Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1833-03-15
Mr.. wEBsTER's SPEECH,

The gentleman from South Carolina. said Mr..
WEBSTER, has admonished US to be mindful Of
the opinions of those who shall come after US.
We must take our chance, sir, as to the light in
which posterty will regard u.s. lido not decline
its judgment. nor withhold myself from its scru.
tiny. Feeling that am performing INV public
duty with sinseness Of heart, and to the best OF
my ability, fearlessly trust myself to the coun-
try, now and hereafter, aud leave both my mo-
tiyes and my character to its decision.
The gentleman has terminated his speech in
tone of threat all 'efauce towards this bill. even
should 1t be- ane law of the land, altogether
unusual in the halls of Congress. But shall
not suffer myself to be excited into warmth. by
his denunciaton OF the measure~which support.
Among the feelings which at this moment Nil my
breast, not the least is that OF regret at the pc.
sitUn in which the gentleman has placed HIM
self. Sir, he does himself no justice. The
cause which he has espoused finds no basis 10 the
constitu,ion--no succor from public sympathyA
no cheering From patriotic community. he
has no footaold on which to stand, while he might
display the powers of his acknowledged talents.
Every thing beneath his feet is hollow and trea-
cherous. He is like strong man struggling in
a morass; every effort to extricate himself, only
sinks him deeper and deeper. And fear the
resemblance may be carried still further; fear
that no friend can safely come to his relief, that
no one can approach near enough to hold out a
helping hand, without danger Of going down him
self. Also into the bottomless depths OF this Ser
b0nian bog.
The honurable gentleman has declared that on
the decision of the question, now in debate, may
depend the cause OF liberty itself. am Of the
same opinion; but then, sir, the liberty which |
think is staked on the contest is not political Ii.
berty, in any general aud undehned character,
but our own, we'll understood, aud long enjoyed
.7merican liberty.
Sur, love liberty no less ardenty than the
gentleman, in whatever form she may have ap
peared in the progress Of human history. As
exhibited in the master States Of antiquity, as
breaking out again from amidst the da' kness Ut
the middle ayes, and beaming on the formation
Of new communities in modern Europe, she has,
always aud every where, charms tor me. Yet.
sir, it is our own liberty, guarded By cOnsutu.
I. tons and secured by union; it is that liberty
which is our paterDa inheritance; 1t Is our esta-
blished, dearbousht. peculiar American liberty
to which am chiefly devoted, and the cause OF
which now mean. to the utmost Ut my power,
to maintain and defend.
Mr. President, IL consider the constitutional
question now before US as doubtful as it is impor.
tant, and if suppose that this decision, either
in the Senate or by The country, was likely to
be, in any degree, influenced by the manner in
which l might now discuss it, this would be to
me momen, OF deep solcitude. Such mo-
meut has once existed. There has been a time,
when, rising IN this place, on the same question,
felt must confess, that something Tor good
or evil to the constitution of the country might
depend on an effort of nine But circumstances
A al. -. al
Mon has become awakened to this great ques-
ton; it has grasped it, it has reasoned upon 1t.
as becomes an intelligent and patriotic commu,
nitv, and has settled it, or now seems in pro.
gress Of settling it, by an authoritv which none
can disobey-the authority of the people them
selves.
I shall not, Mr.. President, follow the gem
tleman, step by step, through the course of his
speech. Much Of what he has said, he has deem
ed necessary to the just explanation and defence
of his own character aud conduct. On this, |
shalt offer no comment Much, too, has con-
sisted Of philosophical remark upon the general
nature Of political liberty, aud the history Of free
institutions; and Of other topics, SO general in
their nature, as to possess, In nv opinion. only
a remote bearing ON the immediate subject Of
this debate.
But the gentleman's speech. made some days
ago, upon introducing his resolutions, those re-
solutions themselves, and parts Of the speech now
just concluded, may probably be justly regarded
as containing the whole South Carolina doctrine.
That doctrine it is my purpose now to examine.
and to compare it with the constitution OF the
United States. | shalt not consent, sir, to make
any new constitution, or TO establish another
form OF Government. will not undertake to
say what a constitution for these United States
ought to be. That question the people have de.
clded for themselves, and shall take the instru.
ment as they have established it. and shall en-.
deavor to maintain it, in its plain sense and
meaning, against opinions and notions which, in
nv judgment, threaten its subversion.
The resolutions Introduced by the gentleman
were apparently drawn up with care, and brought
forward upon deliberation. I shall not be in
danger, therefore, of misunderstanding him, or
those who agree with him, If l proceed at once
to these resolutions, and consider them as an au-
thentc statement Of those opinions, upon the
great constitutional question, by which the re-