Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1858-10-15
The effect of Fanaticism.

In that sterling old Wing journal, tho Boston
Courier. we find n long and able editorial on the
present condition of Massachusetts. and the effect
Of the Slavery agitation in pasying the influence
of that State, together with all New England-in
the National Councils 1t is t. bold and manly
rcbuke Of that antSlavery sentiment. in IA quar-
ter whero il is well deserved. Wcr regret that our
limited space compcs us u omit much of the
article that we would like to insert The remarks
arc based "A speech made at the Republican
Convention. which nominated the renowned Bur-
,lingamc. and which was extravagant in its esti-
mate Of the influence Of New England on the ma
tion. Says the Courier:
They contain II lamenablc mistake, it, rs we
suppose to have been the case, Mr.. Dana meant To
assert that New England cxcrs. mt the present
time, political influence upon the rest of the
country commensurate with the moral nnd intel
lectual gifts Of her people. There never was
period since the country was settled, when tho
moral and intellectual qualities Of tho people Of
New England were cher than they are now and
there never period when their influence
upon the country Mt large was less. This extra.
ordinary social and political phenomenon may
arise from one or another cause: responsibility
for it may rest hcrc or rest there: but about the
fact itself there can be no dispute among intclli-
gent men, who nre much in the habit Of going
out of New England, or who, though staying Mt
home, are accurate observers nf the times
Accordingly the six New England States,
which Mr.. Dana tells us strongly Republican.
may remain 50 until the end Of time aud their
remaining no will have very little effect on the
continuance of the Republican party elsewhere,
or on its success in the campaign Of 1860, or in
any future campaign, if that party shnll ever
N ~ thar In fr,t nrnu hu,s,
for good while tended to weaken the influence
which New England once had in the Union. and
Ind to quite recent period. But of nil those
causes, none in our opinion has been NJ potent
M the character Of the politics which the people
of New England have possessed, and the charac.
tors Of the men whom this class of politics las
brought almost universally, into public Office
This, it is well known, il an opinion which this
paper has frequently maintained; and if VIC rel
terate it often the repetition is to be hid at the
door Of the evil itself. But without desiring, on
the present occasion, to say more respecting the
other New England States. we shall conhne our
remarks to the course of things in Massachusetts
which may be taken as typo of all the rest
Everything in the political action of Massaclu-
sets, for the last eight years, has turned in
way upon slavery. Since the enactment of tho
compromise measures of 1850. down to this time,
there has not been day when there has not been
political agitation here ON the subject Of slavery.
Yet the compromise measures of 1850 were de-
Isigned to give peace to the country, and did give
it out Of New England; and although the repeal
Of the Missouri compromise brought about n fresh
discussion Of some questions connected with slav-
cry, that repeal did not take place until four
years after the compromise measures of 1850 and
another four years have now elapsed since that
repeal. Still we have the agitation about slavery
still there are the same old cries; still men run for
offices, great and small, counting upon the anti
VII Eaa1 ;v,la nftb o
their capital, which is to supply tho want, in them
selves, Of talent, of character, of principle, of
quirement, Of everything heretofore considered by
the people essential in q public servant. We
have reflected good deal upon this state of things
and we believe we can explain it. and we believe
We can also show how it has operated to destroy
our influence in the country at large.
There are two kinds of anti-slavery sentiment
in Massachusetts. The one ia that which is COM
mon to the whole people, and which IL the natu-
raj result Of their own domestic institutions The
other is the antslavery sentiment of politicians;
Of men who hate slavery because to hate it is pop
ular; Of dcmagogues who talk about it and agi-
tate about it. because it is topic on which the
popular mind is easily excited, Just a. they would
talk and agitate about the length of the comet.
tail, If that were u matter in which the people
took deep interest, and on which their votes
could be obtained by Jealous professors of ono OF
another side OF the question. But If the length OF
the comet Tall Is subject the tarthest possible
removed from that sensitive class of the moral
things and therefore most expose them to the de-
sign: Of those who wish to play upon popula,
passions tor their own purposes, it is certain tina,
the subject OF slavery lies nearest to that class
feelings; or rather, that it lies in the very mids
OF them, acting as a perpetual irritant. and expo
sing them to be made the easy tools Of that elias.
of men who care little for popular errors of iudg
ment. 40 long as popular feelings and prejudice
can be made to serve their own selfish ends
Hence it is that, to degree entirely unexample,
in our history inferior men have become the pos
SCISSORS of all the public stations that are filed b.
the popular VOTE and the political anti-slaver,
sentiment rather the politicians anti.slaver,
. sentiment has become the great preduminatn
, feature Of Massachusetts, politics. l
|, = %sssts 49, -
y He who 10 incapable of STOPPING to pander t
y mere popular prejudice to feed popular excite