Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1859-04-25
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The ssOpposition" Party.

i
uls;nt BY the Democracy that their opponents de-
signate themselves the Opposition They pro-
test against this name, as indicative oil mere op-
position" to the Democratic party, aud nothing
else.
That is exactly what ii means. 1t is m appro-
priate name, because it precisely expresses what
il the character Of the present contest inasnoeh
as the extravaganza the corruption, the proh's'y'
and the tyranny Of the Democratic party have
brought cur institutions into disrcpnte and threat
sned the stability Of the fovernmen itself we re-
coeuiss il as the 6rsi duty Of every honest man.
foregoing every other confederation, to oppose
and defea, the party which is responsible Tor II
all. We are willing to tolerate minor differences
of opinion among those who arc disposed to unite
in this great work. We are willing to sink all
subordinate questions in view OF the primary Oh
;ecs 20 be accomplished. II onc's house were on
Are he would be fool indeed 10 enquire ct his
neirhbors who came II his assistance. whether
they we're agreed upon questions If Tariff and
Bank lie accepts their aid, at once IN ex"n-
guisaing the conAagra,on--and, after the hre is
put out. they may quarrel about Bank and l"r't
as much Is they choose.
So, in the political world. n, present, W" sce
our institutions in danger Of destruction. In the
Federal Government We see H. set Of unclcan plum
derers rioting upon the substance OF the people,
and rapidly driving the Government to the verge
OF bankruptcy. 1t is no time to stop ana talk
about Bank and Tariff and Slavery. Let usnnite
and expel the corrupt crew before it be too late.
Let " attack the most imminent danger first II
there be differences among our friends among
minor points, let them be postponed to tho great
work Of rescuing the country from the impending
crash of ruin which the corruption Of the party
in power has rendered it necessary to avert Mt
once. 1t would be folly to stop by the ways'ie to
dispute upon mmaterial differences, when tho
fabric of Government is all ablazc with the flames
Of crime and corruption.
In like manner, when the attempt is made to
elect to the Chief Executive Office of tho State
one who has been 50 disloyal II Nrginnn ms to
seek to dismembcr our old Commonwealth and
abolitionse portion of it, it is no time for men
who are opposed to such proceeding to chatter
with each other upon side issues When it is
proposed to put at the helm two men, one OF whom
has always been bitter opponent OF Internal
Improvements, and the other has been silent il
not absolutely hostile it is triing with the gravity
of the subject for the advocates Of different propo
sitions to waste their time upon useless discussions
Of their respective schemes, in the face of the
common enemy Of all. The FIRST great primary
object is to defeat the adversary. Everything else
is Of triding importance in comparison with it,
We must unite under the general, comprehensive
name Of Opposition" that we may move in
solid column and attack the enemys stronghold
with Che imposing power of overwhelming num-
bers.
We are, then. strictly an Opposition party
We arc opposed" to tho party in power. We
recognise it as first duty to defeat that party,
and to cut short, ut once, its of mischief
Wings, Democrats, Know-Nothings, Republicans
all may belong to this party. If they recog-
mise the supreme importance of defeating the De-
mocraey, 80 that thereby the country may be
saved, it makes no difference, SO far as the tempo
rsry occasion is concerned, whether they are
agreed or not upon subordinate issues.
1t is pretended by some that an Opposition"
party is new thing in American politics. Not
at ALL The first political party we ever had in
this country was an Opposition party. They OPP
posed the stamp tax, and they opposed the tyran-
ny of the British Government, even to the extent
Of throwing cargo of lea over into Boston Bay.
They opposed" the British troops who were sent
over here to snbdue them. The Wings Of the
Revolution were an Opposition" party, in the
strictest sense Of the term-and the Wings of the
present day in opposing the tyranny aud oppres-
sion under which they have long suffered. are
but occupying parallel position with their Revo-
lutionary ancestors.
The party which opposed Gen. Jackson was an
Opposition party. They were very far from being
agreed upon an exact policy of Government Blu
they saw jackson seizing the Constitution and in
terpreting it according to his own autocratic viii
end pleasure. They saw him trampling upol
the rights of the States. They saw him maxim
war upon the Constitution by exceeding his pre-
scribed powers They saw him buying up Mem
bers Of Congress with the patronage of the Gov
eminent All these things they saw; and homes
men everywhere, and of all shades of poitica
opinion, appreciatipg the magnitude of the evil
that beset them, and the imminent danger Of
total destruction of their liberties, banded ,ogethe
in she-holy cause Of rescuiug the country fror
<uin. In that crisis he would have been rcgarde
= traitor who stopped to enquire of his all
whether he agreed With him upon an immateris
issae. The colossal and portentous power Of Ii
Jsekscn dynasty was the first thing to be broke
downs Ia accomplished they might separa
idaeSaadits subdivisions IL they thought prope
b IT Il b at the present day. We cannot Gu
IL dissasss Of the body polite with emollisn