Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 42.djvu/17

 Papers of Hon. John A. Campbell 5

1 remember that in the darkest hour of the revolutionary history of Virgina, when Arnold and Phillips were ravaging her coasts and Tarleton and his dragoons were making her country desolate, there was some proposition to make Patrick Henry dictator.

Mr. Jefferson then recorded his opinion, that "the very thought was treason against the people, was treason against man- kind in general, as riveting forever the chains which bow down their necks by giving their oppressors a proof which they would have trumpeted through the universe of the imbecility of re- publican governments, in times of pressing danger to shield them from harm."

It is not my purpose to discuss the joint resolutions of the General Assembly, either in respect to their Constitutional competency to surrender the rights, interests and honor of the people to a body unknown to the Constitution of the State, or as to the propriety or policy of that measure.

The charges of the General Assembly are:

1st. That the anti-slavery agitation in the non-slavehold- ing States evinces a deadly hostility to the rights and institu- tions of the slave holding States, and a settled purpose to effect their overthrow by the subversion of the Constitution at the hazard of violence and bloodshed.

2nd. That the Republican party are committed to the execution of that purpose and hope to seize the Government with the design of employing it for its accomplishment — for the, "unmistakable aim to pervert its whole machinery to the de- struction of a portion of its members. "

The General Assembly affirm that to permit such "a seizure" would be an "act of suicidal folly and madness," on the part of those who are menaced, and resolve that, upon the election of a President advocating the principles and action of the party in the Northern States calling itself Republican, a con- vention of the kind before described shall be convoked, etc.

Roman history informs us that Nero at one time formed the resolution to massacre the Senate of Rome, set fire to the City and let loose his whole collection of wild beasts to devour the people in the general consternation.