Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1838-08-16
SPEECH OF Mr.. PRENTISS, OF MISS
al The Webster Dinner, Boston.

ulb pEOtouuO buhukb LOT the 0OnOT WHICH n'''
been done to him, and to the State he ha'
in part the honor to represent. He hardl,
knew in what form to present what he nae
to say, or where to begin. II had been BIZ
lot, especially of late, to address his fcI'o"
citizens on various occasions, and under a.,
most all possible untoward situations anu
circumstances: sometimes he had spoken 10
them under no other roof thah thC Oroau
arch of the heavens; at other times ne mao
heen canopied bv the branches OF the pri-
meval forests Of the West at others within
the structures of the hands of man but ne.
yer had he stood before an audience under
such circumstances as now surrounded him
never before had he listened to his own voice
from the walls of Old Fanueil Hall. He
hardly knew whether he was addressing the
dim and venerable shadows Of the past, OF
the more true and palpable realities of Il
present world. Fanueil Hall might justly
be denominated the very Mecca of Liberty
ave, and the Mecca of Whigism also.
He came hither as a pilgrim from far
distant home, to lend his feeble aid in doing
honor to one of the greatest champions OF
both. He felt, as he stood in that place, a
holy awe upon his spirit, and the very walls
and rafters of the building seemed redolenl
Of the spirit Of American liberty. The all
he breathed in such a spot was healthful and
instinct with life. He would recommend
those troubled with political diseases, tc
come here. This was Bethesda, in which
they might wash and be clean from what
ever disease they had. Yes-let the lame
the halt and the blind, and those who were
possessed with Loco Foco devils, all come
and be made whole. He had said that he
came as pilgrim, and had been admit
ted as such; but now he was in, he should
claim yet more he should claim to take his
place on that floor as himself citizen of
Massachusetts,, for he had first drawn the
breath OF life under the wings of the institu-
tions, and the authority of the Old Bay State.
But he would claim his seat on yet higher
grounds; he claimed it as fellow citizen of
this broad Union; and as such it was his
duty and his right to render the public tri-
butte of his gratitude to every illustrious pa
triotic son of the Republic. Though he
counted the distance of his home from this
sacred spot by thousands and thousands of
long and weary miles, his heart beat in SYM
pathy with all the hearts around him. His
State ruled on the same grand platform of
constitutional freedom. The national BAN
ner, bearing the glorious insignia of that i'm
cred folds the State of Mississippi as il did
the State of Massachusetts. If in the days
of the ancient Republics he who had saved
the life of a citizen was held more worthy
of honor and reward, than he who had taken
the life of an enemy, how great then was
the honor, how boundless the rewards due
to him who saved that Constitution which
had been cheaply purchased by thousands
of lives, and would be cheaply preserved by
the sacrifice of tens of thousands.
This was no trivial occasion, no unmean-
ing solemnity. Crowns and ovations used
in former days to be granted to those who
had fought the physical battles of their coun-
try, and vanquished her enemies in the
bloody fields; but it had come now to be
understood that it required a greater amount
of genuine courage, and all those qualities
which bring true renown, to fight success
fully the civil battles of the Republic, than
to triumph on the ocean and the land. From
a little personal experience, more especially
that of q recent date, he could assure his fell
low citizens that q more desperate enter
prise could not we'll be undertaken, in times
like these, than to 60 forth as we'll appoint
ed Knight to enter the lists with such foes
as were now threatening to subiugate this
free and happy land. He had not to meet
honorable adversaries in the fair and open
fields of intellect and argument that would
be, in comparison, a light and easy task but
he must be prepared like knight in some
enchanted castle, to encounter foes in every
hideous and revolving shape.
He found himself surrounded not by titled
knights, with nodding plunses, and lances in
rest but by reptiles and wild beasts, raving
hyenas and venomous reptiles-aye, and It
was no mistake to say that they might
chance to meet roaring lion in their path.
III fhnrnfnrn fl md rsvh 70 al,
discharge Of debt, to render the highest
public honors to those who have braved
these dangers and come off safe and trium-
phant through them oil. 1t had been the
charge OF Roman matron to her son, when
sending him forth to the combat, Return to
me ,csth your shield or on your shield" The
wings in the late contest had received such
charge from the maternal voice of their
country 1t followed them through the loud
est tumult of the fight, and though they
might have failed in achieving q full and
triumphant victory over the enemy, thew
still held fast their shield.
II was a fearful thing that country like
this, where according to the theory Of the
Constitution, the rulers were but the servant.
Of the People, and professed to be at al
times governed by their will, the People
should stand in dread of their legislation
YET No Wouiu appear 10 ali VINO ne0rd MIN
whether, when the last Congress had ad
journed, they did not feel as If a heavy in
cubus had suddenly been lifted from thei
breast did not their bosoms swell and heav
a long sigh Of relief, when they had the Ger
tainty that no new experiments were at tlli
time to be brought forward, and forced upol
the country! Joyous shouts of respons
here echoed from every part of the Hall. +
Was il not terrible condition for natio,
when their chief consolation was the inabii
ty Of the Government even to do good =
When its great safety lay in this, that thu
Legislature had adjourned!
In the late Congressional contest the Whis
minority were in n situation somewhat like
the American forces at Bunker Hill, wher
the British army marched against them il
all the proud pomp, md circumstances O
war--banners flying, grand park Of artil