Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1860-07-13

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Speech Of DIR. s. EE. rgoffeGd.
The following is brief synopsis Of an ell
oquent speech delivered by Dr. S. II. Mof-
fet, Of Rockingham, one Of the delegates to
Baltimore from this District, made in the
Convention on the occasion of the seces-
sion Of some Of the Southern States:
Mr.. Moffet. Of Virginia. Mr.. President
[Laug htcr]-I desire to state a fact which
think the chair did not understand, and that
is that when I gave way it was by the force
of the circumstances by which [ was sur,
rounded, and with view that the gentle
men who desired to leave might dc So We
are involved, Mr.. President, in the most
solemn crisis that has ever yet presented it.
self to any party or any people. 30 far as
my own State is concerned, we feel most
deeply the responsibility which attaches to
us as representatives Of Virginia. We we're
thirty when we came in-now we are but
five. My venerable and distinguished friend
from the Wheeling District, my no less dis
tinguished friend from the Green Briar
District, my colleague and myself, I believe
comprise all. 70 his fellow-delegates1 =
Have | omitted any one? Laughter
We propose to submit one or two reasons
why we refuse to sever our connection with
| this convention. First, because the State
Convention which was held in the Common
wealth of Virginia, where our electoral tick
ct was formed, passed a resolution to sub
nit to the nominee Of the National Demo-
cratic Convention. Applause. impugn
not the motives Of those who have withdrawn.
[ have for them the highest persoanl respect
| have no doubt, whatever, that they are
doing what they deem right, but I have just
as little doubt in my own mind that they
are doing what is wrong. They doubtless
are satisfied that their pledges do not allow
them to remain, and am equally satisfied
that the pledge which I gave to my constit-
uents does constrain me to remain here.
At Charleston the convention was broken
up because certain gentlemen desired the
creed changed. Gentlemen who had made
the same attempt, and had been refused, de-
manded that the doctrine of Congressional
interference. should be interpolated in the
creeds of the party That was refused L.
Ny colleagues and myself all remained and
acted under the platform that was adopted,
and ballcted for President ffty-seven times.
And when we came to Baltimore the very
gentlemen that withdrew at Charleston came
here again as delegates, without explanation
as to their future course, and without Civ
ing us any intimation of their, intention to
stand by the party creed we adopted or not,
and we have every reason TO believe that
they are unwilling to stand by it.
Then cones this remarkable spectacle -
This convention refuses admission to por-
ton of these gentlemen, and chooses to ad-
nit Others and we sec our friends and COL
leagues Withdrawing from it, and saying they
will have nothing to do with it, because the
creed had been changed, and because those
seceders at Charleston have not been rec
ognized. Applause Those of us-I
speak at least for myself who remain, hold
ourselves to stand by the. action of this con-
ventlon from first to last, Applause, through
veal and through woe /; and I believe that
an overwhelming majority of my own con-
stituents desire to stand BY the National
Democratic party, desire to stand BY those
Northern friends who have fought with us,
who have given us slave territory and the
Fugitiye-slave Law, and who have never
withheld from us solitary practical right,
and l will never desert those friends. APP
plause. -
II am an out aud out rro-slavery man. I
EbelieVe in the institution all the time. I be-
lleve it is right, morally, socially and polit-
ically. l have fought in my State for the
extension of pro-slavery views I am a
Southern man, and interested with the peo-
pie Of Virginia in having protection for our
property. I ask you who are true to US in
the North not to desert US, but to stand by
and defend US henceforth as you have in
times past.( Voices-'.We'll do it, u and, so
help me God, will defend you as long as
| have confidence in you. Loud applause
and cries Of Good" good Twill new
er fight my friends.
In the name of common sense have we
Dot enough Of higher law, revolutionary,
Abolition scoundrels in the North to fight,
without fighting our friends? Applause I
Must we fight the men who stood on the
splatform at Cincinnati in 1856, and kick
Ethem off and break up the Democratic par
Fky? Must we make Black Republican
President, and sectionalize the Democratic
party? Voice, "No never. y No, l will
have no lot or part in that matter. And,
gentlemen, if there is to be blood, as blood
has been spoken of here-if blood is to be
the result Of this nights proceedings
revolution, ruin and destruction is to be the
consequence-I wash my hands Of the trans
haction-my skirts are clean