Year: 1860

Whoever holds IL must rule by IT, and that rule though
victory should give il to the best men, and the honeses
cause cannot be liberty Tho painted a goddess she
il mortal and her spirit severed by the sword can
be evoked no from the shades The North would
see once that any injury TO material prosperity
would bring blight and ruin upon her OWL and that il
would be far better for her TO form a new Union which
if less intimate would be equal or to contract an
alliance offensive and defensive with the South than
open an issue of blood


But is there to fear an interruption of the
public tranquility, by civil strife, If we fail to hold
Southern Conyenliony IL take no counsel with our
sister States OF the South cannot complain Il they de
termne for themselves the aud measure of redress
Have we not strong believe that some of those
States South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama Florida Oy
Mississippi may consider the election of a Black Repub
lcan President sufficient cause to withdraw from the
Union? II this course is taken by few States only b.,
fore the Northern mind has time deliberate upon the
true course Of policy, the folly of Black Republican
administration may precipate collision between the
State and Federal authorities. With the shedding OF
blood il would become more difficult To restrain the pas
sions of either section and civil once commenced
its flames would spread the whole country. Wheth
You would condemn or approve this separate action OF
few States il would be impossible isolate Yourselves
from its consequences. The Federal government could
not compel the small State of Florida, 10 remain in the
Union after this event by torcebut through eSemI
mating war upon the entire South. -


Commune pericuum,


Una saIus ambObus, er."


Whatever we NAV think about il now when no passion
dsturbs the balance OF Judgment no Federal army, re
cruited from the sympathizers with John Brown could
shed the blood of brethren in any slave State in th
quarrel without universal rising Of people. Every
man. young aud old in this county of Abemarle, would
he ready to resist their passage through our borders 10
the death and if they went BY sea, there would be some
Of the of liberty from mountains to welcome
them the shore.


The truth is that those who are calculating upon sub
mission have not appreciated the length and breadth the
height and depth of that love of constitutional liberty
which is the master passion OF people. The echor
of those immortal words with which revolutionary
patriots thrilled the world yet ringing through these
hills We would be false TO the traditions and memories
OF patriotism, false 10 the principles OF liberty, false Ia
that glorious sentiment which fathers first baptized
IN their blood and then embazoned with their fame up
on the arms OF our State not only to express their own
love Of freedom but cherish its nlmes the latest
generation of their p0slery If IN this trying hour OF
history, did not take counsel OF our honor and
our duty and not OF our danger our fears


Mr., Chairman, ycucrate the Constitution Of my cour-
try and with my whole heart love the Union which it
established. But when hear these sacred names in
yoked to excuse the cnomity Of Northern injustice, or
to cover the reproach Of Southern submission, know
that the lips which thus profue the hoest sentiments OF
patriotism touched with fire from those hal
lowed atars Our fathers wOr-hpped Liberty ages be-
fore this Union formed, will their sons trust,
ages after il may have pershed They worsLipped her
in rude and infant colony amid the prvations OF the
wilderness aud the ever impending danger vi savage
fare For her sake they severed OF love- and hope
and strength, and glory by which, through centuries,
their every heart string lad been woven around the
homes and sepuchres and throne of Enganl-
For her habation, they bull. this magnificent
temple Of Union, and hung its walls with tie
beautiful and majestic images Of common eouu
ry Bat lad they lived to hc goddess Of their idol
airy driven by iap4us hands from her own fayorte
sl,,,
though she led them the waste sands Of the desert
the barren rocks Of the And for you their chl.
dren trust may say in words which | have uttered
before that ihs Union endure if it is be pre-
served by submission 10 fixed policy cf injustice and
lcquescence under agcuuatng bufthen Of repoach.
We are willing 20 give much for tue Union. We will
give territory FOR It the broad acres We have alre ,dy
surrendered would make empire. We will give blood
for have shed it freely upon every field of our
cOuntrys danger and renown. We will give love for i
the confdng the iogying the overlooking love Of bro
theirs and ireemen. But much as value t. Ee vii.
not purchase it at the price Of liberty character


Liberty Is security against wrong. So long as North
sentiment upon African slavery remains wnal.ered
the Constitution il stands. furnishes permanent
security against Northern Injustice Upon tie election
Of Black Republican President he Supreme Court will
be the only remaining outwprk of constitutional in
dependence and that if not somed by legislation must
crumtle as rapidly Is human life. C4uuOt our people be
reused the fact that unable through the Con-
stituton to maintain our rights: Without some change
in is provisions they will lie at the mercy Of Nor
thern power, be defended if at all, by Southern
swords. MAY that Providence which has guarded Us
through all the past protect us in the future inspiring
the South with wisdom and rmness and the North with
moderation and justice. private citizen, who has 10
wish but TO enjoy unmelesed and transmit unimpaired
the liberty to which be was born, offer for my country
the PRAYER Of the old Roman,


"The honor'd gods


Keep Rome IN safety; sud IA. chairs Of Justice


Supplied with worthy men plant love among =


Throng our ls-ge temples with the shoa. peace


And not streets With gar 20