Litchfield enquirer., 1831-04-07
Ertrocts from the speech Of Mr.. WEBSTER
at tie public dinner In NesO- York, March IS.

Ertrocts from the speech Of Mr.. WEBSTER
at Eke public dinner in NesO- York, M0rch IS. !
Where better than here-where
sooner than here-where louder than here
may we expect to hear voice Of support,
and encouragement. when the constitution of
our country Is 10 danger2 Where, but in this
great commercial metrOpOlis-this ity,which
dates its growth, the origin Gifts growth. with
the origin of eur country in ths great COM
mcrcial einpOrium-this central point Of the
united commerce Of the United States
Where but here would men rally to the sup
! port Of our constitution 10 things that might
" affect its safety! t,+s
81. Gentlemen: no one can estimate more high
~ the natural advantages of your eIty-no
one can entertain higher opinion than my
self Of the civil policy which has created the
government of the State Of New-YOrk: but
is It not plain to every man, and will it not be
received as truth among the community, that
all these advantages Of local possession and
state policy would have withered and decay
ed. have fallen and persisted, without the pro-
lection of some government extending over
all the states Can this constitution he other
=. than productive Of benefit 10 all portions and
cIssses of government 1t had its origin in
the minds of sensible men, engaged in COM
MERGE. 1t is truth which will ever stand on
record, that among those who first saw the
ueCeSSUy Ot n general government
forth efforts to establish it, were citizens of
this great city-New-Y York.
Gentlemen, there are those around me,
who are old enough to remember that after
the accom- lishment of the independence Of
our country, and at the periud Of the adOp-
ton of the constitution of the United States
this city contained perhaps some thirty thou
sand people: it was the capital Of the State;
hut it has nov become the capital of all the
States. with population Of more than 2OO.-
900 people-who; for responsibility, for the
accumulation Of wealth, are unrvalled in the
Union.
40 10 it possible then. that city such as this,
with experience such as this possesses,-a CT
= ~, every page of whose history f1r forty
h years past, bears bright and illuminating tes-
4 timOny to the benefits and blessings Of our
: government. could be Indifferent to any meas
urc derogatory to its power, or hazardous to
its safety? Gentlemen, you have all personal
associations and relations connected with the
origin of this government, naturally endeared
to your remembrance. New York possessed
advocates fer the constitution long before il
existed she seemed to he conscious Of hel
future destiny. Great names. fellow citizens
at yours, now numbered among the mighty
dead. stand among the very founders of this
constitution. While we are here to speak o
the blessings Of this constitution--whiIe we
are here to ejOice that it stands firm and
strong; while we are here 10 congratulate
each other that we live under its benign inan-
snce, we cannot forget those great men, who
IN the day Of our national infancy, ia the
the times Of despondency and despair, brought
into existence this great aud glorious consti'
tuition. could not feel that had done JUS
tice to myself, or you'll should feel that had
j. disregarded the great suggestions which this
OccasiOn presses upon my mind, If did moi
recur 10 some Of the 'iIlustrous patriots to
whom we are most indebted for the blessings,
the benefits, and privileges, that we now en-
Joy. should feel that did injustice to my
self, to you, and to the occasion. if did not
speak in commentator Of the name Of AL
exander Hamilton. coming from the military
service Of his country, yet youth, where he
was known to soma venerable persons near
me. making this city the place Of his adOp-
ton. he gave the powers Of mind matured
far beyond what il common to be met with,
10 support of the best interests ofhis country.
Daily increasing in the confidence and afec-
I ton Of the people 10 this city-seeing the me-
cessity of a general government-and that
the benefits of the revolution might be felt
he sought that object with diligence un.i.-
ing, and view which never lost sight Of ts
object. When experiments had failed-wheu
the States had been unsuccessfully called on
tOadopt measures for the maintenance Ut pub
lie credit, Mr.. Hamilton. with his friend, g
venerable gentleman now living Judge Ben
son.) was delegated by this State, to NEE
with gentlemen Of other States. to hold coun
eel on the Responding aud distressed state o
our country. They assembled in September
sl786 their report. which proceeded from Al
cxander Hamilton, is on record. They saw
the necessity Of general Convention /; they
recommended ~ the country general Con-
stitution-that Constitution under which we
now live. Having agreed upon it, another
great work was to be done--to recommend
and urge its adoption. They kept the OBJ.
.ject singly in view, and labofing for it's ac-
coinpishment with their strength and firm
ness, the country received the publications
which were commendatory to the constitu.
ation, and which will last while that country
lasts. Still possessing the confidence Of this
community, the same gentleman was rep
resentatiye to Congress. associated with other
great men. with Jay, with Morris, with Liv-
ingston. A convention OF the State of New
York was called to ratify the constitution
On this occasion was displayed the force Of
reason and the power Of argument Of Alex.
aneer Hamilton. He saw his hopes fulfilled
. he saw that constitution heCGn,e shn N.