Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1832-12-28

Tho resolutions advocated by MIR. Dexter In a
speech OF some length.
lie succeeded by the Hon. Daniel Webster, who
addressed the meeting as follows:
MIR. CHAGRMAN-Having been detained at home a
few days after the meeting OF Congress, by the necessity
OF attending private affairs, have been induced
10 delay my DEPARTURE for another day, that might be
present this meeting Of my fellow citizens. When
look around the members who fill those galleries
and crowd this hail. thank Almighty God, that may
still address them as citizens o. shc United States. The
same Almighty power only knows whether, nc. we
,nec again, viii not be citizens ot Massachusetts,
only The present is moment fu oil Interest Events
tho wing, aud already near us, which must
produce the most important effects, one way the other
on the pcrmanency of the Constitution OF the United
States regard the issuing OF this Proclamation by the
President highly important occurrence. The actual
condition Of the country, in my opinion,-an opinion here
,olore exprcssed,-caled loudly upon the President
make public his deter ninaion TO rebukc the spirit of dis
Affection 10 maintain the peace OF the country and the
integrity of the Uuon, and 10 call all patriotic citizens
to dScounienance all such proceedings threatened to
destroy the one, or disturb the other.
Mr. Chairman, the general principles Of the Proclana
ton arc such as entirely approve. esteem them TO be
the true principles of the Constitution. III he
apparent every man, that this doctrine of qualification
means resistance TO the laws by force but another
name for civil The authors OF the South Carolina
Ordinance cannot regard peaceable measure; they
act as IT they understood it being, what 1t really is,
measure leading TO hostics. Ihey know 1T must bring
contest; and, accordingly they have endeavored TO
prepare for that contest by putting in state Of readiness
the whole military power OF the Stac.-Every must
see that they RELY not on any constitutional or legal eff
feet Of the Ordinance itself, but the military power
which they may be able 10 bring maintain them in their
resistance 10 the laws.
Mr. Chairman, hope may stand acquitted before my
country OF any negligence, i'll falling give the cha
racer Of this doctrine Of notification, when it first adj
vanced, in an imposing FORM in the Halls of Congress
What it then appeared TO TO be, in its very nature ii
proves ITSELF in this the first attempt to put in pac.
tce II is resistance TO law, by force; il is dsuuion, by
force; it is secession, by force. ms cirI IPdr.
The President has declared that in meeting the exgen.
ces of this crisis it is his determination to execute the
laws, TO preserve the Union, by all constitutional MEANS
to arrest, possible, by moderate but fair measures, the
necessity of 10 force; and conduct that
the curse, impending the shedding of paternal blood
shall not be called down, by any offensive act the part
Of the United States. In all this most cordially concur
To execute the laws, by lawful means, uphold the Con-
suion by the joint exercise of the powers conferred by
itself, TO be moderate orbearing slow the ul
mate measures TO amonsh such isled return to
their duly, 10 keep the Government always i'll the right
aud to place those who oppose clearly in the wrong and
to hold out, with mistaken irmness, in maintaining the
Union, and causing the laws TO be duly cXecuted:-thesc
Sir in my opinion, comprise the substance of the duty
which the occasion dcvolves upon the Chief Magistrate
the nation.
Mr.. Chairman-I think [ can say nothing more salts
factory to this meeting, 10 the people of this
wealth. than hdt in this way of meeting the crisis shall
give the President my entire and cordial support Sir
we truly in crisis OF the utmost magnitude and the
most imminent peril The Union of the States is in danger
|; threatened by the immediate application of military
force. Let not sir deceive ourselves by the magma
ton that the Union may subss though one state secee
from IT, No, Sir. If the Government, this first trial
should be found not able TO keep all the States in their
ually dissolved. Nhae yer link be struck from this gold
chain breaks the whole. Our only alternative is to
preserve the Union, and entire is or else TO
break up and TO return the condition OF separate States;
with the unpromng chances OF forming, hereafter ne "
partial sectional rival perhaps hostile governments thus
bidding adieu, forever, not only 10 the glorious idea but
to the glorious really, Of THE UNITED STATES OF
AMERICA.
Mr.. Chairman, in this alternative, my choice is made
ain for the Union, il is; with no Govern
men less than that which embraces the whole four aud
twenty States. am for the. Constitution, it is; Con.
s,ituon under which those four and twenty States have
risen TO height OF prosperity, uneXanped altogether I'M.
examped in the history OF mankind shall support the
President in maintaining this Union and this Constitution;
and the shall not TAIL for want Of any ad any effort
or any Jealous cooperation of mine. In the spirit of the
resolutions, before the meeting, say, when the Stan
dard OF the Union is raised and my hea-the
standard which Washington planted the ramparts of the
Constitution, God forbid that should inquire whom the
people have commissioned to unur and bear il up
only ask in what manner, an humble individual can
best discharge my duty in defending it,
After some remarks by the Hon III. G.. Otis and Mr. j.
/. Austin the question then put on the adoption OF
the resolutions, and they passed by an unanimous
vote, and with hearty reclamation.
Mr. Charles p Curtis said that if il had been his orr
nal purpose 10 address the meeting he should not feel dis
posed do So after what he had already heard His oh
ec at present merely 10 add another resolution ia
those which had been already submitted 10 tle meeting
They contained provision for transmitting the
ings OF the meeting 10 the President the United States
With the view OF supplying this deficiency Mr. Curti
presented the following resolution, which unanimous
ly adopted
ResoDed, That copy OF the proceedings of this meet
ing, signed by the Chairman and Secretaries be
to the President of the United States.
The meeting then dissolved.
Notw Outstanding the severity of the sorm-1e raj,
falling without neunssion through the orcnoon-he hal
was crowded in the galleries well as below during IN,
whole Of The proceedings.