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

meBt by discussions In which there Il nothing Of
real public importance involved, IL easily super
scded in the suffrages Of an excitabIe and impul-
sive people, by man Of . low order of intellect
and character, who can descend to ANYTHING and
who cares nothing for the grave mistakes d poll
cy which the people may commit 20 long a. they
will give him Offices. although those mistakes may
often be committed against the very cause Of free
dom which he loudly advocates. This pro-
cess has now been going on 30 long and 10 sue
ccssfully in Massachusetts, that the exclusion 0f
men Of high character and eminent qualifications
from the public service is complete and absolute.
This condition Of affairs will continue until the
people cease TO treat the subject Of slavery a.
thing Of paramount importance. In state Of so-
cicty 10 free ours, men Of talent and character
cannot be forced To take public Office; and M long
~ they can have it only upon the condition Of
making violent nntislavery harangues, they will
keep aloof as they are kept aloof, from all public
place.
The manner in which Mr.. Webster was treat
ed, at home, account OF his participation in the
Compromise Measures Of 1850, cannotbe forgotten.
And yet there never was period in his life when
the support Of his constituents was so important
u his influence over the mind of the country and
when his influence upon the country was
important both to his own fame and to our interest,"
Equally disastrous was the course pursued towards
souri, Compromise. Tho opposition made by him
To TINT measure was oil that we could in reason
have required; and when the excitements and
preuIiccs Of the time have wholly passed away,
the speech which hc made against it will be found
and admitted to embrace not only the whole
strength Of the argument against it. but those
commanding aud statesmanlike views on which
opposition to it be justified to the end of time
and the greater part of which are already verified
by events. But Mr.. Everett,s efforts on that &C.
casion were pronounced here to be too tame and
lukewarm; they did not suit the hot, impetuous
nature of our feelings; and although, for reasons
that are now but too apparent, it was Of the utmost
consequence that lac should be supported cordially
and firmly here, in order that what he said and
did might have its due effect on the nation he was
suffered to be viliied and abused to extent that
finds parallel except in the course pursued
towards his departed and illustrious predecessor.
Thcse occurrences and the general course of
things here during the last seven or eight years
hnvo presented the anti,slavery sentiment Of Mus.
snchusetts to the country in IL light by no means
favorable I" our good name. even among men who
are themselves opposed to the further extension
of slavery. They exhibit usin the light IF u peo-
Pile willing to make this sentiment mere polti-
nj engine for party purposes: ready to 60 any
lengths in permitting oihclng- seeking politicians
% organize this sentiment into tho means Of gras-
ping the "spols; careless of what regulations
re destroy, Of what splendid gifts and accomplish
nents we deprive the service Of the country, so
ong as we make our votes tell in the great
aggregate of party that seeks to array one class
If States in open hostility against another class
So long ~ we stand in this light before the re't of
The country, we shall remain powerlcss for any
good cause. whether it is the cause of freedom in
neS Stntcs. or whether the immediate topic on
which our influence onyht to he felt concerns the
vastly important subject of our mere immediate