Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1860-08-29
aon. yyIIIoughby Ney:on's Disunion
Speech,

The telegraph mas already informed the
reader that Mr. WLLoUGHBY NEWTON made
disuuion speech in the Charlottesville Brock
inridge-Yanccy Convention on the 18th inst.
We end the following sketch Of tha. speech
IL thc Richmond Uhig:
Hon. Willoughby Newton, Of Wc-lmgcc-
land said he had been that morning to the
shrine Of Jefferson, Is refresh his devotion TO
the rights and equality of the States from
that fountain Of political wisdom. He came
from the county Of WestmOTeiand, the cradle
of the Revolution, where the vestal fires OF
liberty were kept ever brightly burning
He was not i little appalled, ut the spirit ex-
hibited IN the convention. He was afraid
from the temper manifested that they were
not vet prepared for the meat OF the true
doctrine. He had been brought up IL
school accustomed to speak frankly. He
supposed himself to b. faT IN advance Of. or
far behind, the age He didn't tbiuk any Of
the speakers had reached the height Of this
great argument They had forgotten the old
watchwOrd, ''Every thing for principle; moth
inc for men, Compromise To him was a
most odious term. He had horror for all
compromise Ii was the part Of wisdom as
well as courage to face the enemy boldly
H was afraid they tTcmbled, waycred and
bcsitated. We are here to make stand for
the South, or We are here for nothing. If
we are to be appalled, by the shadow of dis
union. let US 90 for Douglas; or if We are
| for the Spoils Of victory Let rs go for Bell -
We are looking TO the future, when We
should be looking to the past. y revolution
has already taken place, and We are now IiV-
ing under q government. which no Tree poo
pie would ever have Gssented to. The silent
operation of events has entirely changed the
| constitution. Ia its practical operation tue
checks and securities that once belonged TO
It have disappeared, and we are now at the
| mercy Of a sectional majority. Reliance on
the Supreme Court for protection Is not the
doctrine OF the StaIe-rightS party. That
tribunal viii soon be IN the hands OF orr enc
mics and will give only such protection as
the vuI;uFe gives the lamb. We should be
looking 30 what awaits Us. When the crisis
comes we should he ready to meet it. We
should not. therefore. now be making dis
tiuctiOns among tha people Of the South. The
same fate awaits us al. He would not throw
uD the cold shoulder 10 those who may sym-
patbiZe with us-nOT would he enter into a
base compromise with those bitter enemies
who maintain the doctrines of the Douglas.
Gentlemen talk Of awaiting an overt act.
Have we not had overt acts! Have not If
teen States uullified by law the Fugitive Slave
Act2 Was not the fatal compromise OF 1880
an overt aci. What acts shall We wait for
lie called unOn them 10 take their stand now
| as patriots Let US have no more cOmpro-
misses, but trust Ia the God of Battle. Our
fathers did not count the cost. They fought
on point Of honor They were three mil
| Iion-ve are nine. But h. believed that the
! idea Of civil war. II the Union were dissolved
was chimeTa. There mi bit be border foTays
| but dozen intrepid VirEinians would qUell
! them. But If war should come. in 50 lust
cause, who would shrink from il: Our fore
/ fathers. with third Of our population and
| not a tenth of our territory. went to war on
/ \ preamble, because 1t involved point Of
/ honor. Had we not courage enough 10 fol-
| low their example, What was there 50 hard
| 10 give up in DER prcsent government? The
| Constitution was already repealed, eiiete aud
| incapable Of maintaining our rights. The
| popular mind should be famliariZed with the
| thought ct separation Ii shOnld be direct
ed TO the glorious position that Virginia
| would occupy it the Union were destroyed.
| The SPEAKER then drew q picture of the re
| salts that would flow, IN the development of
| our material resources commerce. nanulac-
| lures. and agriculture. Norfolk would be-
come the great emporium of u Southern EN-
/ pire and the stream vi wealth that now flows
| to the North from the Fich States of the
South, wOuld all pour through Virginia, or
| be arrested at home. Virginia would become
the most powerful State in the world. In
| twelve months her whole fortunes would be
revolutionized. These were NOS the incOn-
siderate conclusions of Tashness or resent
ment, bat the calm deductions Of u retired
political philosopher. We could not rely
upon those We considered our friends ut the
North; we must rely on ourselves. Mr. y.
was about to conclude. bus the convention
urging him to proceed, he said he was happy
20 md that his plain doctrines were not dis
tasteful to his enlightened audience. lie had
retired from public life from selfrespcct, and
had been devotiRg himself since exclusively
10 the interests OF his State and section, aud
the cultivation of letters and philosophy. he
was growing old and cared nothing for polili-
cal distinction. He would invoke them, in
conclusion, to enter into no compromises, and
not 10 turn their backs on their gallant friends
/ If the South.