Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1861-03-29

That many members of the Convention who
perhaps had netepoken, to their citizens
6Store the election SO emphatically about an
honorable settlement as MrsLogan Osburn,
had changed their opinions, was a matter,
alko, of small consideration to that gentleman.
For while the public sentiment was according
TO- all the signs, advancing in one direction,
Mn. Logan Osburn took several steps in the
OTTER. Though he had endorsed resolution
which intimate1 that refusal of the Crit
tehden compromise would be a cause for sep
arhtion, and had given vent to patriotic and
chiyalrous sentiments about an ' honorable
settlement"
Yet, when public epiHitA began to declare
that all hopewas exhausted, he comes forward
in the Convention, and attempts to calm the
troubled waters, by announcing to Mr. Lincoln
ana his constituency that the q Federal Gov
eminent has the unquestlonable right to col
lcct the revenue in the seeded States"
Fcace-loving people may congratulate them>
selves and their country, that the admnistra-
ton did not regard Mr. LogaH Osburn as the
accredited organ of public opinion in Vir-
giuia and the Border States; or, ere this,
Sperhaps, the cohorts of Black RepubiicaniSm
svvtitald kaks been spreading desutaE, inTthe
South Bit this was not enough Mr.. Lo-
gan Osbtrn feared he had not gone far enough
to satisfy his constituency at the Ferry.
And 30, we are informed. he convokes an as
sembly OF the sovereigns Of that romantic and
celebrated locality. In obedience to his re-
quest, they meet and agree upon instructions
for their representative. What those instruc-
tions were W do not know. But the public
can perhaps form some idea of them by read
ing Mr. Logan Osburns letter in the Free
Press Of yesterday. For this letter was evil
IDENTIFY called forth by those Instructions. In
this letter, the perusal of which we recon-
mend to all persons DESTROYS Of acquiring ncl0
ideas, concerning the degree of oppression
a free people must quietly submit to, he
makes use Of the following: l frankly adj
nit the natural. inalienable and revolutionary
right of the people of State, or body polite,
or Of any other form of government, when
such government becomes mfOlerubIy OI,prcS
sire, and redress cannot be otherwise obtain
ed, to Hro.c 1t IT,"
Did ever freeman in free country, have
the face to use such language as that through
the public press? Oppression must become
intolerable before resistance is Unsuitable!
1JIu Jul SiS lHdG GICS MOuIu resist
oppression in any f1rh and from #nv quarter?
But there is but one kind, or rather one de-
gree of oppression that MIR. Logan Osburn
will resist. He will not resist government
because it is simply oppressive, nor Que toler-
ably oppressive, nor quite oppressive, nor very
oppressive, nor one exceedingly or outrageous
ly, or cruelty oppressive, but the last limits
of human endurance must be transcribed,
and the government must become intoIcraJy
oppres$ive, before he will resist.
The obsequiOus slaves of oriental despots
would not entertain for moment such sen
timent as a rule for action. The serfS Of
Russia would treat with contempt such pre-
cept for the perpetuatioh of abjeet slavery
Nay, the very beasts of the field, if in Con-
vention assembled, would receive with roars
of Indignation q proposition to insert such a
maxim in their bill of rights.