqaesiionab'y' hrst tue 'oss q
SO many able men TO the service oi the country
and next the sport which is made In Playing 'he
marty game Of the most sacred principles tho
dining of the people and the assumption OF their
leaders to dictate opinions TO them 1t l. a radi-
al vice in any system to exclude the people from
farming their own opinions, which must, # pro-
oeeding from their own impulscs be kept IN
strict accordance with their interests. that Il,
with the general good
No man. who BY conversng with his neighbofs'
has informed himself what their real individual
sentiments are upon the right and necessity Of
yirginia's getting fair share Of the naianal do
main. bu, knows that, without distinction Of par
ty. the universal under current Of individual
opinion is against the unjust. partial aud, 10 u.
disastrous course now being pursued. We speak
of this from our own personal observation. The
indications of opinion in the late Southern Con-
venion at Savannah, were decided and unmis
takeable. yet. there the apprehension OF do
ing mischief TO party interests prevented any
public declaration Of opinion in favor Of change
of policy. We have converse1 often and fully
on this subject with persons Of both parties and
that too before it had been brought prominently
before the public by the press. On every side
there appeared the same indications Of laosening
of old ideas. an accessibility to new ones, naiu-
raj desire for fair play in the disposition Of
subject in which We had great interest, out of
which we being rapidly defranded We can
recall no single instance in which such ndiea
tons wanting, except in the case Of per.
sons who avowed desire for dissolution of
the Union per Sc. fnhappily the bond of party
allegiance are with many men stronger than
their convictions of the public interest. Certain
oracles of party faith pronounce against the do
mand we nuke for our Inheritance. Shall We
be governed by our convictions Of wha, is for
our interest. that is, the public good, 10y our in
stnc,ye as well enlightened demand far
what IL our own and what We need or shall the
spirit Of party, with one blast Of is icy breath
bind us fast forever, immovabIe rs the stony
tenants Of the Enchanted City, We profess,
ard truly. love for the Gnion-for our glori
Gus and powerful united nationality; but WI
would n this as in other things, have our cqun
rights and benefits from it,
But while we love and ARE proud of the Union
we love mere fondly and IRE prnuder still al
Virginia. Hence zoo would have her enjoy
that to which she is entitled 1alk not of hel
"suing as a supphant at the iootsiool of Fedora
power" Of her being corrupted by the receipt q
Federal grants. To our ears these things soun'
idle. We have lately taken occasion Ia set tina
matter in a clear light, by showing tina, she Is n
sditor when she den ands 10 have her own-,ha
it is contradiction in terms to speak of corrupt
ing man or n State by rendering 10 the one o
the other that to which he is cquitably entitled
long the line, 10 test the fidelity Of pa,ii1an
and dress their ranks for battle. The effort ma
succeed. we fear il will. but mark this prophee,
The day is surely coming, and is not very IA
distant when the lcaven now at work shnlI hav
leavened the whole mass Of the peoplo.when upo
this question there will no longer be n divsio
of parties for party purposes III contrast to I'll
public good. The people will awake to their CIV
interest. The time which may eIapse before TIN
awakening will. perhaps, nay will probably, hay
pu, it forev er beyond the power of the old State
to obtain their rights; md the spectacle we sha
present to the world will be ooniedcrncy of fit
States, of which one haf-that half too whic
gave to the nation the material out of which III
other has been formed-wi be burdenod wit
heavy domestic taxes, inadequate. though emo
nous, to the competent development oftheir r.
sources the other half, rejoicing in bonndle'
prosperity. with endowed school To ever
sixteen square miles, with endless miles of raj
road and canal which cost the peopla nothing, an
which support the State governments withou
taxation. with public charities endowed out o
the common fund belonging 10 the whole Union
every interest nuriured and built up at the ex
pense of their sister States. We donot envy th
prosperity of others when we complain that the'
fatten upon our substance May that awaken
ing of the people which infullihly will come
come speedily and before it il too late, or else
perhaps it were better that il should not come a
all. If too late. it will only he one other bitter
ness added to the inequalities of which we nov
complain in the working of the Federal Govern
mept; and our people forgetting that the mis-