Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1858-10-01
terms Of honorable disputation, and trust that we
shall always find it no.

We extract the following from speech deliver
ed at a recent Democratic meeting in Philadelphia
Bssidss being very dashing philippe il indicates
the estimate placed on tho Presidents character
and services By his former neighbors. and the
gloomy prospects of the Buchanan Democracy
north. What glorious, national party.
Speech of Edw. g. Webb, ESQ.
Delivered at The Great Democratic Meeting. Ieid at
The Corner Of Second and CAristidn Streets
Thursday. Sept 3D. ls5s.
Mr. PRESIDENT AND FELLOW DEaoCRATs /
know Of nothing tina, would give me more pleas
urc than To be able to address You at length upon
the topics which now dsirar, the country but
am admonishcd by serious affection OF the throat,
that any remarks which ! npy be able To make
this evening must Of necessity be brief-too brief,
indeed, for my own satisfaction or your edhca-
ton We have fallen upon evil times times in
which il is demanded that the freemcn Of this IA.
ton shall surrender not only the privilege of
thought but that they shall also forfeit theirright
10 manhood. and thus become the authors Of their
own abasement. To Democratic ears like ours
this is n startling requirement How shall we
meet it, Like men determined to be as free
our fathers were, like the trembling mcninl who
kisses the hand that smitcs him? 1t may be deem
ed sehisnatc III us To oppose the wicked designs
Of James Buchanan. but no vulgar fidelity to par
" leaders shall induce me TO offer myself living
victim to the commissions Of weakness that govern
that macy VIOLENT old man. In the frantic parox-
ysm of direfu illusion he may believe thnt he
has mission to perform in the matter Of popular
sovereignty, ms understood by himself or rs & ven
To him by those who desire to debasc and dcliroy
il: bu, 80 long God permits me the use of the
faculties He has given mo. will exercise them all
against 40 atroeious an Interpretations My own
convictions assure me, that nil who are here AZ
semble1 are but one in sentiment We have met,
a.. l,,,, ul,L D., ,t,.,
thoriy and to chastisc the seryilc conduct Of Ii.
ceniious Representatives who has dcbascd his own
manhood. disgraccd the character OF his native
State, and insulted tie proud and honest constit-
ucncy that elevated him To position far above
his merits or his qualifications. At a time when
chaotic confYsion peryades the Democratic organl-
cation throug hout the length and breadth Of this
great Confederncy. it would he rank cowarlce in
mc to censurc in courtly phrases the authors Of
this wild and dismal anarchy. Upon tho uncor-
rupted Democracy Of this nation there will dcvol,c
the solemn duty and high honor Of restoring
party 10 its former degree Of purity. No step in
This direction will ever be taken by weak and
indicative President, who is now striving to bind
the consccnres Of men with stronger chain than
ignorance held them in the super-t.ious ages Of
the worlds history. IL ,w down To Gcsler soap
Is now the mandate from the White House III
Washington bu, an indignant and courageous
people spurn the mandate ns did the heroic Swiss
Of old, and resolve to preserve their liberties or
perish in the attempt :" To your tents, oh. L.
racl." now rcsnmds through the nation.
What can b. the object of Mr. Buchanan in
setting up tbs symbol Of an usnrpcl authority?
IL it to make those under him feel the miscrirs
and humiliation of dependence? Or does he wish
To see them riot in the very luxury Of basencss!
know that there nrc thousands among his fol
lowers who turn away FROM his acts of desrotism
with shame and anguish who dare not utter their
, I,,, -, t,I bot n,
make sacrifices without compensation. ami wchavr
nothing To give them but patriotic emulation
W 18th desperate lcyity or NndcitNr pleasure, Mr..
buchanan may Outrage the opinions Of society by
insisting that an act of drxtcrous pcrtidv shnl hr
made test Of orthodoxy but we submit To such
II degree, We must hereafter accuse our own de-
gencracy rather than his lcontiou>ncss.
dcspisc the man whose thoughts and words
have connection with each other. Nature de-
sig ncd him for william who will never hesitat" nj
m oath when he designs to scducc. nor feel the
want of prctext when lac is inclined to brtray
His yillainies spring trln the rooleN meditation.
and not from the heat e blood o. the insanity of
power for his passions never forget
the discipline to which lhry have long been ne.
customcd. His whoic soul may be occupied with
the most complicated scheme Of ambition. yet hi,
aspect and language will exhibit nothing but phil
osophc moderation Hatred and revenge may eat
into his heart, yet ever, look be cordial smile,
and every gesture familiar carc-s. he does hot
seruplc to deceive. because he intends to dc~t y.
and thinks it madness TO declare open hnstih,irs
against rival whom he may stab IN y fnl EN-
brace. or poison in II consr,ta,,d wafer. Such
men have lived rs here describe, and doubtless
the race is not extinct. leave it to you to apply
tho portrait.
Despotism and slavery are allies, linked t"geth-
err hy chain Of adamantlne strength. But itcan
be broken 10y men determined to hc free. Tie ly-
atr,,,t .I ,l.,,I, al,
his intention to make the last cntrenchmrnt IF
liberty his grave. And he found that liberty
which his tyrants denied him in tie republic of
the dead. Shall we break the cursed chain which
now mannclcs the limbs of many Of our frien l.,
or shall we own u common master. and quietly
submit to the most despotc discipline? BY rur-
suing the latter course we may be permitted to
live IN peace within the limits Of the Presidents
party, despised by every honorable man, with the
canker eating into souls
But who is this lnperious old man, replee with
office and emolumens, that is now setting up new
tests of Democracy, and new creeds for our ac-
acknowledgements He like ourselves, is but mem
Der of the Democratic party, and not the absolute
exponent of its principles. The platform e>ab-
lished at Cincinnati is rs binding upon him the
poorest man amongst Us, and the creed it cmbo
dies is the only legitimate test upon Democrats
til altered by the next National Convention.
What is the Democratic party? 1t is a comhi-
nation of citizens residing in every State of this
Union, who have similar view of political econo-
my, or whose opinions have close approxima-
ton. These meet together every four years in
convention, through delegates selected in various
ways, and after consultation and argument, and
mutual surrender Of something. determine upon
creed which is to govern the whole party ,hro'-
out the Union. All diversity of Individual opin-
ion is merged in this common platform, and con-
formity with its doctrines is the only test Of Demo-
craey. The President, powerful as he is in pat
ronage and position, has no authority to erect
tests outside Of this instrument, which has had
the solemn sanction of the whole Confederacv in
council assembled. Any attemptt to enforce by