Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1860-02-28
TO TuEPEoPLE OF VIRGINIA.


The following address, from the pen Of Robert E.
Scott Esq, orFauqar, was reported to the Opposition
safe Convention, 5y tie Committee on Business, and
adopted by thar body, and ordered to be published
This Convention by original appointment was TO have
assembled ON tire l4h day of December last but it was
deemed advisable IN consequence OF subsequent events
1 postpone its meeting Those events O, cllr-
tetcr So unexpected, and accompanied by developments
star ling as 20 masc 10 a. once, the dictate OF p-u-
lence and %. patriotism To- defer action until further
time should oe given discern the issue TO which they
conducted.
Psrglu. to the p0stponement we met together at the
Capitol of the State on the pa Of February and the
tay Itself is hlll0wod In the annals OF our history we
would ourselves catch from IL inspiration Of the mod
Grafton wisdom and virtue Of the pa-rio. TO whom it
gave birth.
At our appointment We were commissioned to dead
ril Che party politics Of the day, and on behalf of the
Opposition Oh Virginia, 20 initiate measures looking %
concerted action Oh The poytof the Opposition Of alb the
States il the approaching election Of President.
Tie public con .ider.aols involved n The attempt well
ls.ied Che action although tie condition of ai hrs Dad
been - ausu,'ous OF success The Democratic party,
for long succession OF terms, witI glt exception, ID
saa.ro.. tHe Federal Government and ruled the poll s.
FOL. tle country The expenses Of the Government t,om
.I1r- s--- .er tho second Adams. and e-
under al Fillmore, had increased 20 s. under Sir
Pierce and were rapidly swelling TO more than 5lpt-
100000 under Mr.. buchanan. The principle that 'fo
the y.c-or- belong the spls' borrowed from de-ecCr
s.. DAYS nu. et one time Indignantly repulatej bg al
parties had for long period or time, under Successive
Democratic administrations been ayowed as their RAJ of
action and the public Offices created for the public ben
Dsr i.I been uu1,ushIg'y bestowed rewards par
.rs and toCslud UiUills Ot executive pleasure The
public pres, pc.0uej and the freedom Of elections
constrained bv executive patronage Tn The shape Of
the reward, of party service and of party aposacy and
-n every jcaOu O executive action, eNrsyag.uces
corrup.o- and frauds marked the rule Of the in aU-
.I0rcy anti, The public miud haDUaJet these abu-
-a- l.L become M d great degree 20 experience the
same Generalization. Under IFS influence patriosm has
Given place 10 pt.ty- couside atiou- of the public veal
ave been abandoned by those that belong 10 party sue
cess and our Presidential elections have d-geueratei i1-
to mere coutes for place.
Every recurrence OF these is marked by some issue
originating in the interests OF few, aud continued or
,1eci elect whatsoever is cacult5j excite tae puo-
. mind 20 inlue passion, to produce discOgJ and cu-
Gender sectional auimO,tv is h.tilly seized upon by
,ya1,s ilv place and uIu--,3-sy pressed forward Rv
politicians and tbc presses % their interests No Co1sjd-
Grafton Of Tue public peace no consideration of lrat.r
,7l concord OF our Uuion OF IFS blessings no cousid
Grafton of tle happiness and prosperity OF the coGury
ro consideration OF the obligations wajch as a nation
ec owe o o,hcr nations, U'eJ,oscs restraint. In the
lust for Office and iu the greed for spoil all OF these are
trclJ.u down. and the dgar,s, interests Of all are gam
b..l with Tor the gain of few. In the very nature OF
.t.. f. was not possible for the question OF slavery
enla uaappropuatcd u was by far too inviting 60 the
ends OF Pa--y-
Existing m part only Of the State the institution Of
Slavery IS necessarily sectional, aud claiming 90 extend
sell INFO the uu0,-gp'eu territory OF ;e pu1i, domain
Be- was OF itself calculated 20 excite 90 sectoua. jealousy
This was 6r- seen Wbe1 the thirteen colonies pressed by
e -o.re Of tbe revolutions settled the articles OF cou
Iteration When iuUep cndeEce was achieved 70 was more
strongly manifested iD the convention That framed the
Constitution It again exhibited DC, influence when Nj
.g-i au-,j for admission into the sserhe0i of States
BIt greatly as the public mind excited these
ra,iogs aud important as the measures involved
Dsre, forebore TO form upon IT, aud the patriotism OF
the country equality with the e1igenceS Of the
lay.
Ancrls20 for long series Of years, the country
posed m the settlements and progressed undistur5ed by
The bauef excitement Certain societies ofthe Friends
con,ry,d 20 forward to each Congress, memorials against
slavery bus these disturbed mans compoSure and eX-
cited TO no compliant few fanatics in the Eastern
States combined into Abolition Societies sent also their
petitions to Congress- bu, these we're disposed otke those
ofic Qsaser and The currents OF National and STATE poll
i,.s flowed smoothly on, without a ripple protesting
from Chat cause
In tho ur5--ess of events the abotonists increasing
u numbers l,s1cltel themselves into parry organzI
ton, aatil Che States, especially OF Ono New orN and
Massachusetts, put forward candidates for political Office
Bl, lpei 5y both Of ,ue great parties u;o which the
politics cd the country had divided the people, they
would a,s.ltste With neither. In Massachusetts,, for
many years, Marcus Norton, their standing clld'-
Gt-e Tor .le oice OF Governor and for succession o..
Presidential terms they voted 1 an the States, for Mr.
Brnv g.. their candidate for the Presidency. EagyOssed
with the idea Of general emancipation they addressed
themselves 20 measures wholly without the jurisdiction
osFelcr Authority, and they could dld therefore, 10
foundation which rear the su9er-structure OF an
enduring political organization, and uaassistet by ex-
trlne0J Influences, their diosncgacy certain IN The
end eAlSu, ts energy But unfortunately these In
Lusrces were not withheld.
nIhe Ola Federal party, under whose auspices the Gov
e-lmclt was iullglraed ouj conducted through three
successive administrative terms, found itself opposed 10y
the Republican party bv which il suffered overthrow in
the election of Mr. jefferson Proceeding upon the Lead
lr idea OF opposition 70 executive influence, the yc,o
r5ls party successfully addressed itself TO the suscp-
bi,y of the public mind the subject Of the one man
power and 80 consolidated is strength, that under the
administration OF Mr.. Monro> 10 found Itself wthou;
rival Eyerywhere in the Federal and State Govern
meuts tie policy Of the country was shaped by is IN
lusuce Lofty in .s aspirations hgh-toaed in It's prin
cpes in the conduct Of Federal Affairs it addressed
ITSELF 20 the great teaes with enlightened aud pa-siJiic
devotion. IN foreign relations It commanded the
respect Of other Powers; 10 domestic affairs, while
regard bad The constitution and the rghs Of the
States, !; recognized the dcty of protecting and advaa
eng The great indu, trial interests Of the country and
DER m fostering measures commerce, manufactures aud
agriculture, made rapid progress in prosperity No pow.
er NOT granted 70 the federal authority was assumed aud
ne P'EH granted - u, vAss necessary V he general