Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-03-09

interest. and party against party. careless OF tho
| continuance of that unity Of Gorsren,ent .chich
constitutes us PeOpie1
| Gentlemen, the political prosperity which tins
country has attained, and which it now enjoys, it
has acquired mainly through tho instrunientality
| of the present Government. While this agent con
tinues the capacity of attaining to still higher de-
grees of prosperity exists also. We have while
this lasts, political life, capable of beneficial cx
ertioD, with power to resist overcome msfor-
tunes, to sustain against tho ordinary accidents
of human affairs, and to promote, by active efforts
I every public interest But disme mberment strikes
at the very being which preserves these faculties:
II would lay its rude and ruthless hand on this great
! agent itself 1t would sweep away, not only what
we possess, but all power of reganng lost or &C.
curing new, possessions. 1t would leave the
country, not only bercft Of it's prosperity and
happiness, but without limbs, or organs, or facul-
ties, by which to exert itself, hereafter, in the
pursuit of that prosperity and happiness.
Other misiortunes may be borne, their effects
overcome. If disastrous war sweep our commerce
from the ocean, another generation may renew it;
1t 1T eXhaus: our treasury, future industry may re-
plenish it; if it dcsolate and lay waste fields,
STILL under new cultivation, they will grow green
again, and ripen to future barvests. 1t were but
tritc, even if the walls Of yonder Capitol were to
crumble, if its lofty pillars should fall and its gor-
geous decorations he all covered by the dust of the
valley. All these might be rebuilt But who shall
construct the fabric of demolished Government
Who shall again the well proportional columns
| OF Constitutional Liberty! Who shall frame to-
gether the skilful architecture which untes Ma
| 'ional sovereignty with State rights. individual Sc.
curity, and public prosperity? No. gentlemen if
these columns fall, they will be raised not again
Like the Colosseum and the Parthenon, they will
DC destined to a mournful, a melancholy immortsl-
ity. bitterer tears. however, will flow them,
'hah were over shed over the monuments of Ro-
man or Erecian art; for they will be the
OF more glorious edicc than Greece or Rome
ever saw-thc cdifcc of ns.Eu;ona, American
Liberty.
But, gentlemen, let us hoys for better things
Lex us trust in that Gracious Being who has hither
TO held our country in the hollow of his hand.
Let us trust to the virtue and the intelligence of
the People, and to the efficacy of religious obiga-
tion. Let us trust to the influence of Washing
tons example. Let us hope that that fear of Hea-
! ven, which expels all other fear and that regard to
duty, which transccnds all other regard, may in.
huence public men and private citizens, and lead
our country still onward in her happy Full
OF these gratifying anticipations and hopes, let
look forward to TIE end of that century which is
now commenced. A hundred years hence, other
disciples OF Washington will celebrate his
birth, with no less of sincere admiration than
we now commemorate it. When they shall meet,
as we now meet, to do themselves and him that ho-
nor so surely they shall the blue SUBMITS of
his native mountains rise in the horizon; surely
! as they shall behold the river on whose banks he
| lived, and on whose banks he rests still flowing to
the sea; SO surely may they see as we now see the
flag of the Union floating on the top of the Capi
toll and then, now, may the sun in his course
visit no land more free, more happy, lovely,
than this our Country.
Gentlemen, propose
"TEE MEMORY OF GEORGE WASHING
TON"
After this address and toast, which were recei-
we'd with tho warmest testimonials of appreciation
by The company, the President announced i'm sue
cession the following toasts:
= The memory of James Otis and Patrick
henry, 'who first moved the ball of the Rcyolu-
ton"
3. Samuel Adams and John Hancock; they re-
coIved the first honors of the Re neutrality-suspicious.
ion In the cause of their country.
4. The memory of Benjamin Franklin, John
Adams and Thomas Jefferson; no donors can
equal their merits, no eulogy enhance their fame.
3. The Statesmen and Heroes of tho Revolu-
tion-fhe companions Of Washington, in war and
peace.
q. The old Continental Congress, who conduct.
ed the country through trial and disaster, in war
and IN peace, TO Independence and Union.
T. The survivors of the army of the Revolution;
IAN Army which did arli suffered more than any
other army ever did, in defence of the rights nd
Liberties OF human nature'r. (Washington's letter
TO Congress, 18Th March, 17s3.)
3. The patriot hero, "who conducted the great
military contest SSthe revolution with wisdom
and fortitude, invariably regarding the rights
OF the civil power, through all disasters and chan.
ges." (Repty Of the President of Congress to Gen.
Washngfon's address on yesigning his Commits
+ siOn.)
Q. France, the FIRST and only ally of the United
States; she generously aided our fathers in their
struggles for liberty-she has our sympathy in her
OlCn.
H. The PRESIDENT TIE UNITED STATES
-, IL. General Lafayette, the consistent friend OF
liberty in both hemispheres, unbroken by disaster
interrupted by success: the worthy scholar of the
best OF schools-the School of Washington.
IL. James Madison the father of the Constitu.
ton, and the memory of his illustrious associates
Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay.
is. The memory James Monroe.
IL Charles Carroll of Carrollion, the only sur
VvIng SIgner fthe Declaration of Independence
TO- The Chief Justice of the United States, the
friend and biographer of Washington the great
'xpounder of the Constitution.
| 16. The Supreme Court of the United States.
clothed by the Constitution with the most high
ana delicate functions, they have sustained them
selves for forty years in the full possession of pub
lie confidence
| H. The Union of the States: ",The UNITY of
the Government, which constitutes us one people,
IS the main pillar in the ed6ce of our real indie
pendence, the support of tranquility at home, of
peace abroad-of safety, of prosperity. and liner
| ty"-(Wdshington's FareueU Address0
! 10 Westinghouse theory of the Constitution:
lt is obviously mpractlcable in the federal govern
ment of these States all rights of indepep
dent sovereignty to each, and yet provide for the
interest and safety Of ali."-The letter of Washing
ton, as President Of the Federal Convention trans
uniting the Constitution to Congress- September
! 1897.
~. "The greatest interest of every true Ameri.
can; the Consolidation Of our Union, in which are
involved prosperity, felicity safety and perhaps
our national existcnce."-Th same letter
lOiher Ioasts and Speeches in our ncrt1
-
| III .