Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1860-02-08

tor itself only immunity from tue unh"ioa hss''
ference Of others.
Il i. obvious that re action has already commea
! ccd In the public mind Of the North, with regard
10 that delicate social question which hns, OF late
been 80 wantonly used by politicians Us u instru
ment Of sectional agitation and STRIFE. The peo'
pie there must now the natural fruits Vi thIa
agitation, in the bloody and revolving tragedy at
llarpers Ferry; IN the growing ana dangerous
disscn .ons between tho two great divisions OF the
cenicderacy; and in the inyitablc tendency OF those
ds.crsiuns, If longer continued. 10 undermine the
foundations Of the Union itself They will not,
therefore, deliberately make themselves necessary
before after the fact toa course OF action iraugt
with ruin to tiieir own Interests, as well ~ tho
overthrow Of oil those generous hnpes bound up
with tie great American experiment OF Tree ke-
publican institutions.
lie, Us await with dignity and coolness, them
the progress of events. Let US not check by un-
scemly violence, by denunciations Of secession and
d,union. the steady advance Of that salutary re-
action which is now doing its Office with large mas
ses Of the sober minded and patriotic people Of the
Nsrth and which there is ground to hope.will GRE
long by the regular and peaceful action OF the bal
lotbo1 redress tho grieis OF which we have right
to complain. In the mean time. there are resour-
&c. Of sclf.protection and defence which the wise
frame of our government has left in the control OF
the States, and Which no reasonable mind can
blame us for recurring to. after tho warnings,
ted It is one of the cinra ersic advantages OF that
decorative system under which live that it af-
fDrls more remedies within the pale of the consttu-
ton for the defense of public liberty and any 9th.
or form Of political organization. aid consequently
admits less excuse for resort to revolutionary
and rxtra-constitutiona modes of redress.
The State gOvernmcns,ns the organs OF the resi-
duary sovereignty OF the States, may lawfully adopt
within their respective spheres of action, I'LL
such measures for the security Of the rights aud
interests Of their constituents rs are not forbidden
by the term Of the federal compact. Let the Leg
i-iature of Virginia. in the cxerc OF this au,huri
~. make every necessary and proper provision for
Strengthening the defensive attitude ofthe State
letthe disci pline and organization of tho body Of
The militia be improyed-lct the formation of the
volunteer corps be encou,agcd--let the requisite
arms be procured and furnished to bpth-let every
legitimate aud judicious encouragement se given
To oar own domestic industry, in order 10 diminish
our dependence upon other sources for tho supply
81 articles which the time il now fully mo for us
H. ibricatc for ourselN e,let the Legislature, rs
po'slblc foster u navigation aud commerce Of our
own-lct them, in rhythm - aud 10y all the means
n their Disposal build up both the moral and ma
terra! power of the State. These are the great re-.
sources of public security, us we'll rs public pros
pccty aud are MI wi,hn the pplo If the constItu
lunal authority OF the States. Wise and proper
nj all tmes the cri,i dcmdads them now.
l. remains for as 10 consider how the question,
which has produced thc-c fatal divisions in the
country. should BE- lrlt with upon tho national
forum. All must see that organized sectional par
trv founded upon question so sensitive ~ this
Ia a,l It's relations, arc standing menace 10 the
lLiou. They hang over the country like dark
and angry clouds: which threaten, by thor out
nrsi To curry devastation to the face IT nature and
all ihc houlNcs Of providence. What" Mr..
Madison asked Mt the era OF the Missouri restrc-
a.. al
FROM awful shocks against each othrr,' which may
shakr tie Union to liz centre, il not rehd the
Government in twain? Should such party
founded IN nnti-sncial, sectional principles aud
sustained bv exclusive sectional affiliations, ever
uhtAn possession of the hovrrument by means Of
Il j 1m'uant. geographical MINORITY, it will he the
atvefr-t aud most hazardous trial through which
our ~, utulions have ever passed., orGoud by pos
s'hjhiy, pass. No good ar wise man should be
wiling to see them put 10 such test
I'll, ol the highest importance therefore that the
question Of slavery should be taken entirely out
"l the arena Of national politics. 1t is, in itself,
essentially n local and Il mestic question. There
is but IL single case in which tho Constitution de.
signrd that it should 10 the subject of Congrcs-
siunNl action. M! that is TO provide tho mode by
which the constitutional guarantee for III,
surrender Of fugiiiNcS "a To be- enforced. With
respect 70 that, Congress has already performed
It's duty and is 50 far taic'HS oFf.io.
In al other cases, aud especially aS to the sta
tbs uI slavery in the common territories of the
IuIou, the questions concerning il are legal ques
u"nsinv"lving the application aud construction
OF the laws and Consultation OF tnc country, and
ms such, are the proper subjects oI Judicial cosni
2ante. In the hands ot tie Judiciary. then le
tero questions rest; aud every good citizen shoule
rcio1co that pcace.ui and enlightened umpiraSe
elevated by its high character, and tho indcpen
deuce # its ofeia tenure aho,e the region OF par
~ passions and temporary exciicmcnts, has beer
provided by the Constitution for the decision q
questions ut once 81 delicate and SO intricate. -
There then remains no other practical question
"tth regard To slavery b"t me action OF the ter
ilturial communities upon 1t when forming thet