Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1859-12-23

~. Applause feel less sympathy for Brown
and his associates than for the first free negro
who vas shot for refusing to join them. lCheers.l
They indignantly reprobats every anemp. 10
brethren, II IL the sovereign right and proroga-
stives Of Virginia to make and administer her own
.laws-lgreat applause the people ofother states
L have no lawful concern in the matter. she gave
John Brown a fair judicial trial Iapplansel. and
the whole country should rejoice, not only that; he
and his confederates received the punishment 80
/ justly due to their crimes, but that his schemes OF
wide spread instruction and slaughter were 80
! promptly crushed. John Brown was n citizen OF
our own State, and NJ far a. he could. he dishonor-
cd her by his reasonable violation Of the rights Of
Virginia. fApplausel II is peculiarly fitting. there.
fore, that the people Of New York. Of nil parties.
should make their sentiments distinctly understood
and empbatically declare their adherence OF his
crime, and the ungoyernabie fanaticism in which
it originated, and by which it has beer too long
encouraged. Loud applause. We have not Tor
gotten that New York and Virginia are sister
States, and have p!ighted their mutual faith in tho
| bonds Of confederation and union. (Cheers.) Who
| can ever forget that they stood side by side through
the stormy scenes oftho revolution and that Wash
inglon, the noblest son Of Virginia, in the darkest
hour of dependency. defended the soil Of New
York against the overwhelming force Of the ihva-
der. and the more dangerous Vaccinations of do
mestic trenson. Tremendous cheers.) We might
also well remember that Virginia, in Il spirit Uf
disintercsted patriotism not surpassed on the bright
est pages of history. gave TO the Union tho vast
and imperial domain which now constitutes the
prosperous free States Of the Northwest, and the
richest nursery Of the commerce and prosperity Of
New York. applause Chcrishing these recol-
lections of the past, well may WI blush for the de-
cay of national spirit, when We hear tho needless
insults so frequently aimed Mt the Commonwealth
for remaining in tho social and domestic condition
transmitted to her by the generations which have
passed away, and for which she il in no way res.
ponsiblc. Survey our past history and tell mo
what Virginia has done to US to justify these obul
litions of resentment. Has she ever invaded our
territory with spears, or in%terfered with our inter
nal concerns. or sought to force her institutions
upon usY mo, no.) The free States Of the North
entered into the federal compact with the slave
States Of the South with their eyes open. We
knew TINT they held a largo African population IN
domestic servitnde. Yet we chose to unto with
them in forming n common government for spcci-
fic national objects. After contracting these fed
cral relations and adopting tho constitution rs the
charter Of perpetual amity. is it n friendly proccc-
ding, it is consistent with honor and good faith to
turn upon them and arraign them in language of
condemnation and insult. on tho question of negro
slavery. which belongs wholly to them, and over
which We have neither jurisdiction nor control ?
No, sir. To me it seems nm unwiss and unyeno-
rous interference with II subject which is none of
ours, II is n violation Of the comfy Of States,
"ulCH chh HhSo no useIul cncet3 Whatever. An-
rlausc, IL aggravates the evils which it would re-
mcdy, and produces increased servity by exciting
feelings of irritatNp md insecurity among the only
people who have power over tho condition of the
slave. Mr. Presidcnt-In all tho sectional collis-
ions which have disturbed the country, in al its
and troubles. my voice hns been on The
side Of moderation. fChcors. | have never sym.
with factious agitators in the North, nor
with dlsunionists in the South. Always maintai-
ning tho Just rights of my own section, | have
been equally ready TO respect tho rights and tho
feelings Of tho others. When differences have ari.
from whatever cause, | have contended for
their all ustment III II friendly spirit, on principles
with tho rights and tho honor OF both SOC
tons. Iii hill and applause. Its not my purpose
now to review vast controversies, or to discuss
Their origin or their merits. 1t would serve no
useful purpose. We have all expressed our opin-
ions, and acted nm honest part according to our own
sense Of patriotic duty. Instead of roviying tho
disputes which have divided tho North and the
South, and interrupted harmonious relations, it
is much wiser to consider how they nuy DO ter
minated aud banished from our national councils.
(Applnuse.) So far AS there was anything prac-
teal in the sectional contests which have convuls-
ed the country, they nre ended already, and belong
to the domain Of history. The crisis demands
THAT We should exercise a spirit of patriotic con-
%ciliation. (Cheers.) 1t Is time that this angry
warfare of sections should cease, and that tho
voice OF discord should 10 rebuked and hushed
forever. Tho present condition of tho country
calls omplntically for moderation. lApplause.)
In national concerns, no less than the subordinate
relations of men, moderation is the highest wis
dom. BY rejecting its counsels and yielding to
the fury OF excited passions, most of the free re-
publics, ancient and modern, after a brief career
Of prosperity, persisted from the earth. The voice
of history warns us that tho rivalrios. jcalousies
and c ,nilicts of confcderatcd States have always
resulted in the destruction of FREQ government
If my voice could be heard throughout the land |
would plead for moderation both in tho North and
the South. j would earnestly appeal to the peo-
plo of tho Southern States. in tie present moment
Of evaporation, to avoid all extreme and uncon-
stltutional measures, and to re iect the counsels of
any who would hurry them forward into the vor-
tex of treason and disunion. loud aprlause.)
Let them he assured that there is no occasion for
this fearful and fatal alternative. They may still
rely on the Justice, and fidelity, and friendship OF
the great body of their c~ountrymen in the free
States. A vast majority of the people Of the
North, OF all parties, are still loyal to the Union
and the constitution, and SO far from intending
they will resist every effort to invade the %institn-
tlons and the rights Of the slaveholding States.--
Tho old feeling OF national brotherhood and afre c.
tion will revive and assert its restless power, cv en-
in tho breasts of thousands who have been mo
montarily misled by the impulses of sectional feel
inGs and excited passions. Our fellow citizens at
the South ought certainly to remember that W hole
communities cannot Justly be held responsible for
the rawlings Of individual fanatics, and the wild
schemes of sectional ~agitators and conspirators.-
Applause. AT the same time let us appeal to
the men of the North to act a conservative and
patriotic part. Will they not rise in their might
and put an end to this detestable md dangerous
warfare between the two great sections of the
American Union ICries of "Yes."l Evory pa
triot heart must desire the restoration of peace
and tho revival of mutual confidence and kindness
contend that negro slavery ought no moro now
than in 1877 to stand in tho way of national unity
aud concord. Applause. As that question
was not permitted to defeat the formation of the
Union, we should not allow it to mar the enjoy.