Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1837-05-11
SPE ECH
DANIEL WEBSTER,
DELIv Erred BY

/ TION-ONE DESTINY
Mr.. Chairman and Feiiotg Citizens:
! II would oe idle in me to affect TO be indif
ferent to the circumstances under which
have now the honor Of addressing you.
!, find myself in the commercial metropolis
| Of the continent. in the midst ofa vast assem-
bly, Of intelligent men, drawn from all the clas.
ses, professions, ulrd pursuits Of life.
And you have been pleased, gentlemen, TO
meet Inc, in this imposing manner, and TO Of
fer me warm and cordial welcome to your
city. thank you. ] feel the full force and
Importance of this manifestation Of your re-
gard. In the highly haitering resolutions
which invited me here, in the respectabiLty
Of this vast multitude Of my fellow citizens,
which you have here manifested, feel cause
for profound aud grateful acknowledgment.
To every individual, OF this meeting, there
fore, would now, most respectfully, make
that acknowledgements; and with every one, as
if with hands joined in mutual greeting, I re-.
cprocate friendly salutation, respect and
good wishes.
But, gentlemen, although am well assur-
cd Of your personal regard, ] cannot fail to
know that the times, the political and COM
mercial condition of things which exists a
Inong US, and an intelligent spirit, awakened
to new activity, and a new degree Of anxiety,
have mainly contributed to fill these avenues
and crowd these halls. At a moment Of diff
Guilty and Of much alarm, you come here, as
Wings Of New York. to meet one whom you
suppose to be bound to you by common prin-
ciplcs, and common sentiments, and pursuing
with you q common object. Gentemen,l am
proud to aimt this community of our princi-
piles, s,und this identity Of our object. You are
for the constitution of the country so am L.
You are for the union Of the states, so am /.
You are for equal laws, for the equal rights
of all men, for constitutional and Just re-
straints on power, for the substance and not
the shaGowy image only Of popular institu-
tions, for government which has liberty for
its spirit and soul, as well as in its forms; and
so am |. You feel ,that if in warm party times,
the executive power is in hands distinguish
ed for boldness, for grent success, for perse-
verance, and other qualities which strike mems
minds strongly, there is danger Of dcrunge.
ment Of the powers of government, danger Of
a new division Of those powers, in which the
executive is likely to obtain the lions part;
and danger Of a state of things in which the
more popular branches of the government, in
stead of being guards and sentinels against
any enc Ioa chments from the executive, seek,
rather. support from it's patronage, safety a
gainst the complaints of the people in its am-
pie and all prote citing favor, and refuge in its
power; and SO feel, and so ! have felt for
eight long and anxious years.
You believe that a very efficient and pow
erful cause, in the productions of the evils
which now fall on the industrious and com.
mercinl classes Of community,is the dernnge-
lnent Of the currency, the destruction OF ex-
changes, and the unnatural and unnecessary
rnisplaceinent Of the specie Of the country by
unauthorized and illegal treasury orders. So
do believe.
predicted all this from the beginning, and
from before the beginning. predicted il all,
last spring. when that was attempted to be
done by law which was afterwards done by
executive authority; and from the moment OF
the exercise Of that executive authority, to
the present time, have both forcseen and
seen, the regular progress Of things under it,
from Inconvenience and embarrassment, to
pressure, loss Of confdchce, disorder and
bankruptcies.
Gentlemen, I mean on this occasion to
speak my sentiments freely, on the great to-
pics of the day. have nothing to conceal,
and shall therefore conceal nothing. In re-
gard to political sentiments, purposes, or OBJ
jccts, there is nothing in my heart, which j
am ashamed of;I shall throw it all open,there-
fore, to you, and to all men. That is right,
said some one, in the crowd-lct US have it
with no non -committal.l Yes, my friend
(continued Mr.. wy without non.committal or
evasion, W Without barren generalltes or empty
phrase, without ii, or but, without single
touch in all I say, bearing the oracu!ar char
acter Of an inaugural. shall OH this occa-
sion, speak my mind plainly, freely, and inde-
pendently, to men who are just as free to
concur, or not to concur, in my sentiments,
as am to utter them. think you are enti-
tied to hear my opinions freely and frankly
spoken: but | freely acknowledge that you
are still more entitled to rctain,and maintain,
your own opinions, however they may differ,
or agree, with mine.
tis true, gentlemen, that have conten,-
plated the REIMBURSEMENT Of my seat in the
Senate, for the residue Of the term, now two
wears, for which was chosen. This resolu-
ton was not taken from disgust or discour-
agemcnt, although some things have certain
ly happened which might excite both those
feelings. But in popular governments, men
must not suffer themselves to be permanent
ly disgustcd by occasional exhibitions Of po-
liticsl barlconnism, or deeply discouraged,
although their efforts to awaken the people to
what they deem the dangerous tendency OF
public measures, be not crowned with 'mme-
date success. II was altogether from other
causes and other considerations, that after an
uninterrupted service Of fourteen or fifteen
years, I naturally desired respite. but
those, whose opinions am bound to respect
saw objections to present withdrawal from
Congress; and have yielded my own strong
desire, 10 their convictions Of what the public
good requires.