Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1837-11-23
tFrom the Boston Atlas.
SPEECH OF THE HON. MR..
FLETCHER AT FANEUIL HALL.

Hos. RICHARD FLsrcHEn rose, and was
received with loud and long protracted cheer.
ing. When the applause had subsided, he
addressed the meeting as.follows:-
Fellow ctizens! Manifestations of attach
nent to our common country and her free
institutions, are at all times spectacle fnii
ofintcrest and full of hope. 1t is a cheering
and ennobling sight, to witness an assembly
of freemen gathering together in this temple
of liberty, to consult on their common inter
csts arG their high duties. While in this
place, assembled Gor our present purpose, the
spirit Of our forefathcrs hovers over us, snd
the Father of his country looks down upon us
with appreciation.
4 Gentlemen, yon have been truly told, that
this is an important public meeting. The
importance otthe elective franchise, especial
lv at a crisis like this, cann0t be ov"rrated.-
Its exercise is right full Of dignity aud full
of importance. The destuies of the people
are in their own hands; and whether or not
our free institutions shall be preserved
whether or not the Constitution. established
bv the toll and blood of our fathers. shall be
pcrpctuatcd as blessing to our Children
essentially depends upon the exercise of the
elective franchise. Every man has duty to
perform: every man has an Office OF trust I'M
posed upon him; and every man owes it to his
conscience and his country, righttuly to ful
fl that trust-fearessly to perform that duty;
and ot all times, in every crisis, especially in
times like these, 10 exhibit a proper degree
of feeling and manly affection for the inter
csts and the well-being o. his country.
i You are about to exercise this right under
circumstances which give it accumulated val.
ne and importance; under circumsianc such
AS have rested at no past time lately, and AT
no future time perhaps at all, will rest upon
yon. Every vote which is now given, should
be thrown with distinct reference to the state
of our national affairs. The candidates be-
fore you either maintain or oppose the policy
of the general government; and the rcSni 0f
the election will lead, either to the approval
or condemnation of that policy. 1t becomes,
Therefore, of the highest importance to direct
attention to the condition of the cnuntry,--to
the declared views, and to the policy of the
administration.
In relation to this subject, have some dn-
ties which am anxious fully and faithfully
to discharge. You have placed me on the
watch tower as a sentinel of liberty, and !
cdme to tell YOU what have seen, what ]
have heard, what have done, in order that
you may Judge, if all be well. If know any
thing of my own heart, when ] accepted the
trust yon saw fit to confde to me. vas acin-
atcd by no sinister nor selfish motive; was
welded to no party; was pledged to no sys-
tenn; I was committed to no course. ] had
nothing in view. desired nothing, | sought
nothing, but faithfully and vigilantly to dis
charge nv duty to my country, to myself,and
tn yon. had no desire to oppose the admin
islration. On the contrary, hold that every
man is bound to aid the administr ration Of hS
country, except for some good reason to the
contrary. For myself am deslrous TO be
Judged by that rule; intend to act by IL; and
[ am willing TO answer for my course with re-
spcct to it, to my country and my conscience.
But while hold it the boundcn duty OF every
man to uphold the administration but for some
good and sufficient reason to the contrary,
consider it equally his duty to withhold from
that administration his support, when It's spirit
is hostile to the best interests ot the people.
1t is then the course of duty to oppose the ad-
mnistration. 1t is patriotism to oppose 1t,
and the man who does not oppose 1t, Is trail
tor To himself and to his country.
! Let us look then a few moments at ih"
course and general policy of the present adj
mlnistration of this country.
Ii is painful to look back; and fear that
but little encouragement can be disccrned in
looking forward. But it is necessary duty.
need not detail to you here the circumstan
ces in which we now find ourselves. But a.
few short months ago, in the midst Of peace
and friendship with the whole civilized world,
with the smiles of benefcent Providence
playing around us, we were suddenly plung
ed into depth of commercial distress, such
as has never before been felt among us.
need not depict the horrors of the scene.-i
There are here too many aching hearts: too
many brows furrowed with disappointment
and care; to render such description either
agreeable or necessary. The hardly learned
savings of years of toll; the provision for de-
clining age, and dependent famlies-scatter
ed in an instant To the winds of heavcD; the
cry of distress sounded throughout the length
and breadth of the land;-but unheeded by
our ruers,-the suffering increasing and ac-
cunulating,-till at last, the general crash OF
the oldest and frmcst institutions in the land,
rang like clarion through the lofty apart
ments Of the Executive mansion, startling It's
slumbering inmates, and arousing them to
sense of the danger, and touching them at
last with the feelings of alarm. Then was
Congress assembled, as you believed, and MS
believed, for the purpose Of devislng some
measures for the rcliet of the country. Your
anxious eyes were directed to the seat Of GO
verrincnt; and when the moment Of meeting
arrived, how painfully were your hopes and
fears excited! With what solicitude did you
wait for the annunciation Of the views and
opinions OF the Chief Magistrate.
You can better imagine than can describe
the throbbing of my own heart, as the intcn-
tions of the Executive were promulgated to
Congress- You were not there present, but
ere long, the message reached you Also
The anxious and intense feeling on the sub
iect vns such NJ no count,y i'm time of peace !