Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1831-03-29
Ebe Constitutional ggIbta.
New YoaK. March 25.
DINNER TO MIR. MERSrEP

testimonial OF their high sense of his pubc service
ana particularly the vindication Of the principles of
took place at the City Hotel last evening Chan
ce!ior ssf, presided, sted by Peter A. JAY
John Hone, and + d. Grccnway, Esurs as Vice
PRESIDENTS n number of distinguished gentlemen
were among the guests, among whom we observed
The Hon. Ambrose Spencer, Judge Dsguet of Con.
President MoEquera. of Colombia; Hon. Henry r.
Storrs aDdaHon. Nathan Appleton, member elect
to the next Congress, from the city of Boston We
have neither time at this late hour no clock.) to
remark as we could Wish upon the interest Of the |
whole scene, nor to give any thing but brief |
sketch of the truly magnificent and eloquent address
delivered by Mr Wcbsisx& The following were the
/. The Soprcmrcy~9ffte Lam, 'to which nll owe
homagc-the very least os feeling its care--and the |
greatest moi exempt from its power"
.. The President IF the United States.
, The Gorernor IF The State IF .New York.
4. The Constitution Of The United States the mon
ument Of our coun;ry's ,cisdon-,he instrument of
lis s:fsty, its liberty, and it's greatness.
s. Thc judiciary Of the United Staies-a co-or-
dinate brench of the Government--every patriot
will support aud defend 1t, in the exercise of It's con-
s;i'utional authority.
Chancellor Kent and said, that he was now
sbou. TO propose toast 10 which he doubted not
their Judgment and hearts would cordially respond.
Among the great men of New England that had been
reared by her fostering there who stood
before the whole American people object of pc
culiar attachment and pride-who Il late
occasion had most cogenty refuted the arguments of
those who had endeavored to weaken the bond
cf union in confederacy, and caused their
false speculations to disappear like spectres be-
fire the suu-one who by the accuracy Of his rca-
soniag the power Of his illustrations and manly zeal
had directed public attention towards their national
rights and rescued CONS II uIonal law from the ar
chives in which 1t had so long sambcred 1t was
unnecessary to say that that ndlv dual was he wh"sc
name he should give
Our Guest. Daniel H'eGster-,o his talents we
owe most triumphant vndlcation of the great prin
Ciples OF III Constitution
The bursts OF applause from every qua rter of the
room were loud and long, this toast wos announ
ced. When silence was proclaimed Mr.. Webster
aud sa d.
He was conscious that he owed the extraordinary
honor which had been conferred upon him by so large
number of the citizens of New York to their affec
Tomato attachment to the constitution of the country.
For an effort well iRtended, however unprepared,
and made, in the discharge of a solemn duty he was
under, TO maintain the constitution of the country and
1" Vindcate it's Just authority, they had been pleased
20 tender this public mark of their appreciation and it
wonid be idle aitectation in him deny that such
proof OF their regard snguarly grateful. Eve
ny public be DESTROYS of receiving the
approving voice of the people, and though it might
be supposed that he was anxious not dsappoint the
hopes ct those whose immediate representative he
yet the Circumstances under which they here now
assembled calculated to afford him the hrhc.t
grathcatIon. Those who were present had come TO- |
gether to Fay no homage TO power, interest party;
but to slghity their Of the importance Of ad
herring firmly to the fundamental PRINCIPLES of the
constitution "Gentlemen, said Mr. W.. 'sit would be
sooner than here-whcrc louder than here NAV we
expect hear the alarm when the cons tuition 10 in
hazard and danger! Where but in this commercial
metropolls-a city which dates its growth from the
adoption OF the constitution where in this central
part, will rally nd 1T in any crisis which may
be supposed to exist No one estimates highly
than do the natural advantages of your position: hut
is 1T not known to every intelligent man. that all these
advantages of local position and benefits of State pol
icy, would have persisted without the protection of
some government-wI without protection to public and
private credit, and without unioi nifty in commercial
reguiatons?'
sIr w. said that there were those around him who
were old enough to remember, before the adoption of
the constitutions the population, and extent
;f this commercial city. At the adoption il contain
ed about Thirty Thousand ople, and the capital
ns State-nOw it had become the capital of all the
S'a,es possessing population of more than two hun
fred thousand with an accumulation OF wealth and
property which, however great, would yet sink into
;osgnhcance at the prospect of her future greatness
Was it possible that such city could be Indifferent to
any measure that was hazardous to its we'll being?
rhr State of New York was in favor of the constitution
long before 1t was established she then contemplated
her future destiny and sprang forward, eager TO en-
brace it, lie should be pardoned, he trusted If while
on the subject of the blessings which the constitution
hao bestowed, he should advert to of those great
names who stood forth among its founders and who
had struggled with all their energy in recomme Ddinq
adoption. He should he wanting in Justice n he
omitted the name OF Hamilton, who coming from mil
itary service while yeta YOUTH and seeing The urgent
necessity of some general government for the protec
ton of commerce and the public cred
siackened and finally succeeded in obtaining the Cen
cral Convention which framed the constitution under
which happily live. That object accomplish.
ed, another one remained to be effected. Associated
with Madison and Jay, he undertook recommend its
adoption to the American people, and his hopes were
fulfilled. Upon the ascension of Washington to the
Presidency, what the situation of the countryP
There was no public or private credit, no power to
by any uniformity of duties the fair enterprise
of the merchants of the different states, and therefore
the discerning eye Of Washington selected him for the
situation that he occupied with much honor to him
self and advantage 10 the country. He smoe the rock
OF national revenue, the streams gushing out.
lie touched The dead corpse OF public credit and 1t
spiang to- It's feet. The iuUed birth of he Minerva
was hardly more sudden, ~-:an the system Of aona
credit winch sprung from the mind of Hamilton.
Your associations, said MIR. w are naturally con-
nectcd with another patriot now The cha
racter Of Jay is Jewel Which bis country values and
even the whole world regards. After the formation
Of the government he selected to hod the scales
:fjusticc 10 his well adjusted hand lie clothed
"ith the crUinc, but the robe touched nothing so
Ppticss as himself
Mr. w. paid a tribute to the name Of Chancellor
Livingston, who bad been member Of the Congress
= bich declared our Independence aad Grm friend