This notorious politician has been lately edifying the citizens of
Alexandria with a speech in which he has demolished the doctrines of Secession to his own satisfaction and that of his audience.
He has undertaken to prove that many of those who are now its advocates were formerly its opponents; but he has forgotten to state that one at least of those who were formerly disunionist was an ultra advocate of State-rights, and that that man was
Mr. Joseph Segar.
He ought to give other people the same privilege of changing an opinion which he exercises for himself, especially if they as honest and disinterested as any that account for his own change.
It would become
Mr. Joseph Segar to bear in mind that he stands almost alone among the people of his own State in opposition to the right of Secession, and that those who differ from him are men whose characters in all the relations of politics, society, and life, are above reproach.
Whatever may have been the opinions of men at one time about Secession, there is no difference of opinion among honest men as to the duty of resistance to tyrants, and the man who, in times like these, becomes the willing tool of a despot against the rights and liberties of his own State, need not expect to cover his own tracks and escape public obloquy by raking up old political questions which are practically settled beyond the reach of such as he to overturn.
If it were worth while to argue the questions involved in the present contest, questions which have been transferred from the arena of debate to that of arms, we could quote
Mr. Joseph Segar against
Mr. Joseph Segar, and leave them to settle the question between themselves.
