Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1835-02-21

CHARLES GAYARRE
J. c. DE ST.. Romrs, Esq.
GENTLEMEN 81 rise to tender YOU in feeble and in
adeqac language, the feelings of a heart Overlooking
with gratitude ut the Testimonials of friendship and
tecin which you are this day bestowing upon me-
Deeply, deeply do know that they are not justified by
any merit which may possess and stand humbled in
my own estimation, when compare my poor abilities
with the high honor which has been conferred upon me
by the Legislature of the State. The day which
would have dawned upon the election of a Louisiaian
to the Senate of the United States, would have
been for me, day of exul,otion to be cherish
ed in fond and patriotic recollection What
it be when l the chosen who has been
elevated to that dignhed station ] should feel the
proudest OF mankind, If sense of my nferiority
did not flash upon the buoyancy of my spirits and
depress the relation of gratifed ambition When think
of the immense responsibility which [ have incur
red, and when weigh that responsibility with the means
which have to meet it, ready almost 10 sink into
despair, and to regret the youthful presumption which
has prompted me tn undertaking much beyond my
age ana the powers OF my mind. My only reliance is
in the patriotism which feel glowing in my breast |
trust in the miracles which love of country has worked
in all ages and cling to the hope that it may stimulate
me to exertons of which thought myself little capable
by patient labonr and indeatigabe industry, shall
deavour 10 make amends for the talents which am
deficient and if ii be necessary that be heard
in defence support of the interests of Louisiana that
voice shall be hcard-that voice shall pour out the
honest convictions of my heart not it is true in the
gorgeous pomp of oratorca display but in the plain
nnvarnished and manly language of truth. With what
ever awe | may stand in the presence of the Claws
and the Webstcrs, and those other mighty spirits who
strive for prceninence in the political arena whose
lnhnltc
II my duty not to allow any cowardy nodcsty TO para
yze your representative in the Capitol the IT, States
IN the hall of freedom in the sanctuary of equal rights
1t shall not be said of native of Louisiana that his
tongue tatercd in his mouth when she babe him speak
her sovereign and Independent will in the presence of her
conederated sisters and since has been her pleasure
to select the hubest of her children represent her in
the great council of the naton the that prcsdes
her glorious desnes shed benign and insp,rin
fuence upon her faithful servant may that benevolent
Providence which has already done much the pros
pery purify my heart, enlighten my mind and render
me worthy of and equal to those high duties which am
solemnly called TO PERFORM by and belov
ed mother Louisiana the young the beautiful the rich
whom future ages will find combining all the famed ex
cellencies OF Italy and Egypt and whom they viii
lutte The boast of America.
Gentlementi is, doubt mot expected that should
interrupt the social hilary of this delightful banquet
with long, minute, and detailed exposition of all the
tenets of my political creed ftinled indeed vod be
a grave discussion great constitutional questions
when the bowl is there hand sparkling with generous
wine, and when the time, the hour, the circumstance
and every thing that the eye rests upon solcs the po
Htcian TO disappear and TO give way To the of
pleasure and convival wit Suffice it, therefore say
that have been and still remain, strong and staunch
friend and supporter % he present Administration
under conviction that ii IS conducted in spirit congo
NAL with the true principles of the Constitutions and that
it will in the end promote and the welfare and
prosperity of the Union.
must confess, gentlemen, that cherish for the We
ncrable patriot who is at the head of government
feeling OF strong personal prediction which dates from
the earliest days OF my boyhood was hardly years
of age, when the Tcnnessecan brigade being encamped
plantation then belonging to my family, had the
the roof oi my patcrnal mansion There he present.
ed to my boyish admiration the saviour of all that
dear me- and then looked upon him with child
ish wonder mixed with all the gratitude of which
susceptible at that early period of my existence. IL is
possible, that when grown into manhood, i may have
been influenced by The recoilectons and reflections of
my childhood. But gentlemen politician, believe
that have succeeded in divesng myself of all feelings
of undue partially and that have brought myself TO
view the political of the present Administration
in light which borrows no hue from the relation in
which may stand towards the man whom love and
Beratc. j have, j say examined and investigated the
political course OF the present Administration, not
blind and slavish partizan that scorn to be- but
petty influence Of selt-inerest or Of ambitious prompt
ings; and a Senator of the u States will give my
support to that Administration not because it is headed
by Cen Jackson but because believe, and lift
ror it honest that it walks in the path pointed
out and irradaicd by the bcaconight of the Consu-
ton Of the Il. States
Gentlemen you know that since the formation of our
institutions, the American people have been divided into
parties the Democrats and the Federalsts The Fede.
ralists have always exerted Themselves transform this
government in" strong one through broad interprc
tation of the Constitution and have attempted to
sumo for the government every kind of power by imp
cation II they had succeeded, the beautiful fabric OF
our Constitution would have been deiaced the State
vereigntics annihatcd, and the General Government
would have extended imperial sway over all the States
degraded into vassaagc and provincial insignhcance
But they successfully opposed By the Democracy
Of the Onion, the Republicans, who contendcd for
strict Interpretation Of the Constitution and who main
taincd' mat al The powers not expressly delegated,
maned with The States. Elected by the Democracy of
the Union, zen Jackson renamed faithful TO
Democracy, like the light which 70 the language Of
the Scripture, walked IN the shape of "A column of fire
before the people after the heart Of Cod through Epyp
tian darkness the genius Of Democracy has guided the
steps Of the aicr the peoples heart through all
the clouds aud the tempest raised by headlong opposition
and has been steadily leading him 10 glory and i'm
mortality If Napoleon said, with prophetic sagacity
that the French Revolution would rctrace its |
steps, with greater approximation 10 truth may it be
said, that American Democracy viii 90 back
With one foot Maine and the other Louisiana she
VIII raise her GodIe form to Heaven, and she will
onward and onward, the companion of future ngcs, /
crushing ia her tbe hydra heads OF AfisOcTacy
in Whatever place and under whatever forms they may
appear.
Yes, gentlemen the present Administration has been
faithful to the true principles of the Constitutions
and 20 the republican creed Of democracy Who /
improvements, the object Of which was 10 perDeiu.
ate the national debt and to chain the States at
the feet Of the General Government has declared
that appropriation should be- made out Of the national
treasury, except for national purposes Who has crush
ed that system Of bribery Which mecd ont IN Congress
the public moneys to the different States in proportion
to the number Of their votes and 10 their political impor
ancc; system from which have specially suffered
New York aud Pennsylvania with their thirty and forty
votes swallowing up oil the appropriations, and not
leaving % Louisiana the dYegs Of the cup. 10
whom do owe, that the world has not witnessed, /
that most dsQraceful Of all for national pride
and patriotism, the States scranbna and squabbling
for yiiisnce from The General Government. like so
many beggarly clients at The door Of Roman Prmor'
DO moi present the extraordinary spectacle Of
nation without debt has not the Constitution been kept
ia is virgin purity has Nnlifcoton rctrcatcd be-
ifofuoueo conanurnoo nruGouca