Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1858-10-27
Judgs Douglas and his Southern support

Many unthinking persons, who are not In the
habit Of forming opinions for themselves. have
conclndsd that inasmuch - Mr.. Douglas is sus-
tainsa By Mr.. Brsckinridgs, Mr.. Orr, Mr.. Ste-
phens and other prominent Southern politicians,
he is therefore perfectly reliable, and entirely
worthy Of The sympathy Of the Southern people en-
masse. They exclaim. with great fsrvor that
Douglas cannot be wrong when he is sustained by
names Of such eminent authority as these.
We suppose il is perfectly useless to reason
with persons who do not think for themselves. but
are accustomed to take their opinions secondhand
from other people. Certainly, no one can attach
any value TO such an opinion. If man have not
the independence TO think for himself. without re-
gard to what other people thnk-if he have not
the befaaess 10 get for himself without regard to
the actions Of other pcoplc-he is at once cypher
in the community, and disqualified from complain
ing of the independent opinions of any one else on
GARTH The man who is not bold enough and in
dependent enough to stand up for his own CON
scien,ous convictions. perfectly regardless of what
Mr.. Breckiuridge may think, or Mr.. Orr may
think, has certainly no right to complain IL other
people do not agree with him in sentiment.
The conduct Of these Southern politicians who
have expressed sympathy with Douglas is sus-
ceptible Of very easy explanation, that does no
credit to their patriotism In the first place who
are theyi VIGOROUSLY. they men who have
future expectancies from the triumph of ma
tional' Democratic party. Could Mr.. Breckin-
ridge attain the Presidency with the vote Of the
South alone? Could he obtain the nomination Mt
Charleston without u considerable accession Of
Northern votes, even though he combined the
whole Southern strength? OF course not: for tho
North has a majority Of sixty in the nominating
Convention over the South. What moro natural,
then than that he should seek to concilinte rath-
er than repel. those whom he expects will have
his future political fate in their hands? II he
should offend Douglas and the Northern Democ-
racy, could he expect any further political promo
ton. Manifestly not. because, MS we have al
ready said, the North has not only majority of
sixty votes in the Nominating Convention. but the
same majority of sixty in The Electoral College?
There is not a known Southern aspirant tor tho
Presidency, who has ever dared to dcnounce Doug
las fragrant recreancy to duty and to patriotism
in the last Congress. And why notY Because
they knom the Democratic candidate for Me Prcs'
deacy in 1860 cannot be elected pifhort he aid of
the Douglas Democracy Of tie North
As for Mr.. Orr, we believe nobody ever sus-
pected him for moment of being nught else than
a time-seryer and q trickstcr--wthout even ngcn-
uity enough 10 conceal the miserable game he has
been constantly playing for the winning OF fcdc-
raj honors.
But while we meet here and there with few
prominent Southern politicians who have declared
for Douglas how it is with the Representative :
men Of Southern Rights and Southern honor?--
How is it with those Southern statesmen who have
been looked 10 AS the opponents Of Southern senti
mentS How is it with the gifted and conserva-
tive HAxsoND? How is it with that CHEyALlER
BArARD of the South, CLAY Of Alabama? How
lie il with the lion-heartcd lvERsoS Of Georgia?
How is it with the impulsiyc and brilliant orator,
BENJAMIN Of Louisiana? Where would that bravo
old warrior and statesman, QulTxAN, be found if
he were now living? Will anybody pretend to
say that these men wonld, by word or deed,
courage the return to the Senate of the great adj
voeate of Ss uater Sovereignty, and the notorious
of the most valuable point Of the bred
Scott decision? The least that can be expected of
them is significant silence, in struggle between
two meu. Of whom one is only more dangerous
than the other, because more able and more un-
scrupulous