Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1860-09-05
speakinr Id RidgevilIe.

SpcdA1uk al 0AubCNAA
friend writing from Franklin county gives US
glowing account OF a political meeting at Ridge
vile on Wednesday last The Democratic cause
was ably maintained by powerful speech from
PETER TURKEY, Esq, of Winchester All risnt In
old Franklin.
Senator Hunter, of virginia, Onthe Issues
of the Day and the Exige1cfes on the
Times.
Tho sneech of the Hon. R. NJ. T. HUNTER of Virginia
delivered at Charlottesville, August lIth 1861 on
the invitation of the Democratic Convention IS pub
sbed in full in the orthodox papers of Virginia 1t
IS evidently speech prepared with great care He
smoke in opening of the fact that at last the slavery
ouestion has divided the Democratic party, but,
however dark the prospect he does not despair of
J the Republic, for, says he
Time and experience which teach so much to sad
den us in the progress of e has taught me at least
one lesson of comfort and consolation IN the sltua
tons of difficulty and trouble. They have lncreas-
| ed nv confidence in the empire OF truth over the
| American people. Present the issues fairly, and
give them time to consider them, and the cases are
rare when they will not upon sober second thought,
render such verdict as truth and justice demand
1 We have only room for few striking passages:
| When first entered the Federal councils, which
was at the commencement OF Mr.. Van buren, au-
minstratiOn the moral and political status OF tne
| slavery question was very different from what II
now is Then the Southern men themselves, Win
but few exceptions, admitted slavery to De moral
evil and palliated and excused it upon the plea OF
| necessity Then there were few men of any party
N he found in the non saveholding States who did
not maintain both the constutonaity and expeolen-
CIV of the anti-slavery resolution, now generaiy
lno1vn as the Wilmot Proviso. bad any man OF that
day ventured the prediction tnat the Missour 1854 .
visionary and theorist of the widest sort "n a.
revolution have we not witnessed in all TINS! Inc
discussion and the contest on the slavery ques'loh
have gone on ever since, as to absorb almost en-
: tirely the American mind In many respeo~
| the results of that discussion have not Oeeh
adverse to u.s. Southern men no longer occupy
deprec.tory attitude upon the question Oh neero
slavery in this country. Whilst they ny hc nle"s
nretend that slavery Is good condition OF things
ID onv circumstances in all countries, they &c
maintain that under the relations that the TWO race
hold to each other here 1t Is best 1or DoU Inas t
inferior should be subject to the superior Inc SAINT
opinion is extending even IN tne Noran occent
entertained by many, although not generaiy accePt
ed AS evidence too of the growing change on uH
: subject of the public sentiment OF the world may
efer IN the course of France and Great ltaln II
regard 10 the Cooe and the African apprenticeship
system as introduced into their colonies mat they
t are Tins running the slave tEad, another lorl1
n rarely denied 1t is not to be supposed tnat tnVs
IS Governments are blind to the nature OF the COoi
il trade and the arguments by wheh tiey u i
already afford an evidence OF growing chanss
y their opinions upon slavery in general:
The convention which nominated DrecAhrluS
and Lane has placed the party upon the true grouhuT
upon principles with which victory would DC "OTu
something and secure to US permanent 1rut' Ina
Convention too expressed the opinions OF nearly al
the States which exhibit at present efhclent repre-
sentative Democratic strength and nearly an iron
which we can reasonably hope TOR electoral Eote
'St for Democratic President The great body OF ID
Id marty stands therefore, upon true PLATFORM
IL nrinciUle If we can conquer with them ana uPV
their principles we achieve victory when VIII
worth everything to us and to the country
10 -, .bor lot ne raIIv at once for Brecknridg
90 and Lane and to the platform which they STAN
The Democratic party has but one shortsteP 10 max
% which if successfully aken will place 1t IN an IN
&c pregnable position, from which II may give PeS d.
~ gladness and prosperity TO the whole country In
=; eend ia worthy of anv sacrifice which we may ma
to attain it. The Democratic party mas sacflnce
We too much to arrive Ut the position, to pause OF
IN cede now when the rock OF safety IS almost "lh
in reach of the hand. Many or few, LEI US take Pc
session at once If it be- as we believe, one OF I'll
strongholds of truth itself, there are enough OF !
N 10 maintain it until the whole country rallies "
tn rescue Ii is safer to advance than TO retrea
Ia There times when what seems 70 oe tne pa
of danger opens the only avenue to ultimate sale
~ When Mcdonald made his wonderful charge
OF Wapram. closing his ranks when they We're broke
I'M filling the places of the dead with the living,
lis his bloody tracks behind him. moving ms eE[LD
: column ever onward and forward, sheeted as II wa
" with the flame and covered with the hre OF us oN
err guns until regardless of all obstacles 1t burned al
he blasted and hewed It's way through the serred mas
es which opposedit he did not only brave but pr
- dent thing Ills only safety was in advancing had
7sS receded under these circumstances the annlhau'
w, of his force and the destruction OF those VINO
Oh pended upon him, would have been inevitable.
il is with us, my friends; if there be path
safety as verify believe there Is, II lays before
IT. If success be possible, it is by this road that
nd must reach it and if fall we must let 1t be ratn
re- in advance than in retreat
III Having now reviewed this question IN some OF !
other aspects let me ask, what course shall I
u Virginia Democracy take in the present state OF
aid fairs? Never, it appears to me, has Inc pain
lis duty been palmer than at present Never mas L
=, Democratic party of the Old Dominion had ID"
important part TO perform, and never has II HI
nj greater opportunities for glorious achievement
of For myself cannot see cause for a moments he
,rv tation The only issue, l view 1t, which Is nc
involved in our action is that Of Squater Sovereign
d. We have to choose, as Democrats between a III
10 who affrms the right of the inhabitants of Tel
ngs tory to exclude the STAKEHOLDER by unfriendy II
md hostile legislation, and one who maintains that
-, equal rights of the States cannot be impaired,
destroyed, either by the Federal Government or
pa inhabitants of a Territory. This is the sole ISIS
the for Democrats to consider.