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

r.ted powerf-("No, no")-or even that Ne,
York and Philadeldhia would consent 10 one com
mon government Il would be far easier TO ez
cits isalossies hetwesn the parts than 10 reuait
thsn, And Political sgitators would not thea b
wanting % SOW the seeds Of Jealousy and conflict
Would nos these disnniteJ members soon relaps'
into the incohsrent, discordant condition of th,
fraementary States of South America-tThat's
factl1-and become tho sport of military ambi
tion, TO sink at last into the arms of despotic pow
err (Applause.l The agitators Of the slavery
question ought TO rcmember that African slavery
was introduced in the Southern States long before
the Revolution that the present generation inhe.
rited il from their ancestors, and are not RESPONSE
Bile for its existence
A VoicE-And tho North too.
Ma. HuNr-Yes, you may we'll soy the North.
Il was the people Of Old England and New Eng
land that brought them there, and thoy should
therefore show more charity in dealing with the
relations of the South and the African race. They
now have q colorcd population Of four millions.
which they must DO permitted to deal with ncoor-
ding to their views Of interest and duty. ZAP
plause.) The opinions of Washington and Jefer-
son are sometimes introduced to sanction the
present system oil slavery. agitation II ia true
that they both deplored tho existence OF slavery,
aud regarded il as an evil. But even then, whom
the slave population was less than one sixth Of
it's present number, thoy perceived that the sys-
tom was too pervadlng and formidable for their
powers, and they brought forward no definite
measures for it's eradication. Least of all did
they advise or encourage tho people of the FREQ
States TO form themselves into anti slavery COM
binations TO sit in judgement upon their sister
communities, and disturb tho public tranquility
by q constant outpouring of sectional animosity-
lApplauso.) On the contrary, their last and most
emphatic warnings to their countrymen were in
tended to arouse them to tho danger Of sectional
jealousies and dissensions. Washington signed
the first fugitive slave law. Applause. JefTer-
son purchased Louisiana, and both sanctioned
laws admitting slave States in tho Union. lAp-
plause. Let US briefly consider the difficulties
that wero encountered in the adjustment Of our
federal compact. and then contemplate the wise
statesmanship and generous patriotism by which
they were surmounted. Then. as now, the Statos
had their peculiar institutions and prejudices.-
They were widely dissimilar in climate and posi-
ton, in their productions, their social organization
domestic policy. There were conflicting in
terests and opinions which could be reconciled
only by the exercise Of tho noble magnanimity
and true love Of country which shone forth 50 con-
in that bright era Of public virtue and
zeal. After the Convention Of 1887 had
completed its labors, under tho auspices tf the
Of his Country, il devolvo1 upon him, rs
President Of the body, ~ communicate tho Con
~stitution 10 tho Congress Of tho old Confederation.
After adverting 10 the difficulties produced "by Il
among the several States as to their
situation. extent, habits aud particular INTEREST,""
ho holds the following languago-"Ths consti-
which we now present is the result of II
spirit of amity, and Of that mutual Difference and
which the popularity Of our political
situation rendered Indispensable" Applause.
Yes, Mr.. President, tho spirit Of amity perfected
tho glorious fabric; the spirit Of nmity must DO
nvokad to sustain and preserve it. lRcnewcd
One of the highest objects of the COM
n ct than mazda - n m Hand couHistipU iutarnsts
md bind the States together by the tics OF mutual
and affection. 1t was intended to combine
heir strength for tho common welfare and protec.
ion. and ensure for all the blessings Of free inter
course and on n firm foundation Of per-
petual friendship and concord. 1t wss wisely de-
sided by the patriots Of that day, that the negro
should not stand in the way of union, and, there
fore, he should not now DO permitted to do 3d.
Then, as now, it was apparent that tho worry diver
stiles and differences to which | have adyerted,
increased tho necessity of u national compact
which should ensure domestic tranquility, md
unto the efforts Of tho States nnd tho people for
the attainment Of those common objects which re-
qnire the exercise Of concentrated national power.
Experience hus demonstrated that the varied
forms Of industry and production contribute to
the general strength, and largely augment tho
benefits resulting from commercial Interchange
between the different sections Of tho country
The notion that tho States Of the North and South
cannot coexist sido by side us friends and neigh
bors, and act together tremendously in one nation
al system, by reason Of the dissinilarity Of their
domestic institutions, and that partisan warfare
between them Is either necessary or justiiinble un-
til slavery shall have been abolished in one Sec
ton or legalized in the other, is an absurd and
mischicvous fallacy, having no basis of fact or
sound argument for it's support. Loud applause.
Our whole history retutes tina PROPOSE tiun, aud
common sense rejects it; for | alphabetically deny
that there is any necessary antogonism between
African slave labor in the tropical South and free
labor in tho temperate North. Cheers. Thore
is no such inconsistency and incompntibility, MS
some gentlemen would have us believe. 1t is no
mure necessary now than in times past, that any
State should surrender the control Of its Internal
affairs, or that either section should abandon its
own to adopt the system or tho opinions of the
other. 1t is the unquestionnble right OF every
State 10 regulate its own domestic concerns with
out Intervention from other parts of tho country.
The recent invasion Of Virginia by IL band OF
conspirators. for the avowed purpose OF arming
the slaves aud organizing sorvile instruction,
has excited emotions of adherence in every mind,
not incurably ~distempered by sectional fanati.
cism. Applause. Ought it 10 surprise US tina,
an attempt SO neiarious, so diabclical, should
arouse feelings Of intense indignation among the
Southern people, or that they should look with
just solicitude for an expression of tho sentiments
Of tho sentiments Of the North in regard to thi:
reasonable assault upon their peace and security
Cries Of mo, indeed" Three cheers were her,
| given for Ex-Governor Hunt. OF course, they
they have not failed to observe that for some year,
past the discussion Of negro slavery has been tn,
Leading business Of a largo number Of presses
lecturers, politicians and preachers in the North
and that tho slave States and Shareholders hay,
been made the standing theme of ~invec.iye an,
assault. The slavery question has been made t.
swallow up every topic of public interest in tn
minds of many benevolent but misguided persons
whose sympathies are most powerfully and siugu
larly excited by those distant evils. real or imagi
harry, which lie entirely beyond their control. Ii
. healthfnl state of the public sentiment, II ma,
went into Virginia in the garb of peaceful
settler. while at the same time he was preparing
sharpenad nikaa for the slaughter OF nnrsons of IN