The weekly Mississippian., 1860-09-26
Senator Hnnter, Of Virginia, On the
Issues Of the Day and the Rxigsn-
ciaa of The Times.

Senator Hnntsr, of Virginia, On the
Issues Of the Day and the Exigsn-
cies Of the Times.
The speech Ofth Hon r. N. 7. Hunter, Of
Virginia delivered at Charlottesville, August
II, 1860, on the invitation Of the Democrats
Convention, is published in full in the OrthO- :
dox papers Of Virgins. II is evidently a
speech prepared with great care. He spoke
in opening Of the fact that at last the slavery
question has divided the Democratic party,
but, however dark the prospect be does not
despair of the Republic, for, says be;
Time and experience, which teach so much
to sadden us in the progress OF LIFE has tGaght
me at least one lesson Of comfort and consola-
ton in the situations Of difficulty and trouble.
They have increased my confidence in the
empire Of truth over the Americas people.
Present the issues fairly, and give them time
to consider Ahem, and the cases are rare when
they will not, upon sober second thought,
render such verdict as truth anil justice de-
mand.
We have only fOOm' for Sew'striking pas
sages: SS
When / first entered the Federal councils,
which was, at the commencement OF MIR. Van
Buren,s administration, the moral and political
stains OF the slavery question wss very differ
eDt from what it now is. Then the Southern
men themselves, with. but few exceptions
admitted slavery to be moral evil, and pal-
lated and excused it upon the plea OF ncces-
sitv Then there were few men OF any party
m he found in the nOn-slaveholding States
who did not maintain both the constitution
ality and expediency OF the anti-slavery reso-
luton, now gefTerally known as the WImot
Proyiso. Had any man Of that day ventured
the prediction, that the Missouri restriction
would ever be repealed, he would be deemed
n visionary and theorist Of the widest sort
What revolution have We not witnessed IN
all this The discussion and the contest on
the slavery question have gone on ever since
so as to absorb almost entirely the American
mind. In many respects the results Q, that
discussion have not been adverse to us. South
ern men no longer occupy deprecatory atti-
tude upon the question OF negro slavery in
this country. While they by no means IRE
| tend that slavery-is good condition Of things
under any circumstances, in all countries, they
do maintain thot under the relations that the
| two races hold TO each other sere, il IL best
for both that the inferior should be subject To
the superior. The same opinion is extending
even in the North, wheI' 1t IS entertained By
many, although not generally accepted. As
! evidence, too, Of the growing change on this
! subject Of the public sentiment OF the world, /
| NAV refer to the course Of France and Great
| Britain in regard to the Coolie and African
apprenticeship system as introduced into their
| colonies. That they care thus running tho
slave trade In another form is rarely denied
Il is not to Ue supposed that those Govern
ments are blind to the natsire Of the Coolie
trade, and the arguments by which they de-
| fend it already afford an evidence Of grow
ing change in their opinions upon slavery in
general p .
The Convention which nominated Breckin-
ridge and Lane has placed the party upon the
true grounds, upon principles with which VIC
tory would be worth something, and secure
/ to us permanent fruit That Convention, too,
expressed the opinions Of nearly all the States
| which exhibit at present efficient representa-
tive Democratic strength, and nearly all from
which we can reasonably hope for electoral
votes for Democratic President The great
body of the party stands, therefore. upon a
4 true platform OF principle. IL we can conquer
with them and upon their principles, We
achieve victory which will be worth every
thing to ms and to the country.
= / say, theng let us rally at once for Breck-
inridgc and Lane, and to the platform on which
they stand Tie Democratic party has bat
one short step to make, which, ifsuccessfully
taken, will place IT in an impreenable posi-
ton, from which il may give peace, gladncss
and prosperity 10 the whole country. The
end IS worthy Of any sacrifce which We may
make to attain it. The Democratic party has
! sacrificed too much 10 arrive at the position,
TO pause or rccede now, when the rock of
safety is almost within reach ofthe hand. Many
or few, let MS take possession at once. II h
be. as we believe, one of the etrongholds Of
truth itself there are enough Of us 70 main.
tain it until the whole country rallies 10 its
rescue. II is safer now TO advance than to 10
treat There are times when what seems to
beFthe path of danger, opens the only avenue
to ultimate safety.
When Macdonald made his wonderful
charge at WagTam. closing his ranks when
they were broken, flling the places Of the dead.
with the living leaving his bloody tracks be-
hind him, moving his terrible column ever on
| ward and forward, sheeted IS II was, with the
fame and covered with the fire Of its own
guns until, regardless Of all obstacles, il
burned and blasted and hewed its way through
the serried masses which opposed II, he did
4 not only brave but a prudent thing His
only safety was in advancing. Had he re-
ceded, under these circumstances, the annihi-
lation Of his foEse, and the destruction Of those
who depended upon him, would have been in
eyitablc. 80 L is with us, my friends; II there
be path of safety, as verify believe there is,
it lays before us. II success be possible, it is
by this road that we must reach it; and iffall
we must, let it be rather in advance than in
retreat
Having now reviewed thisquestion in some
of its other aspects, let me ask, what course
shall the Virginia Democracy take in thepres-
ent state of afairs2 Never, as it appears to
me, has the path Of duty been palmer than at
present Never has the Democratic party Of
the Old Dominion had q more important part
to perform, and never has il had greater OPP
pcrtunities for glorious achievements For
myself, / cannot see cause ior a moments hesi-
tation. The only issue, as view il, which is
now involved in our action IS that of Squatter
Sovereignty. We have TO choose. as Demo
Gratis, between man who aifir1ns the right Of
the inhabitants Of Territory to exclude the
STAKEHOLDER by unfriendly, il not hostile lcgis-
iation, and one who maintains that the equal
rights Of the States cannot be impaired, or de-
stroyed. either BY the Federal Government or
the inhabitants Of . Territory. This is the
sole issue for Democrats to consider.
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