Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1839-12-12

On taking the chair, Gov. BARBOUR made
one OF the most eloquent addresses ever lis.
tened to. We regret that our reporter can
only present an imperfect sketch Of his re-
marks, merely touching on the leading points.
Gentlemen, said Gov. b., ! feel deeply
Obliged to you for the distinguished mark Of
your consideration, which you have kindly
conferred upon me, and in return | offer you
my assurance that will, to the utmost OF my
capacity, Justify your confidence,by dlscharg.
ing my duties with scrupulous fidelity, m
shlch shall doubtless receive the co-opera.
ton Of each individual member of this body.
| The honor, gentlemen, you have conferred
upon Inc, is enhanced by the belief that 1t is
not 80 much mark of personal regard, as II
Testimonial OF respect 10 tho ancient Com
m0nwealth that here represent; and | am
persuaded that she will acknowledge the dis.
lInction conferred upon her with senslbiliy.
Il Commissioned a. we are by the people, at
time never surpassed IN importance. to rep
resent them on the subjects OF the greatest
interest, II is presumed that every member
will feel the responsibility Of his station, and
be prepared 10 respond to those measures
best calculated TO advance the object of our
mission.
The American people have too long had
TO complain Of the Inal administration Of the
General Government. A large portion Of
them are now filed with anxiety and alarm.
| would to God that their fears aud alarms
were idle, aud without foundation but in
this solemn place, standing as do before
Heaven and my country, proclaim that
crisis is approaching, that portends destruc-
ton To our form of republican Government.
Ii is to arrest this dire calamity that we are
now here assembled.
When look over this Convention, said
Gov. Barbour, nj the men here assembled,
many of whom deserve the dignifed appella.
ton of the conscript fathers Of the republic !;
moa who have devoted their lives with di,in-
terested patriotism 10 tho cause Of freedom
and their country when | see such men
leaving their homes and their fire-sldcs, and
exposing themselves to ell tho inclemencies
of the season-trsvcling many miles to come
here, to aid us nth their counsel and the ex-
perlence Of their years. cannot ut regard
It as noble testimony that the awful so
lemnlty OF the crisis is properly appreciated.
Ii is dcvoutly to be hoped, that when such
men lend the sanction of their presence, good
will result from our deliberations; and even
the malignity Of fscton dare not aspcrse the
purity of their motives, when their grey hairs
will soon know them no more, and that they
have long been past the aspirations after
power and place, which distinguish the mi
serabIe "seekers Of Office" Such men stand
not here for themselves. but az trustees for
coming genera,lons-they have no interests
but those Of posterty. | cannot but believe
that the great body of the American people,
no matter by what party names they may he
designated, will feel tina, voice coming from
4 body like this is entitled to respectful at
tention, as it will come from body whose
position lifts /. above suspicion, and whose
members are only actuated by feeling that
they have country to love as well as par
ty TO support.
Truly, We are in the midst Of a revolution.
II is no idle declaration. The foundations of
our republican system are being sapped with
fearful rspidiy. Those conservative walls
erected by our forefathers to protect and re-
strain the different branches of the govern
ment, have been already trnmpled down by
the foot Of power, and we find the Executive
placing itself above the Legislative and Ju.
dlclal branches, until the chief officer Of the
nation has become the mere head of a party.
and places are conferred as rewards of party
services, which formerly were given as re-
wards of merit.
The American people are convinced that
there is no remedy for the evils under which
they are now suiferng,' BUT CHANGE OF
RULERS. We must have other agents in the
public service. But all hopes Of remedy are
groundless unless there be union among the
opponents Of corruption and usurpation-un-
less there be harmony and concord among
all the elements of the opposition. This is
q th., ,.,L L. r Al. IL
turn, and to US has been delegated the high
duty Of eiiectng this desirable object.
That in this great country there should be |
many men fit to fill the chief office, is no mat
ter of surprise, and in this convention, dele
gates have no doubt warm preferences. This |
is all right and proper. Give the uttermost |
latitude to feeling; for to this extent we may |
all with SAFETY go; but if we 90 beyond this, |
mischief will result. We must be prepared,
each and the whole, To sacrifice all sectional
teelings-all personal considerations, for the
good of our country. We should poorly full
il the expectations of our constituents if we
permitted any selfish considerations to inhu-
ence our action. We arc not here for venal
purposes, longing after the flesh pots Of
Egypt, but have higher and holer arms
We are here to make an effort for the refor-
nation o. our government, and to check its
downward course. So far as am concerned,
the name to be selected is n matter Of perfect
lndlherence-rnake il up Of what letters of
the alphabet you please that it DE certain
Of success, and shall be among the loudest
IN my hoZannas to II.
Public expectation is standing on tiptoe
awaiting the issue of this convention. Not
only the patriots Of the land. but our political
rivals look with anxious expectation to your
deliberations. The people of the United
States have centercd all their hopes in your
action, and from 1t they expect new light to
break on the darkness hat now hangs over
us. Is there any wl.o will suffer personal
feelings to interfere with his decision 20 as
to cover with suckcIoth and ashes those who
would guard the ark of our political safety
God forbid.
1t would be useless for me, said Gov b.
to take up your time with recapltulation of
the evils the country is laboring UNDER
They are known TO you all. But as "out of
the iuness of the heart the mouth speaketh,"
! must be permitted to remark that we have
flung the broad banner Of LIBERTY AND THE
CONSTITUTIONS 10 the breeze, inscribed with
these inspiring words-oNE PREsIDyNTiALl
TERM-THE INTEGRITY or THE PUBLIC SIR
vANTs-THE SAFETY OF THE PUBLIC HONEY
AND THh GENERAL GooD OF the PEOPLE.
When ] cast my eyes from one end of our
a. I a