Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1831-04-05
DONII gTIQs
SPEECH
Ar rHn DINNEn no SIR. wEpsrER.

SfEECh
AT THE DINNER TO MR.. WEBSTER
The following remarks Introductory to the tca,, Of
me guest H. Webster, made by the Pre- slider of
be occasion, Chancellor KENT
The President called the attention Of the gentlemen.
70 toes' 70 which he their jptgeme nts and
heir. heaits would respond
New England lad been long trui,fu, In gre at m
me necessary consequence Of the admIrab, discipline
OF her ih'uuons; and were ,Lis day honor.d with
me presence OF Of those cherished objects Of her
ascbmest and pride, who has uudoub,ed and pecu-
nr n,'e 70 our regard. II 10 plain rulh, that he
"h defends ihs constitution Of his country by hi
wieiom in couscil, is emitted to share her srs,itude
WIN those who project by vsl,r in the field. Pace
mas It's victories as well as war. We all recol!ec iae
memorshs occasion, whsn tie exalted talents and en-
'ght-hed patriotism of ,he z neman to whom he had
aiuded, were exertsd in the support of our nacnaI
Union and the sound Interpretation OF il, Charter. II
mere Dc any one political Precept, emin N, above all
others aud acknowledged by all II that which dictates
me absolute necess OF union the ST ties under ono
government and that gcv rnmeut clothed with thcs.
attributes aud powers with which the ing
,on mas investedh. We were indebted, under Pow
dence, to the operation ADD Influence Of the powers OF
'ha' constitution Tor our national honor abroad and for
uhexainpeu prosperity at home. Its future stability
depended upon the firm support and due exercise OF s
legitimate powers in all their bran ches tendency
20 20 alsanon--so anarchy amorg tho member, rather
thau to tyranny Ia the hcad-had be- m the
melancholy fate OF all the federal governments o! an
cient and modern Europe. Our Union and pational
constitution were formed as we have hitherto been
led to believe uuder better auspices aud with
improved wisdom. But there was deadly principle
OF disease inheren, in the system. Tho assumption
any member Of the Onion of The RIGHT 10 ou.s,ion
aud resist, or annu, as its Judgment ehoud die
tate either the laws OF congress or the treaties or
the decisions OF the e,eral courts the mandates OF
me executive power, duly made and promulgated a,
the constHuiicn precrbes, most dane erous az
sumption OF power, leading collision and the dcs-
tructon oil the system And IT, contrary all our ex
pectaons, should hereafter fail in the grand cxpe-
iiment oil a confederate government extending over
some OF the faires portions of this continent and des
tined 10 act at The same time with efficiency and
mony, we should most grevously dsappoint the hopes
OF mankind, and blast forever the fruits OF the revolu.
| ton. .
But, happily for the reutation OF such dangerous
preentons, the occasion referred to- was signal and
complete The false images and delusive theories
which had perpexed the thoughts and disturbed the
Judgments OF msn, were then dssipaed in like manner
as speeires disappear at the rising of tho The in
estmabe value of the Unon and the true principles of
The Constitution, explained by clear and
reasoniHgs, and enforced by pathetic and eloquent il
Illustrations The result was the suspicious, the
heretical doctrines, which then fairly reasoned
down, had been advanced by very respectable por.
ton OF the Union and urged the floor of the Senate
by tne polished mind, manly ZEAL and honored name of
a distinguished member of the South.
The consequences OF that discussion have been ex-
tremely beneficial II turned the attention of the pub
ic TO the great doctrines of national rights and national
Union. Constitutional law ceased to remain wrapped
up in the breasts, and taught only by the responses
OF the living oracles of the law Socrates was said to
have drawn down philosophy from the skies and scat
tered it among the schools. 1t may with equal truth
be said that constitutional law, by means of those Sena-
toral discussions, and the master genius that guided
them, rescued from the archives of our tribunals
and the lqofes of lawyers and placed under the eye
and submitd to the judgment of the American people
Their Uerdiet IS oih u.s. and from it there lies no ap-
peal.
| As soon the immense cheering and acclamations
with which this address and toast were received, had
subsidized,
MIR. Webster and spoke as follows;
| owe the honor of this occasion, gentlemen to
your patriotic and afectionate attachment 10 the Con-
stltuoon OF the country For an effort, well intended
however otherwise of unpretending character made
in the discharge Of public duty designed to main
tain the Constitution, and vindicae its Just powers
have been pleased to tender this your res
pect 1t would be idle afectation to deny. that it
gives me singular qualification Every public man
must naturally desire the appreciation of his fellow
citizens; and though it may be supposed that should
be anxious, lie first place, TO dsappoint the ex-
pectations of those whose immediate Representative
am, it is not possible that should not feel, neverhe-
less, the high value of such mark of esteem as is
here offered But, gentlemen, I am conscious that the
main purpose OF this occasion is higher than mere ma
nesation of personal regard 1t is evince your at
tachment TO the Constitution, and your Just alarm al
Whatever threatens to weaken its proper authority
endanger its existence.
Gentlemen, this could hardly be otherwise IL would
be strange, indeed il the members of this vast COM
mercial community should not be first and foremost IN
rally Tor the Constitution, whenever opinions and doc.
trines are advanced, hostile TO its principles Where
sooner than here, where louder than here may we ex
pect patriotic voice 10 be raised when the Union
OF the States is threatened In this great Commercial
Emporium at this central point OF the united commerce
OF the United States, of all places we NAV expec tle
warmest, the most determined and universal feeling
oil attachment to the National Constitution Gentle
men, no one can estimate more highly than do the
natural advantages Of your city. No one enter
tans higher opinion than myself ALSO of that spirt of
wise and liberal policy, which has acuated the GOV
erninent OF the State in the accomplishment of Gieh
Objects important to the growth and prosperity both of
the State and the City But all these local advantages
and oil this enlightened state policy could never have
made your City what il is, without the aid and
protection oil General Government, extending over
all the States, and establishing, for ALL common and
uniform system OF commercial regulation. without
national character, without public credit, without sys-
tenaic finance, without uniformity Of commercial
all other advantages possessed by this city, would have
decayed, and persisted, like unrpe fruit. General
government was, for years before IL was instituted the
great object Of desire 10 the inhabitants This city
new YORK was conscious oe her local advantages for
conmerce-she saw her destiny, and was eager TO EN-.
brace IL; but nothing else than General Government
could make Tree her path before her. and set her for
ward on her She early saw all this and 10 the
accomplishment oil this great and indispensable object
she bent up every faculty, and exerted every effort
She was not mistaken. She formed no false Indictment
the moment OF the adoption OF the yonsttuiion New
York was the capital of State and contained tr-
iy-two or Three thousand people II no contains
more man TWO hundred thousand people, and Is Justly
regarded as The Commercial Capital not only OF all the
United states, but OF the whole Continent also from
the Pole TO tue South Sea. Every page of her history
nony 70 the benefits and blessings of the General Gov
eminent. Her astonishing growth is referred TO- aud
quoted, al Tie world over, of the most striking
proofs OF The ELECTS OF Federal Unon To suy-
pose her now 10 be easy and indifferent, when notions
are advanced tending to its dssOuon would be TO sun