Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1859-12-24

it ia that in tho queen city Of tho New world, In
tho capital Of North America, there is assembled
large, respectable, and 80 unanimous ~ tins
meeting has shown itself to DO in receiving SEN
tmen,s which. il observed must protect our Union
from destruction and even from danger. Applause
Gentlemen, is il not suh eot Of astonishment that
tho idea OF danger, and the still moro wonderful
idea Of dissolution, should be heard from tho lips
of American citizens, Mt this day, in reference to.
and in connection with, the sacred name Of this
most sacred Union! Applause Why gentlemen.
what il our Union What are its antecedentsf I |
What 10 its precont condition., II We ward away
tho evils which threaten ii what its future hope
| for and for the great family OF mankindl why,
gentlemen, it may we'll be said Of this Union, as q
| government, that rs IL is the last ofsprng 80 10
Il Times most glorious and beniHcent production,
| Gentlemen, wo were created by nm omniscient
being. We were created by being not all seeing.
| but all powerful and all wise. and In the benig-
nifty and tho far seeing wisdom Of Ills power. he
permitted tho great family of mankind to live, to
advance. to improve, step by step. and yet permit
ted iyo thousand years aud upwards to elapse ere
llc laid tho foundation of truly free, and truly
happy. and truly independent empire. II was not,
! gentlemen. until that great length OF time had
elapsed that tho oarth was deemed mature for
| lAying the foundations of this mighty and pros
porous State. 1t was then that lie inspired that
noble minded and chivalrous Genoese ~ set forth
nron the trackle,. ocean and discover the empire
that We enjoy. few years, comparatively,
|
land set of mon whose like Ind never existed upon
the nce Of this EARTH in their perception ofthe true
! principles Of Justice. in their comprehensive be-
novolrnce-in their capacity to lay safely, justly
soundly, aud with all the qualities which should
insure pcrmnueuce in the foundation Of an empire
| 1t WAS in l1I6 that thoro assembled IN this coun-
try tho first, the very frat assembly OF national
mon who have proclaimed in clear and undeniu-
bio ioim--the imnutable principles Of liberty,
and consecrated TO all time, l trust, and In the
face of tyrants. and in opposition to their power
| tho rights of nations and the rights OF man. Ap-
plause, These patriots a soon as the storm OF
war had passed away. sat down. gents, AMI iram-
ell that instrument upon which our Union rosts
tho constitution Of the United States of America
| Az plausc. And tho question now before us is
neither moro less thnn this: whether that con-
| stituiion. consccrated by tho blood shed In that
| glorious revolution consecraed by tho signature
of tho most illustrious man who ever lived George
| Washington appause-whethcr that instrument
accepted by the wiscst and tho bcst of that day,
| and accepted in convention, one by one by each
and every of the States Of this Union-that instru-
ment from which many blessings have flown
whether that instrument was conceived in crime.
is chapter of denominations (cros of mo, no.
is n violation Of Justice s league between strong
handed but wicked-heartcd white men to oppresr,
and mpoverish and plumber. contrary to rectitude
honor md justice, for fellow creatures Ap-
plnusc That is tho question, neither nor
less. We nro told from pnlpits. We aro told from
tho political arena, are told IN the legislative
a'sembagcs oi our Northern States not merely
! by speakers but by distinct resolutions of tho
whole body, we are told by gentlemen occupying
seats in the Congress of the Union by tho votes Of
| Northern pcople-that that constitution seeks to
enshrinc. to protect, to defend u monstrous crime
against justice and humanity, and that it Is our
duty to dsrnt its provisions to outwit them, II wc
cannot otherwise get rid Of them and to trample
upon tho rights which il has declared shall be in
sured and protected to our Southern brethren.--
Ar, ,.lause That is what they declare. And
the question il whether that declaration necessarily
involves tho obstruction of our Union If it be per-
mitei to prevail ms it has hitherto prevailed And
whether it shall be permitted to prevail Now,
gentlemen. trust you will excuse me for deliberate
ly coming up to and meeting this question-n0t
seeking To tocaptivate your fancy by arick Of words
not seeking to exalt your imagination by any
of rt at defamation or eoqucnce-but to meet
this question bravely. stendily and soberly, and
ask you what is to be our course in relation to tf
Gentlemen. the constitution guarantees to The pso-
pie of the Southern Satcs the protection of their
slave property. In that respect it is solemn com
pact between the North and South. As solemn
compact are atliberty to violate it? "Cries of
no, no." Arc we at liberty to seek to take some
mean, petty advantage of it? Cries Of "no, no.
Arc at liberty to over its particular words.
and to restrict and to limit it's operation. rs to
acquire under it IL right by hostile and adverse
| legi-lation-"no, NJ TO interfere with the in
tere~s. and wound the feelings, and to trample
unon the political rights Of Southern brethren?
No! mol nor No gentlemen, If it be COM
! pact and has anything sacred in it, we are bound
to observe it in good faith, honestly and honorably
up to tho letter and not in amy mlncng, halfway,
! unfair and iberal construction seeking to salts
! fly the Letter, aud to give little we can and
| to defeat the spirit. Applause. That may be the
way that some men keep contract about the sale
of n house or some chattel, but it is not tho way
that honest men observe contracts even in rela-
ton to the most trivial thing. True" and ap-
plause What has been done. having it's tende cy
| to disturb harmony under this constitution aud to
break down and destroy the happy union now ex-
isting between these Statesf Why, gentlemen,
ut early period the subject of slavery, rs mere
philosophical question, twas discussed by many,
and its Justice or injustice made the subject Of va
rous opinions and arguments. 1t mattered little
how long this discussion confined itself in this
way if it had only led to the formation OF some
society like the Shakers. who do not believe in
matrimony; some so -iety like the people Of Utah,
destined to u short life, who believe in too much
matrimony-laughter-or some society of people
| like the strong minded women of our country, who
believe that women are much better qualified than
men to perform the functions and Offices usually
performed by mcn-laughter--and who probably
would, if they had their way, simply change the
order of proceedings. and transfer the husband to
| the kitchen and themselves to the cabinet
Laughter and applause. SO long, say, as this
sentimentaty touching slavery confined itself to
the formation of parties and societies OF this de-
scripton, it certainly could do no harm, and we
could satisfy ourselves with the maxim that "Er-
ror can do little harm as long as truth is left free
to combat it," But, unfortunately, gentlemen,
this senmentality has found its way out of the
meeting houses-from among pious people, as
semblages of speculative philosophers, societies
formed to benefit the inhabitants of Booro-boo-la-
ghait has found its way into the heart Of the sell
fish Politician it has been made the war cry Of prty;