The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-08-27
THE CAMPAIGN IN VIRGINIA.
SPEECH OF SENATOR HUNTER At CHARLOTTESVILLE


Status of the White md Inferior Races
The Political Issue Of the Daytime
Equality OF the states md the kiSh's
Of Congress i'm the Territories-ar' We
On the 3erge OF Disunion 1.-THE PAIN
OF Principle as the Path Of s"ic'! -
Breckenridge and Lane Eh""''''-
Squntter Sovereignty Danger i"' IN
Union-Nhere stands virginia in th'
Battle Sc, Sc.
FELLOW C1zENs-I mol surprised that al eo''
patriots should desire TO with each oher ufu
the great political issues pending Never o'i''o
have seen the political horizon so deeply oVe'oAs q" "
present; never, during my experience III mo- NA''
known q more perous condition OF Puoi'0 a"'"s 'N'N
that which we nov witness in THIS country iuee one
fell question which has TO great ex'en' oi'aeo Tue
churches North and South which has destroyed the old
biy marty as general national organizations which
has reared up great sectional party in the non slave
holding States grounded upon principles that must be
fatal TO the peace the country should the government
ever be administered upon them, and which has dis
turbed and distracted the councils OF the federal branch
of government until, at times 1t has 30 far impaired
It's efficacy almost to parayze entirely That ques
tion exercising its disturbing influence within the
democratic party and threatens TO work the same mis-
chief there which 1t has wrought elsewhere. Already II
is divided into two different, If not hostile camps ii
under 6uCn 90
nor despond in regard future it is not because fail
TO appreciate the difficulties which are placed, nor
pretend be free from anxiety with regard to the re-
suits which may flow from present condition Of things;
but IL is because in rst place, put my trust In
mercful Providence whose interpostion has been as
manifest as it efficient in past times to rescue US
from positions Of peril and difficulty ard next, have an
abiding growing confidence in the power of truth
Time and experience which teach so much to sadden us in
the progress Of life have taught at least one lesson OF
comfort aud consolation situations of difficulty and
ole They increased my confidence in the empire Of
truth over the American people. Present the fairly,
and give consider them and the
when they will not upon sober second thought, render
such verdict truth and istce demand. Our past
history is demonstrative upon this point When first
entered the federal councils, which a. the nence
rnen of Mr. Van Buren's administration, the moral aud
political status Of the slavery question very different
from what is. Then the Sou hern men THEMSELVES,
with but few exceptions, admitted slavery to be 4
moral evil and paated and excused it upon the plea OF
necessity Then there were of any party be
found in the sa vebodiug states who did not main
tain both the constituonality and expedency of the
anti avery resolution &c aeraly known the Will
mot Proviso Had any man at that day ventured the
prediction that the Missouri restriction would be
pealed he would have been deemed visionary aud theo
the widest sort What revolution have wit
messed in all this The discussion toe contest on the
slavery question have gone since absorb
almost entirely the American mind. In many respects
the results of that discussion have been adverse
Southern no longer occupy a deprecsory att-
upon the question of negro slavery this country
whilst they by pretend that slavery good
condition of things under all circumstance and all
countries they do mantaa that under the relations
the stand 10 each other here hes. for both
that the inferior should se subjected 70 tie superior me
extending
where II is entertained by many, although not
change this subject. OF the public sentiment
the world may refer TO the Of France and Great
Britain 10 regard TO the cooe and the African apprentice
ship system introduced into their colonies That they
thus running the slave trade under another form,
rarely denied i not TO be supposed taat these go
trade and the arguments by which they defend already
afford evidence Of growing change in their opinions
party composed Of members from every section OF the
unoD and hitherto strong enough to WELD the power Of
government, which maintains the equality OF the States
and the right Of each TO colombo, with It's property OF
every description, and - extend with its Institutions
into the Territories OF the Cued Sstes With scarcely
any exception this party has maintained that the federal
government do nothing 10 destroy or impair this
equality OF rights In the states 40 Consequence Of
this they have repealed the Missouri by
action OF the legislative and execu branches OF the
federal government In this Il may be said with much
how Of truth that the people have sustained them, for
was mainly upon this issue that the present President
elected To crown the whole, the Supreme Court,
the Orel Scott case have given their sanction TO this
sertion Of the equal rights Of the States But thing
was wanting to have placed the democratic party upon
grounds which would have been entirely satisfactory
The south-a position which II successfully manianed,
would have given peace 20 THIS great country for many
years 10 come because w0Id have protected the rights
u the South and creased the material prosperity with
out impsrDg the political strength Of the ponssvehod
ing sections That step 20 have denied 10 the nhab
ants OF Territory. while in that condition. and bsiore
they had formed state government, the right, by
either direct or Indirect means, to deprive some
Of the States OF their equal right 10 colonizs
and extend their institutions into the Territory AMI
common property Of the Onion This last step was 90
be lakcr. ibc the grataOn. aud
Inevitable was II as conclusion from the principles
have jus, laid down, as having been commenced aui
maintained by the deocrat, party seemed 70 be
che most natural thing the world Tor that party have
made H. and thus ned the oe ca COPS sency of
is position And yet, IL just here that sJirt Of
dsunion divided our counsels and resulted IN spt
the party and in two nom nations Tor tue Presidency /
will to inquire whether this last
have been postponed with property for smother day,
whether Il might not have been "2rs rmtted' IN t1is
last convention as had been once before The has
been made and the question before us thee Is pns
sibiy OF pretermittiag now and our votes mus; con-
tribute 10 making verdict upon side the other
OF this great 10 the rights OF the states
TO have been almost quite impossible t. haze avoided
hand Judge Douglas presented and enforced bis eide OF
question In the celebrated article HdTpcrs MrgasiHs,
gates from the sAveholdng Saies insisted upon pre-
sentlng candidate on the Cincinnati platform who bat
given that platform consuciion adverse 70 the rights
OF the southern states, 90 inc olner hand' the Demo
cratic Convention Of Alabama bad usstei that the
and had Instructed rs dcsgAtas % secee unless the &C
ton OF the Convention upon ths question should be sas
factory 10 them. Bsdes all tts, was urged that. when
the question pretermltted before, for the
decision OF the supreme Col-.. bot the disputed
point having since been decided IN the bred scott
case, the reason FOR deay logger exist
I'd. But right wrong the rss1e upon
for decision and whatever vote We give ~. be npou that
sue and not regard b tue roVrietT Of having made
T. Vote you may. you vii R.d 10 decide this ques
zion upon one side Or tie other. Tia; desson, elos
citizens, matter q primary imp0rtSn as % will az
feet the Uson and constitution Of hesc Satssihe uture
power and influence OF the great democratic pariy of the
country and last but not east tie democratic line " the
Old pomlnion itsef l. enable 10 estimate the nfi.
which the proper settlement of the question ld
have upon the cause Of union itself suppose that
she Charleston Convention bad agreed on the PLATFORM
upon which Brccknriige and Lane with regard
20 this question, and dominated a candidate upou q
That candidate would probably lave been elected, and
had that been the result, who does that n
settlement Of the question would haze worth both
peace and empire 10 this Crca coufc icracy Ii giving
the negro the federal councils