Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1862-1865, 1864-04-16

conclusion thai tots DaSees3 utgltlcus
has received the breath Of life frcm the lips oil some de.
graded and proHgate wretch who has heretofore sue
ceeded In making himself notorious as ssrvile and
unscrupuous devotee to men in power and who, by the
general tenor Of Lis official acts heretofore has SHOWN
himself to be in respects suitable aJ and associate OF
those abom nable poll ca mscreants in the cyof WASH
ingon who have been sDguarly successful In the
last three years in building up most arccious ana
ruf6any military despolism upon the ruins OF Safe
rights, State sovereignty, and popular freedom.
have but little TO gay at present in defence of my
own oic al acts in explanation OF my existing ati-
tude towards the parties engaged in the present fierce
conflict Of AIMS prefer that the future should de-
velope who is most faithful to the great principles for
which we are contendpg. Though / can claim no
credit in connection with any OF the violent political
agiations which convulsed the United States between
the years 1850 and 1860 and feel in justice bound to
leave to Others alt the glory of initiating the measures
in Congress and elsewhere which eliminated in the pres
en sanguinay struggle; though had not the honor of
participating in those memorable deliberations, 10 the
City of Montgomery from which arose, ss Pholix,
this government OF ours out of the ashes OF that to
which Is has succeeded yes is It nevertheless true,
that so soon the tocsin of had been heard
vertebrate along the classic coasts Of South Carolina
openly espoused the of the South AMI behind
ia my efforts TO unite the popuous border States,
under the lead OF Virginia. for the defence of Southern
rights and Southern interests against the fierce and
powerful invading foe. take is upon now to say
tuat since that period have neither done act,
nor spoken q word which not in perfect harmony
with the lruest and most elevated patriotism. TO tie
alone have devoted myself aud have for
one Inomen. failed to bear In mind that entsred upon
tits fearful OF contention for the yindication
alone Of STATE rights, State sovereignty, and that
which is but coroary from the other two individual
liberty To the State rights creed embodied in the
Virginia ard Kentucky resolutions of 1898; trmphanty
maintained by the port Of Mr. Mad son. OF the snb.e
quent and against all the assaults of the
champions of consoidaton-by the iustnous CAL
hour, Tor moro than twenty years; l have been
growing every day for the last three years more
and earnest in my devotion, as have found that
the neiar.ous violation oil these principles, by the
usurping Government 10 Washington city, had resulted
apparently by inevitable necessity, in the establish
ment OF the hercest and most INSCRIPTIONS desposm
that the world has yet known. Since the moment of
our severance from former political associates OF
the North the events Of The have been consta ty
suppl, ing most satisfactory evidence that our main
strength, in the fearful contest impending, lay in the
<, neral conviction d.fused among countr ymeD
both in the army and out OF H. that tie principles
for which wers contendDg we're OF o value in
apprecable It il this conviction that has happily
uailed our pe0pehas enabled them patiently 10 bear
such suifrrings and endure suca Sacrifices as no
other .ople of ancient or modern times have been
iated experience IG is this conviction VIII has fred
the hearts aud uerved the arms OF our citizen dery
and given toe in almost every encounter with
the enemy in spite OF superior numbers. / remember
with pleasure that Milton himself, 10 his divine pic
illustrating the Importance OF fidelity IN the support of
principle, amidst the peris Of War, alludIpg 20
the Descendants OF Abraham having at one Tim, for
saken the ID OF their fathers ami beaken themselves
To the worship OF idols Baaiim and Ashtaro and the
rest, breaks forth in these remarkable words:
Foe those the race of Israel oft forsook
Their living sire 9Th, aud unfreqlented left
His righteous altar, DO wing lowiy down
To bestial gods for which their heada as low
Bowed down in battle, sunk before the spear
OF despcable fceL
Let me cay once Tor all in defence of myself against
all such al .gations as lat TO which am respond
ing that 50 lar am from going over to the Yankees
as has been absurdy and NAL gnanty suggested that
would sooner submit to marlyrdom in any of its most
appa ng forms than hold the east political fellowship
hereafter with that worse than Pandemolian Faction
which now bears rul in Washington city. AS for re-
construction is sometimes called, Il would not
cent to ia any shape in which i. could be proposed
though Mr. Davis and his Cabinet should enter into q
formal and deliberate treaty for that purpose. How
far may consent hereafter to admit several States of
tho Nortuwes. and one or two OF the Middle Sta es,
upon tie basis CT own Constitution, is ques-
ton too momsntous for me at present to solve
but am opposed 10 LDcoln and the igtous FacLiol
OF which he is the leader, together with ell New Egg
land, principle; and havs insiOcible repugnsnoe
10 that accurse consolidation policy in accordance with
which the Government established by our venerated
ancssto e il administered. So fully assured |
that such policy enforced anywhere, even for the
short space of two CT three years, during
Q war like the present one, would be productive
of desporsm as grinding and oppressive as human
ingenuity is capable Of contriyng, That acknoW
ledge but little respect either for the patriotism
satesu aushp of any man, even among ourselves, who
could consen. for moment, upon any preteIt Shatso
ever TO the least ep )rox nation in the action of
Government to the hideous example which am now
considering. Il is precisely because OF my entertain
leg these views, touching the conduct and avowed
xk.o xwioL ID in
err that 1t has been my pride to be found in the
Congress of the Confederate States, presenting the
sernest and most jealous opposition to every egsla-
tive project propounded In that body, which seemed
to my mind TO have the leas' tendency to trench
upon ate rights and State sovereignty aud thus TO
build up an irresponsible tyranny in the bosom OF our
own country, where is my feryent hope tina! Liberty
with all her attendant blessings will yet be allowed to
take up her permanent abode. For oIc am net
ashamed to confess that am lst much in love with
Liberty, based upon State rights and State sovereignty
now, as was at the beginning of the war; aud be-
lieving conscentously d. that civil and religious
freedom can only be maintained among US by s,du-
lous AID undertaking adherence 10 the grand
tiVs principle upon which our present Government pro-
fesses TO be founded am immovably resolved never
yield 1t up voluntarily in order to crafty the morbid
ambition of any man or set of men; nor will allow it
90 be insidously undermined by cking aud upscrupu
lous polteians IL my poorefors can in suys way be
nsrumen AHA avertng so dismal catastrophe. 1t il
indeed true that am in the servie devotee of
men in power; have | ever fels myself bound to
obey the behests of any body of aconists earth,
whether arrayed in the traPpings of office, or /
oroOklng the pregnant hinges Of the knee
Where hrift may follow Jdsntn0.
Il is certain that shall never consent to the passage
of measures, with whomsoevsr originating, by |
whomsoever patronssd which believe TO DO subver-
sve of liberty This priceless jewel shall barter
away for the smiles OF Executive favor yield up
tha 1Len of for /
that upon this very same plea and generally in tie |
midst Of war; almost every free Government that |
has heretofore existed has been subjected sacrifice
1t sht nd be ever borne in mind likewise that in the
various ages of this worlds history which have pece
ded that In which acting the men who have
themselves the effective desroyes
of liberty have been those who 10 the early part Of their
nnhc have been diaiinRnised as the noisy and