Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1877-07-30
Tie ds0NernOrSisiii.

! 10 the c1it0r ofMc AIemndrtt Gu:eife:
As The time draws scar for The convention 10
nominate L candidate io- Governor Of V.s;ria
| it becomes tic people Ct the State 10 consider
calnIy and scJcrly tic candidates TIA. n@y Ia
presented to inc convention, AID as the CaHd
dates arc all high minded and honorable men
personally, the grea: question fox us 70 consider
is the governmental! principles which they hcif.
| II mcn lose sight Of correct principles in re
publican governments, tDcy soon drift into
despotlsm. Wo have just passed through
most dreadful war. .ic necessary consequence
Of an abandonment of those principles o! hurlla
rights fixed 10 the Constitution which hold Il,
| together as one people, and unIcr witch Is"
prospcred and hourishcL as s patton for nGari,
ore hundred years, admired and respected ~
ali the world. The results Of that war have
destroyed the physical power ofthe party which
fought for State rights and constitutional gov
erDmcnt aud thrown u' back upon reason aDi
argument in defence CT the great principle u,
local self government. 1t becomes more impoT
tsnt that I'VE should sccutioiz, with care tha
opinions OF those who aspire to the high p!ac!,
in our Commonwealth and know II their oria
ions accord with the doctrines which brought
| Us together as nation. Gen. Man0nr aHd
others have said something about ouC State
| debt. aud | suppose all the canddatCs TOud
like to see the dcot paid elf. The only qlcs
ton is how to DO it without expressing Tie
people. But Mir. Daniel said in his great
| Charlottesville speech the war between l;!c
North and South extcrminated lis cause. Sa
very Was its cause, secession was the l:'lJG tt
laT pleaded IL its daleIce. Slavery AID secs
sion ere both buried in one common grave.
That such IS the doctrine of tie Republican,
party | have long known, ard believed It was
the great business Of the democratic or conscr7a
tic party to convince the people OF this glgacs
c1EoT aud pursuadc them back to the Original
principles Of our Constitution, a1d thus scccTa
to CIR posscrity the Union and the CONSTITUTIONS
/ use the language OF the Hon. Alexander Il!
Stephens The only vital issue between th,
parties is shall the Federal Government b. ar
rested in its progress and he brought back Ia
original principles OF sba! it BE- permitted t.
go on in its present tendencies and rapid s'rli@H
until it reaches complete consolidation. Now,
sir, il Mr.. Daniel be spc2rc that Secession is
fiction and merely used to defend slavery, ! SEQ
10 difference between him and tic most rabbi
leader of the radical party. Secession vas ID"
,neaus rcSortci to By the Southern States t.
protect themselves against The Cpcn violation
OF the Consultation b. the General Government
and the Northern States with regard to iicr
Institutions, and | think Mr. Madison oreilt /"
be good authority upon that subject, As he 10!
oDly helred to uaakt tho Constitution ~,
was 10 the Virginia convention AMI helped \
ratIfy it By Fi:sinia, and nc says that Sta'.\
not obY has the RI ht - intcrposc hcr authority
against irfract!ons Ct the Constitution By thH
Federal Government, bus Ii ia duty bound ID
do 80, and being ono CT the parties 10 The cl,a
pact, and in case Of dangerous and pa!paEtc~>
violation Of TIC same she has q right to ni:'
Of the mode ADD manner OF redress. Ihc
Southern States chose p:aceabo separation as
they supposed. Tho General Government made
war on them and conquered them in the field.
but the rights Of the States since that event
have never been brought fairly before the pcon!c
Ct the Northern States for their decision. Vat
tel says the sword never settled any principle
oil government. IL is the business OF the con
sentative party 10 c0n-l0cc ;h2 Mort hern people
that Constitutional liberty rests entirely upo"
Stale rights as laid doTa il The Constitution.
and it remains only fer them to consider the
formation Of Onr government 10 understand tI;e
correctness Of my position. But how 10 YEA
pear before The Northern r,iad II W, ha7c
Governors who baevc the rights Of the State
arc mere ticions OF laW and buried in Il c3mn0n
grave with slavery Indeed, think tho cicva
tiou OF Dir. Daniel to be Governor OF Virginia.,
with all lis other good qualities, 20 say the
least would l.; u great misfortune.
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