Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1838-05-04
VOL. X.T.-No. E67

blessings it now does, or hereafter NAV,
confer on the millions Of free citizens who
do or shall live under It's protection; even
though, IN time to come, il should raise
pyramid of power and grandeur, whose
apex should look down on the Ioftiest po-
llca structures of other nations and
other ages, it will yet be true that 1t was
| itself the child of pressing commercial
necessity. Unity and identity Of commerce
| among oil .hc ) ates was is seminal prin-
crpIc. II had been found absolutely i'm
possible 10 excite or foster enterprise IN
trade, under The Influence Of dlscordant
aud larrirg SAFE regulations, The coun-
try was losing all the advantages Of It's
position The Revolution itself was be-
ginning TO be regarded a doubtful bes-
einw. The ocean before US was a barren
waste. No American canvass whilened
It's bDsom-no kocs Of ours poughed lie
waters The journals of the Congress OF
the Confederation show the most constant,
unccasng. unwearicd, but always unsuc-
cesoIu appeals TO the S aes and the Pco-
! ple, to reEOvate the system, to nluse into
that Confederation NJ once q spjri, Of union
and spirit Of activity, by comforting on
! Congress The power over trade. Bv roth.
| NV UNL tiIt pC'Ctplltl VI It's lU'~ptHSdpIo
ueccssltv-by nothing but their conscious
ness Of suffering from It's want. were the
Safes and the people brought, and brought
by slow degrees, to iCvest this power, in
permanent aud competent Government.
S.r. hcarken to the tcrvent language Of
the old Congress. in July 1885, in letter
addressed to he Safes, prepared by Mr..
Monroe, Mr.. King, and other great names,
now transferred from the lists Of living men,
to he records which now carry down the
fame of the distinguished dead. Tho
proposition before them, the great objects
to which they 50 solclnusly endeavored to
draw the attention of the States, was this,
VIZ. that ",he United States. ia Congress
assembled should have the sole and exclu-
sive right Of regulating the trade Of the
States, as well with foreign nations as with
each other" This, they say, is urged
upon the States by every consideration o:
local as well as Of federal policy; and they
! b'seech them to agree to it. f'hey wish Ia
promote the strength OF the Union. and to
connect it by the strongest ties of interest
and affection. Tnls was in July, 1885
In the same spirit. and for the same end,
was that most important resolution which
was adnnled IN the House OF Delegates OF
Virginia, on the 2lst day of the following
Jannarv. Sir read the resolution entire.
"Resolred, rha, Elmnnl Randolph, and others.
be appointed commissioners, who, Or any five OF
whoa, shah meet Such commissioners a. may be
appointed hy the other States IN the Union, DIT Il
time and place 10 be agreed on to lake into con"
> sleraiion the trade Of the United SAFES; 10 ex.
anime the relative situations and trade Of The said
STATES To consider how far "a uniform system in
thair Il ,iltin ha
, their common interest and Their permanent harmo-
ny, and 10 report TO the several States such an act
relative to tins great object, as, when unanimously
= ratified by them, wall enable the United States, in
u Congress assembled, cnectu,y to provide for the
u same: jhtt the SAID commissioners shall inmed-
g. atrlv transmit 10 tn several States copies Of the
. preceding resolution, with circular letter re.
guessing their concurrence therein, and proposing a
tine and place for the meeting aforesaid"
/, Here, sir, let us pause. Let u iinger a.
=, the waters oc this original fountain. Let
Us contemplate this, the first step IN that
:, series Of proceedings, so foil Of great events
>. to US and to The worlI. Notwithstanding
>, the embarrassment and distress of the
- country, the recommendation Of the old
d, Congress had not been complied with,
!, Every attempt to bring the 5 ate Laglsla
J., lures INTO any harmony Of action, or any
pursuit of common object, had sGnaIly
and disastrousiy failed. The eXGeucy OF
~ the case called tor a new N pvement; for a
:, more direct and powerful attempt to bring
:, the good sense aud par'o,Sm of the conn-
- try INTO action upon the Crisis. A solemn
- assembly was therefore ptoposed--a gcnar-
, al convention of delegates from all The
:, States. And now, sir, what was the ext
>, grncv? What was tins crisis Look at
- the resolution Itself; there is not an idea in
81 It bur trade Commerce! commerce! is
~ the beginning and end OF 1t. The Subject to
b. considered and examined was "lhe rela.
- FIVE situation of the trade of the States; >
-, aud the object to be obtained was the "es
,, tabIlshmcut Of a uniform system IN their
:, commercial regulations, as necessary to the
:, comm N interest and Their permanent har-
:, monv." THIS is all. And, sir, by the
T., adoption of this ever memorable resolution
u lhn House of d ,)egatcs Of Virginia, on the
, 2isr day of January, 1886, performed the
81 first ac> IN the train OF measures winch 70.
=, suited N that Constitution, under the au-
j., lhorIlv of which Won now slt IN that chair
aud have now the honor Of addressing
l., the members Of This body.
10 Mr. P,esden, am Northern man.
IN am attached To one of the 5 yates of the
a North, by the ties OF birth and paren'nge,
le education, and the a .oclatlons Of early
err tie; and BY sincere gratitude for proofs OF
r. public confidence early bestowed. l am
To bound to another Northern State BY adop-
=, ton, by long residence, by all the cords OF
j., social and domestic life, and by an attach
ny ment and regard, sprnglng rom her mani
on CESSATION of appreciation and favor, which
at grapple mo to her with hooks of steel And
Nv vet, SIR with The same sincerity Of respect
adj the same deep gralludr. the same revcr
$50 encc and hearty good. with which