Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-08-10
For the Enquirer.
For the Enquirer.
THE ADDRESS OF Mr.. WILLOUGHBY NEWTON -
DISUHIoN, A MEASURE, ABHoRREHT TO yIR-
GINIA AND THE SOIITH.


GINA AND THE SOUTH.
1t may be greeted as among the auspicous ndica-
riun. Of sound public sentiment, at this day in vr.
sns aud the South that the address of Mr.. Wilough.
by Newton has met such n general expression Of con
d-mnalion. The chief mischief which the doctrines
# that address was nende! 10 produce il happily A.
once and promptly cOunteracted, by the emphatic and
decided censure they have evoked froTa nearly all
sections of the country. The author, visited nv his
-nuen; desert takes nothing for his false clamor ex
cept the regret of many, and iha pity of all tina, h-
should have abused if not desecrated the appoint
end honorable office be occupied 10 ins,i into the sus
cept6le minds OF the youths of Virginia precepts and
principles az false they are odious aud dangerous
which, instead of incu!caing reverence for the Con
sti,utOn and love for the Upon, teach hostility and
dsloyalty TO both.
II this gentleman had deliberately planned an awk.
ward and ridiculous coatre temps to make himself
the object of sneers aud laughter be could not have
deviasd better timed and more appropriate means
10 effect hs purpose than such an address, at such
place, and before such an audience Politics, at the
best, even when discussed by master mind ia the
nost enlightened and moderate s&rit, and upon the
most ststesmanke, philosophical and scientific prn-
cpes, is for rhe most part theme out of place and
unsuted to the tastes and capacities Of graduates and
under graduates OF Literary Institutions. But
OF all they Objectionable, and even disgusting
when taught by professor, albeit of more dignity
than charlatan, aud are brought down to the low
level of party, and are treated in purely sectional
spirit especially If the deduoons a- the fruit of re-
ascfions brooded in 3 visionary and distempered
mind. never remarkable for soundness Of thought or
correctness ofressoning. II demands wise care and
great judgment 10 manage such topics, il chosen at
al, before an assemblsge OF youthp 80 az produce
good and not evil impressions. Whether NJ, New
ton made any favorable impression on ths minds
ut hs youthful auditors or not, we not informed
But the intent WAS criminal as the effect.
The repreof, now everywhere administered to The
suthor OF hs illegal Discourse for the offence he bhs
committed against ths Judgment, good sense and
sound patriotism Of Virgnans, will no doubt serve
as warning TO all future orators when called upon TO
sccrpt the distinguished honor of addressing the STU
dents Of our colleges. There are few of eminent
neu who hold the opinions of the suthor OF the sd
dress in question and fewer STILL who if they did, would
40 deiantly contemu the public sentiment OF the
State, to brave s hsrshest thundes ofdenuncison
oy utterng doctrines ofsnsiveto to universal taste.
We have not 80 favorable estimate of Mr.. New
tons impressbiity and docility, as to believe that
he would not elm again in Hke manner. II is not ex-
pected that public vensure and criticism, however
pointed and severe will have any effect upon his oh
durae self conceit. He can never be convinced OF
political error or, if convinced, would never retract
il. Like the witness who swore "that the horse was
seventeen feet high" when reminded Of his mistake.
said be had sworn to IT, and he would stick TO it, His
IL rare mind and sngularly constituted. He is
oorious and podding thinks great deal, but, strange
but seldom profits by the lessons Of wisdom learned
from books or experience. He forms bis own opin
ions, and, when once formed, however erroneous he
hugs them with the darling tenacity of the most OBJ
iurats dogmatst. Reasoning from premises the
most far-feched and upon data speculative and un-
substantial, he has become visionary both in agri
culture and politics. Fond of the distractions of po
tcal economy science which he is said TO have stu
died diligently at college. he applies the principles
taught by adam Smth, nearly three quarters OF cen
10. at,12
Two years ago this gentleman urned propbetand, like
other prophets, 'saw visions and dresmt dreams" Of
-Xtravagant high prices OF grain. His calculations
addressed themselves 40 atractivey to the cupidlty
i some uf our farmers and merchants, that they wers
weak enough to believe him. Wheat, according 10
h- predictions of MIR. Newton was destined IN con-
nue high, it is believed permanently high at - per
bustel. Some wers CredulOus enough TO act upon
mis- philosophy, aud lost. They now discard him as u
philosopher and prophet, and believe that he knows
40 more of prices than any other PLAIN larmer MOI
is much as some.
brief glance at his political course will convince
Us inat he has small claims to our confidence as H
politician, as be has proved himself entitled to az an
agricultural or political economist. Hs commenced his
pulit;cal life an ardent follower of Jackson and
gapeu wAr with that party against Bank Rnd tariff
Next, captvated by new theories and seeking noS
associations. he became proselyte to Calhoun-and
denounced The proclamation and espoused nulIltca
ion Soon tired of this company hs turned hs back
aughrd his a5s,racous 10 scorn, and, as ts If
consttutionally ot one idea for the tim
1eing, and never does things by halves, he be-
oams a Whig, and furious advocate OF bank
,ariG and distribution. All these In turn he bas
since deserted Seeking rrpose at length from tb.
stormy and uncertain sea Of potos-with WHOSE
forms aud tides he bad however, managed 80 con-
staully to shifhe settled down to the calm pursuits
It ayricuture--fron the secusion Of which We hear
no more of him politician until recently, when ht
-merges suddenly in open day and before the public
kazs as full blown disunionist. Everything by
'urns and nothing long" his public life distinguish
ID AZ much az for anything else by An eernal deva
ZION from consistency. Thi. il said more in sorrow
Than in anger. The weight Of q mans sentiments J.
,iten and Justly measured by the character OF their
author. The desire is here candidly avowed 10 covn
teract as far possible the influence OF Mr. Newton
iisuniun doctrines, if any they have, by every fair
yumrnt Ii is believed that this ia fair and legtl-
mate use Of hs history for that purpose. The argu-
mrnt ia political, not personal. Hence the sketch thai
"a made. IL ia submlted, therefore, that MIR. New
tonr aut.cedents give him no shadow of claim to be
respected sar guide and instructor OF youth on
the delicats aud profound questions OF government
much -. in regard Ia The deep and perilous policy OIL
y separation of this Union, and the formation of g
Southern confederacy Mr.. Newton is not the man
10 lead by the hand the youth Of this Stale to that
rugged precipice. His Is not the philosophic mind
and steady eye any there be existing. to stand upon
fa awful brink and gazing below 10 lecture the rising
yspsra,ion upon the fearful mysteries which lie IN
us fathouess abyss. If ever this Apocalypse 10 tu
he revealed Virginia will demand sOme more gifted
sser ano ono with more unquesoned commission as q
orophe TO foretel the good or the 6c consequence
inat would follow such q dariug leap In the dark
Mr. Newton has yindicated no title TO any such ex-
alted trust. His errors in politics. like his vsticns-
tions about prices, win for him no faith az true
prophet of the future Of Virginia.
The hope has been of late INDUCED that the PERM
cious race of political Cassandrss, and prophets o
evil, was extinct in our State. We have been CURSED
enough with them, heaven knows. For one, l ahoult
not have cherished the soothing belief that all wert
dead had suspected that this gentleman was aRait
TO appear in a discourse on public Affairs. AS 30 Il
as it was understood however that he was to deivr
an address, had an irrepressible and painful for
bodpg that he would astonsh the world with so'nt
strange aud heterodox opinions, neither suited to th'
occasion nor 10 ACT Ordance with the prevailing snn
ments of the iimes. / was not disappointed. Tbs
tenor of his former political life, and the peculla
characteristics Of his mind gave assurance that h.
would eagerly seize ihe opportunity TO display that
Independence of thought which prompts him, WIN
singular perversty OF Judgment 10 think Tor blmseli
and differ from "sll the world ana the rest oi man
kind Il was peculiarly fitting. just at the momen
When, by common consent, the question oil dieunlor
was nut TO rest when oil the country was enjoying
delightful repose from the painful agltatlons oil sore
subjects that were supposed to involve that issue
when the poli,icsl tempe of Janus WAS shut, and q
from the strfr OF srma, and the patriots OF all parties
of the land North and south, East and West-wert
only thinking If how they might perpetuate harmony
and strengthen the bonds of the Union, that MIR
Newton should, with hoarse, dissonant aud brazer
note break this heavenly cain, by proclaiming t6a
the peace that prevailed was deceltiu and that sep
aratiou of this Union WIS inevitable AT this auspi-
coua moment, when the Democratic party, 10 Whicf
he now belongs, had achieved all for fhe South the,
wished, and when, through their success, the Con
s,itution had ,riumphed, the Union was saved, the
South protected, and the peace and frendsnlp o.
the two sections were consolidated; when Toomo'
ana Brown and Jefferson Davis, Wise, Buchanar
and Douglas, Hunter and Breckenridge, Crtt'ndeh
Choa,s ard Everett-men OF all parties and IRON
every s-ction-wer. united in feeling snd sen'lrneh
upon that one suoj-ci; and giving daily maDlt-s'h
tions Of confidence in the bright and happy prospee
that once more dswned upon The country-we hnf
this unhappy augur of calamity this disconten,ec
prophet of evil; tbis politician OF III omened and die
ordered imagination, telling US, and instructing ID,
youth of lhe State, in eoleun aud sepucbrsl tones
of va,icus,ion. that the dissolution of this Unlo'
must happen And this dreadful cstas,rophe-h
which bold men start back, and the possibility OF
which patriots contemplate with sorrow-is GU
Ii nUa