Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1828-06-18
MIA. WEBSTER'S ADDRESS.
~ the Dinner IN Funeuii I{ail.


mage OF their hearts
After the hearty ADD Oft repeated cheering that res
Ponded To tue sentiment had subsidized, Sir. WEBSTER
aud said
MIR. PRESIDENT:
The honor conferred br this occasion, as well the
manner in which the meeting has been pleased TO &c
csive what has now been proposed To them from the
Char requires rom RE n!cst respectful aCuow ed
nent and few words CT honest ard sinCerc thanks.
should indeed, be lost TO all just feelings o. guilty OF
weak and puarile alfec'aon, ifI should fail 10 mani
fest the emotions which excited BY these testimo
nias of regard froin those among whom live, who
me otenest and knew best. II the appreciation
oi good neu be an object Fl, 10 be pursued, is fit TO
be enjoyedf it be- doubtless is, of the RIOS:
strrng and rvIForsiin, motives which operate u2Cn
ihe human mind is also ainon.: the richest rewards
which console and crafty the heart.
confess myself particularly touched and affected,
Mr.. President aud gentlemen, by the kind feeling
which you manifest towards me, as YOUR fellow citizen
your neighbour and your friend. Respect and conf
dSnce IN these relations olie, lie al the foundation
all valuable character. They essential to
I'D or permanent reputation, to durable social happ
ness assure ynu with the utmost sincerity, tha,
there IS nothing which could flow from human approba
i!7n or applause no distinction, however high alu
ring, 20 object OF ambition, Which could possibly be
brought within the horizon OF INV view, that would
tempt me, III any degree, Justly forfeit the attach
ment oil my private friends, surrender my hold as
citizen and neighbour. the confidence OF the
munty In which live; community, to which 1 owe
SO much, IN the bosom OF which have enJoyed much
and where still hope TO remain, the exercise Of
good wishes, for the residue of life.
The commentator which the meeting has bestowed
on my attempts at pubic service, | am conscious
measured rather by their kindness than any other
standard VI those attempts, can think more
huInby than do. The affairs of The general govern
men foreign ana domestic vast. and varroIs and
complicated They require from those who would
aspire 10 take leading part 10 tllcr1 amount,
,eiy, and accuracy of information which, if
The adequate capacity were not wanting, not east
iy attained by those whose affection is, necessarily,
mainly devoted 10 the duties Of active and laboous
profession. For this, well for many other
sons, attn conscious of having discharged my public
duties IN manner no way emitting them TO the de-
gree offavor which has been manifested.
and this manifestation Of favour and regard is the
more especially 10 be referred to the cardo aud kind
ness OF the meeting. his occasion, since is well
hooWn, that IN recent instance, and in regard 10
'7iporta"t measure, have felt ii my duty 20 give
Yote ia respect 10 the cxpediency and propriety of
which, considerable difference of opinion exists, be
tween persons equally entitled 10 my regard and conf
fencP. ihc candid interpretation which, has been gi
ven to that vote by those who csapproved II, and the
assembling together here, for the purpoac OF this oc
cas'on ot these who felt pain, well those who felt
pleasure, at the sncCess of the measure which the
vote was gwen afford ample proof, how unsusrec
led uprghtn2ss OF intention, and tue exercise of ia
dependent Judgment may be respected even by those
"no differ nom the results to which that exercise Of
lutShacnt bias arrived There class of The conf
Inunity, for whJse interests nave ever cherished
a more sincere regard, than that, on whose pursuits
so'nc parts OF The alluded TO- bear with great
ling measure IN any degree curious 10 them, must
IaVo been governed by other paramount reasons satIs
factory I" my own conscience, and that the blow, il
iicted on 'he' owu interests felt by almost As
pa'nuiy auh heavily, could be BY those on whom
II immediately fell | not now about TO enter into
'e reae ans OF that explain The necessity I'M
Ger which found myself placed by rhost strange
ana unprecedented manner Of legIsation Of taking the
eVii OF u public measure for the sake GOOD; a nd
the bad provisions relating different subjects having
hot Tue ST connection with each other yet yoei
together, and kept together for and purposes
winch need not state they have Seen boldly avo,y-
ell, and are before the public.
was my misfortune, SIR that occasion, 10 differ
from ing most estimsble and worthy colleagues And
YET probably, Cur difference so broad as II
mSat seem We bah saw IN the same measure some
tang TO approve and something - Gisapproye. IF nj
could have been left to mould and frame x accor-
d!nS 10 opinions Of erat the good Of the courtrr
required, there would have been diversity of ir!g
ment between u.s. tn ~hat should have beer retained
and what rejected. The only driTereoce vas when
ihe measure had assumed IFS i1a shape, whether the
good II Contained far pTepoudsrated over its Nc
iinuwlcdgcd evil Justify the reccpicr ; s,Dnor,
OF the whole together. On poot Of this so. and IN,
Ger circumstances such those in l.ir re we're pla
ren ~ ho' strange that different minds SHOULD incline
hisraht WAYS 1t gives ire pleasure 10 bear testimony
- The constancy the IN eiiigence and The conscious f.
d2iiy with which my colleague discharged his nublc
HHty' ID reference 10 this subject. an happy also 10
"AVo TIE opportunity ct saying, that if thc bill had been
presented tome in he form ii in when it received
negative vote from tue distinguished Gentleman who
represents this Dists'c, my opinion Of it world
save entirely concurDcd with his, aud should have
'oted III the manner.
ihe meeting viii indulge nc with enc further re-
T1aT'z' before parting from this subject Il is onI, the
:i@Gr7h"n, that n he place occupied was one of
ne representatives OF The whole Commonwealth. RI
vas mol al liberty ~ look exclusively ro :Er in,e,os
The Dsirirt in WITCH live, and which have here
."uTe had The high houor of representing. was to
ttend my view from Bdrus,abls to Berkshirc;-,o!
comprehend III II proper regard for all interests and
proper respect for all opinions T,col,l-r IN tho
3 e2ato OF gH The Interests Of the Ccr1no1wcalii and
regarding e genera current Of opinion so tar as ;ba
'ho propsry TO he respected, sava least, Thought
saw---ny duty 10 BE- in Ire Path which pursued
'he measure IS adogtc3. Is Conselucncsss Tor good
or EVIL, Gr4l b." s:t TO tic results OF experience Ii
20 mean ''ic rc!cF IL pro?rsty Of the vote which
EAVs' "iiH ont'' s"hmiSsion and with ghc ltc,ost
"hcer'n'nH's a.o ~ TIC Judgment Of tho roo! -a,pis
D! the Commonwealth ~ '.''i'~