The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-10-29
ANOTHER MASSACHUSETTS ORATOR AT RICH

ANOTHER MASSACHUSETTS ORATOR AT RICH
Our readers viii be attracted to-day by the admi-
rable grafton Of Mr., Gushing, pronounced yesterday
at Richmond before the National Agricultural Society
of the United States the Central Agricultural Society
Of Virginia, and the immense company of people as
sembled at Richmond in attendance upon the joint
annual fair Of these two bodies.
0na former occasion did gifted son of Massa-
chusetts address vast assembly of people in the
Virginia Capitol under the bright and exhilarating
auspices of an !. October sun nowhere more bril-
liant than it shines the Capitol Of the old ma
ternal Commonwealth.
On that occasion as now did an illustrious son of
Massachusetts, declare his concurrence in what an
other SON Of that same Commonwealth now 80 elo-
quenty and phlosophically expounds, the cherished
Virginia doctrines of State rights. In 84o the dec
laration of featy to these ancient doctrines Of Virginia
was made by great partisan leader of Massachu-
sets, the occasion Of excited political ovation
in the heat of violent partisan canvass, in the
first years Of a sectional agitation, which has since
convuIsed the Union to its centre. The declaration
is now renewed by no less brilliant son and pro-
found statesman Of Massachusetts, on the occasion
of peaceful assembly of farmers, planters and
artisans, in the calm OF suspended political strife,
and in the decline Of that violent sectional strife.
But, whereas the first declarations wore the APP
pearance Of q concession, the present are cordi-
ally volunteered free-wl offering; whereas the
first seemed to be extorted from the orator by the
cogent exigencies of hot political canvass, the
-,
nnalloyed by party spirit and Of craftsmanship
pouring fourth its deep and sincere convictions of
doctrine and opinion.
Said Mr.. Webster on the 9th of October, 1910,
standing under the grand colonnade of the Virginia
Capitol '>
hold that Congress is absolutely precuded from in
terfeng In any manner direct indirect with the
situations of the States The cheering here loud
and long continued, and voice from the crowd ex-
claimed We wish this could be heard from Maryland
to louisiana and desire that the sentiment may be
repeated Repeat repeatp] Well repeat it pro-
claim it on the wings Of all the winds tell it to all your
friends ferries of We will-we will III tell it. say
that standing here in the capitol of Virginia. beneath an
October sum- in the midst of this assembage before
the entire country and upon all the responsibility which
belongs to me, say that there is power direct or
indirect in Congress the general government inter
fere in the slightest degree, with the institutions of the
States Q o Q TELL it that hold that there are
two governments with us, each possessing its own dis
tnct authority with which the other may not interfere
may differ from you in things but will here say
that to the doctrines of State rights held by Mr.
Madison IL his last days, do not know that differ
all yet am one and among the foremost to hold that it
indispensable to the prosperity of these
preserve and that he true friend to either who does
not labor to preserve true distinction between both
The great doctrines which Mr. Webster SO emphat-
ically proclaimed in 1910 are now most beautifully
expounded and set forth in elaborate and eloquent
discourse by Mr.. Gushing, at Richmond, in one Of
the most able and suggestive orations have read
for many years. To say that it was worthy of the
occasion, worthy Of New England statesman called
upon to address immense assembly Of southern
planters upon Virginia soil, in locality consecrated
by the daring eloquence of Patrick Henry, and by
the best public services Of Jefferson Madison, Mar
shall and their compeers, is to award it extraordi-
nary praise, but praise, nevertheless which it fully
merits.
The influence upon the public mind, in times like
the present, of such addresses as this one of Mr..
Cushing and Of such reunions ofpeople from all parts
of the Union and such national exhibitions of the t
umphs Of successful husbandry and ingenious art as
this at Richmond, cannot be adequately expressed
in words SO much is said by politicians and parti-
.
to exasperate the public mind, and to set par
ties classes, and sections against each other, that
such efforts and assemblies these necessary to
restore the public mind to sound liberal and patri-
otto tone. We have nothing for long time
better calculated to lift the public mind out of the
rus Of partisan feeling and the engulphng sloughs
of sectional animosty and to direct it to higher
thoughts and more profitable and patriotic specula-
tons than this Grafton of Mr.. Gushing.
While there may be great differences of opinion
entertained upon few of the topics glanced at by
the bolt and adventurous orator in this fine adj
dress, yet we sure that all will sympathize with
the national spirit that animates every line, and
commend it's general tone catholic, patriotic, and
conservative
THE QuEsrIoS.---The great question in American