Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1858-09-20
Party Intolerance.

Although free thought, and free speech have ev-
ar been claimed as cardinal virtues in the Demo-
cratic calendar, we believe other party has ever
pursusd It's opponents with spirit 40 vindictiye
and fsrpcious. To doubt the justice, expediency
or wisdom of measure devised BY its party lea
ders, or favored by party Office holders, has always
been deemed so nearly akin to crime, as to cause
its laundering anathemas to be poured down on
the devoted heads Of all such lu,kless dissentents
lifelong service in the national councils; purity
of private character; and patriotism that mas
never been doubted--all these claims TO the favor
Of lust men, and patriots are ignored, and tho
ruthless spirit of party is invoked, to the endhat
all freedom of conscience or of individual action
in politcs NAV be crushed out, and the future in-
auence of all opponent. paralyIcd. In corrobo-
ration Of what we have above written, we heeo
only instance two cases. notorious to all news
paper readers We of course. allude to the dis
tinpuished, and venerable Senators, Critenden and
Bell With the single exception OF MIR. oiay' we
have never witnessed even in the history of the
Democratic party. such an exhibition oil partisan
roncour and malice The yehcmence and bitter
ness with which these gentlemen are pursued IL
disgrace to human nature, and presents most strl
king and .ickeuing picture Of the degenoracy OF
the times. From war ofpolit'cal opinions IL mas
descended into a system OF vindictlve attacks up
on their characters and motives, as statesmen ana
patriots They nro assaed with almost every
epithet calculated TO render them odous IN the
public estimation, and to deprive them OF every
vestige of popular confidence. Efforts are openly
made to aiienate their party friends, and 10 pro
duce spirit # luminosity and strife between them,
an those Of their party who differed with them
as to the good policy and cEpediency OF allowing
Kansas to enter the Union as State, with the
Lccompton Constitution. We feel assured, that
the public intelligence will never permit v'tuper-
alton to sway the popular Judgment when tho
time arrives. to pass upon the career of McssrS'
Crittenden and Bell as comprehensive statesmen,
and truly national patriots. However few or many.
may be the political friends Of these gentlemen
who thought the shortest way of getting nd OF the
slavery question was to admit Kansas at once
with her Lecompton Constitution. there are none
of them we believe who really dlstrust their IN
tegrity of purpose, purity Of patriotism for tho
different view they took of that question
At the time when Kansas matters were the on
crossing theme OF discussion in Congress. this pa
per occupied a position antagonlsic to the one
chosen by these gentlemen. but Notwithstanding
that difference Of opinion, we never for mcn'ent
doubted their honesty or patriotism. Indeed, we
felt fully assured from their an'ecedcnts.that they
were utterly incapable Of acting from any impulse
selfish or dishonorahle in its character.
When these veteran statesmen shall retro from
the councils of the nation, void of vast magni-
tudc will have been created and after a careful
survey of the present Of politicians, we ARE
bound to say, the prospect of their places being
fled,is remote in the extreme