The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-07-02

OF their families and flresides. On this oc.
casion / desire to direct your thoughts to
other subjects, which, in my judgment, are
intimately connected with the future
prosperity and welfare of the country,
The speaker then continued his remarks
with short review of the present con-
dition of the country, the past with its
troubles, and the aspect Of affairs for the
future and with this entered into the
consideration of the following subjects
The recent revolution, its causes and con.
sequences, and the duties and response
blities which it has imposed on the people,
and especially upon the young men of the
south. He trusted that If, in the course
of his remarks, he should refer to unpala-
table facts, his hearers would remember
that he would be actuated only by strict
regard to truth and justice.
twas common mistake to assume that
| slavery was the cause of the late war. 1t
would be as correct to presume that the
tax on tea was the cause of the revolution
in l776 as that slavery was the cause OF
the war Of 1861. But they both sprang
| from deeper causes, and the tax on tea on
the one hand, and the apprehended inter
ference with slavery on the other, were but
the occasions for the development Of the
consequences of dissensons that had long
been growing, and which were destined to
occur. In order to obtain just view OF
the true causes of the war, it was well to
recur to the important facts connected
with the rise and progress Of the different
colonies of North America.
Tho enooJor boro optarad into bicfori
cal sketch of the settlement Of the British
in North Carolina from the time of the set
tlement of the north and south colonies OF
Virginia in 1907. To show one of the
causes which contributed to form the pc
culiar character of the people of New
England, he quoted the following concern
ing law passed by them in the earliest
days of their colony, to wit "a law was
passed declaring that none hereafter shall
be admitted freemen, or be entitled to any
share in the Government, or be capable OF
being chosen magistrates, or even serving
as jurymen, but such as have been re-
ceived into the church as members"
BY this law all persons not members of
the church were thrown out Of society and
deprived of the rights of citizens and it
was not surprising that aspirants for power
or place should attempt to curry favor by
affecting the sanctimonious manners and
canting dialect which were known to be
the surest passports.
The people who settled the south colo
nies were of no settled or particular reli-
gious faith, and carried to their homes the
great body of English jurisprudence and
the cardinal principles of constitutional
liberty. The settlers of New England, on
the other hand, went as organized bodies,
bound together by common opinion in mat
tcrs more of form rather than of faith.
He then gave sketches of the banishment
of Roger Williams for contending that the
cross of St. George should not be cut out
from the flag of England, which caused the
foundation of Rhode Island, and of the first
proclamation of wOman's rights by Mrs.
Ann Hutcheson. He also cited the hiStOri-
cal facts to show that all the colonies of
New England were the offshoots of MaSsa-
chusetts, formed by secedcrs forced to
leave their original colony to get rid of re-
ligious persecution; and were consequently
all the offspring of bigotry and intolerance
practiccd by their own faith and kindred.
A wise provcrb affirmed that "History
is constantly repeating itself" and no in
tclligent man could fail to perceive that
"political parsons, strong minded women,
and prcscriptive test oaths," were New
England institutions as distinctively two
centuries ago as now.
In Virginia there was never any dispO-
Sition to interfere with freedom of con-
science, except when, under the reign OF
Cromwell, the people were unwilling to ex.
tend favor to dissenters from the Church
of England lest it should be construed as
disloyalty to the Crown.
The different elements composing these
colonies, the opposition of opinions cher.
ished by their people, and many natural
causes-such as the difference in the ma.
ture of the pursuits of the two people
the one dcvoting itself to commerce, ma.
nufactOries, and fishing, and the other
almost entirely to agriculture-served tC
make many causes of antagonism. Ir
l776 q common danger alone served tC
unite the people of Virginia and Massa.
chusetts; and in that struggle they were
taught that union was essential to safety.
Historical facts were produced to show
that at the outset of the Federal Union
Massachusetts, and Virginia agreed on the
important point that the Federal Govern.
ment was one of limited powers, and that
all powers not expressly granted were re.
served to the States or the people.
The differences Of opinion and pursuits
ETC., soon, however, produced their effects
The pursuits of New England led to the
formation of companies and corporations
which required the fostering care of the
| x,,h; hn nt M han
agricultural pursuits of the south were
mainly dependent for success on individual
exertiOn and industry. Bearing this ir
mind, it could be understood why New
England has always been in favor of or
extended sphere Of Federal power, while
the south has ever wished to restrain il
within its narrowest limits. Consolidation
was but another name for despotism; and
if the tendency of the New England schoo
of politics were accepted rs the true theory
of the Government, one of the strongest
defences of liberty would be lost. The
next step towards despotism would be the
entire obliteration Of all boundary lines be
tween the States, so as to concentrate al
power in the hands of one body of man
History had taught us that, this accom-
plished, it was as easy, by universal suffrage
to substitute an imperial despotism for 8
republic that has ceased to exist except
in name.
That each of the opposing schools had al
times pushed their respective doctrines tc
unnecessary extremes could hardly be
questioned. As an example, he quoted
the endeavor of the north, in 1888, to pro-
tect her fisheries and manufacturing inte.
rests by high tariffs, and the persistent
opposition Of the south to the measure