Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1860-07-27
9ailg Nireiaiau.
Speech of Con. Leslie Coombs.

tls
last week ns follows;
Fellow citizens. this Is NOT tho fret visit that |
have made to your State by several. My first
appearance in Ohio on tho ocoa sion alluded
to by tho honable gentleman. when l camo 40.
compancd by Kentucky Volunteers. to protect
tho women and children from the morcicss toma-
hawk aud scalping knife of tho savage, and tho
still greater cruelty OF British soldiers, standing
by aud seeing the work well done.
Then We came armed with muskets and hny-
onets, now-we como with firm hearts. and good
reasons to stand by you in this contest for tho
preservation OF our Union. Long may il bo before
any ot tho daspoiltrs of our Union residing along
the Gulf coast, shall dare to cross Kentucky nna
invade Ohio. | hive for many years seen tho
movements which arc now foaming ur, both in
the South and in the North, threatening destruc.
tion to our glorious Union. l am here tonight,
prepared with II written power Of attorney from
Henry Clay. appointing me his political legaiee
upon this great question: lie ioresaw the trouble.
and fealing its imminent danger wrote II letter to
me- and drafted resolutions, which tonight, for
the second mc. present for tho adoption vi the
lovers Of the Union. The first time was in Frank
fort. last night.
Mr. Coombs held up original letters of Henry
Clay -one written to himtlicn. Caombs) during
the pcndencv of tho Missouri Compromise qnes
tnn. expressing great fear Of the formation Of SEQ
tonal pai ties. and another written in 1919. Mr..
Coombs said The aectional parties that Clay feared
then had been smothered by the Missouri Cpm.
promise. md they had been formed by the abroga.
ton of thnt Compromise. lilo called upon tho
people to witness the handwriting of Clay. and
handed i. to lion. J. Scott Harrison. who pro.
nounced 1t the handwriting of Mr.. Clay. Mr.
Caomhs said the suggestions ol tho letter and tho
resolutions which Clay had drafted and which hc
had with him. wero precisely applicable to tho
present. political condition Of tho country.
Mr.. C"ombs then rend the letter and resolutions,
ol which the following isa copy:
Confidential.
WAsHINGroN, Dec. %, lSi9.
My DEAR Sir IL received your favor OF tho
l7th inst, and thank you for it's details.
My object in writing you now is ono Of great
Importance and ipish you 10 lead o0'n A. 1t will
do the country good aud do you good
Tho feeling for disunion among come intempe'
rate Southern politicians is stronger than sup
posed it could he The masses generally, oven
at the South, nre. | believe yet sound but they
may become inilamed aud perverted. Tho bost
counteraoon of that feeling isto he derived from
popular expression Mt public meeting of tho pco-
pie. Nav, what should 70 glad to seo, is such
meetings held throughout Kentucky. for you must
know that the dsunionlsts count upon the co.ope-
ration Of our patriotic State.
Can't you get up large powerful meeting of
both parties, If possible. at Lexington, Mt Louis
Vile, &c, to express in strong language their
determination TO stand by the Union. | hope tho
Legislature, aud the Convention also il it has not
been adj ljourncd may do the same. If you remain
silent aud passive thcre is danger TINT tho bad
feeling may reach You. Now is the time for snl
utary action and you are The 1enf.e,aau 10 do H.
! enclose some resolutions, which, or some
similar to them, should be happy to see adopt.
ed
Prudence and propriety will suggest to you That
too free :: r.e of my name should not be made in
getting up this moyem;"'. You will know tho
persons to counsel with, and wish YOU would
keen me advised of wbnt yon d,,
Your friend IT, Cray
Gen Leslie Coombs
RESOLUTIONS.
l. Resoirca Tha, this meeting il firmly attach .
ed to tte union Of these States and TINT thew q,
f,r it one and in Invisible now nnd iorever
q Rcso,ye,i, That whilst this mee,ino would Io
most happy that the eon,royerte1 on.stiou If
slavery within the territory recentIy uconircd
from Mexico should be settled in n manner soti,.
hctorv to all parts of Mexico no snttlemeot of il
what wise it maybe will cronte INV lust occa
sion for dissolying the Union.
3 Resoired Tuat lhi. MEETING bebolI, in III,
Ji, .olntinn If our rIorious Union no remedy
for a.y alesed evils, rcol or imaginary Int +,
great apyrayation Of them ALL nnd contemnjn,r
that dcplorable event ns tho parents Of u,her en-.
lamities. far traDscspdiug in ma ,nifuJc and fatal
consequences any Of which compIaint il now
mn IT, q
4. ReaIred That. n. far as depena. uoon us we
will stand by. surrort and UNFOLD the Union.
n n;nst nil aiia,ks froml witLout ar wi,Iin ,nJ
against all ult,ni.ms. whether n, The North or
the Suth.
Here YOU have the power of attorney which
constitutes mo the Iey,tee ef Henry c,v i, his
bchnlI nor woulI rive il for half his cs,ote A.
Mare Antony exhibited the robe Of Caesar 10 tho
Roman popuhce, SO exhibit to you tnrse relic.
of that grea, man and usk vnu iC vnu ,re nrenarrJ
-.