Madison Whig advocate. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1839-1841, 1839-08-17
ridge whites speech.

W. o;ve M large portion Of our pa
,o-Ssv 10 one OF the best speeches
ever made bv HUGH L. WHITE-a man
bonored BY Tennesseans, because he
bono,s them Read it every body. 1t
.,Y,lcs from the heart and will reach the
heart. We copy the speech from the
KcoxyiIIe Times. II was delivered al
dinner in Knoxville on the 4th. The
Ipdre was toasted and replied as fol-
bws:-NashUiHe Banner.
Mr. President and GeHtIcmen:--I thank
YOU most sincerely for the sentiment ex-
dressed, aud the testimony ii affords that
tbe charge of Federalism made against
me. By political opponents, is untrue.
You attribute to my long services value
which am conscious they do not merit;
but on The score Of an anxious desire TO
promote the public welfare, in every
situation in which | have been placed.
either State or Federal, | am proud TO
believe that may claim an equal rank
siih the best; yet am sorry TO believe
il has been in my power 10 bring so little
Of talents into the public service.
Evidence, such as you have now given
in my favor, from any portion of my
ieIow-citizens, would be highly priced /;
but from you, my neighbors, daily wit
nesses Of my conduct, conversation, and
department, when at home, and scruti-
nizing examiners Of my conduct, while
in the discharge of my duties TO the
country, it possesses a value which |
cannot express.
Never in my life did feel more en-
barrassment than at this moment. On
this day, sacred to liberty, that an indi
vdual as humble as myself should be
thus noticed, IS what causes this embar-'
raSsmeBL
! would not on such an occasion, will
hnglV say any thing unnecessarily, to
wound she feelings or give pain 10 any
American citizen, whether present or
absent, yet the sentiment alludes to
charges so repeatedly made during the
last twelve months, BY individuals court
ing the public favor, that il might we'll
b. expected of me to say someI hing cal
culated TO place my own conduct in its
true light before my fellow-c citizens. !
feel confident that | could state several
matters which might be of use were the
occasion suitable one Cries go orr
proceed DC.
FeIow-ciiizens, | will proceed. ! am
charged with being Fe1erahst. If by
this charge my enemies intend to COM
munlcate the idea that 1 am attached 10
the Union of the States, and 10 that Con-
siituiion which binds them together. |
would cheeriuly admit its truth. ! am
friend to the Union, and most heartily
concur in the sentiment once expressed
By the late Chief Magistrate: ..The
Union OF the States, it must be preserv-
ed" hold that the Union of the States
IS not only means of securing the lIber
" Of all. but that il is means indispen-
Sabte 10 that end. and without it the liber-
ty OF none would be secure.
But this evidently is not the sense in
which those who make it, wish the
charge TO be understood. They wish
you to understand that | am a tory. or
one who wishes the Federal Government
70 exercise powers not granted by the
Constitution.
In either Of these senses the charge is
utterly untrue. a ToRY. | have cause
% thank my God that not one drop of
nfy blood ever coursed my veins. The
Lawscns, IN harrassed. but gallant Geor-
ga, were among the first 10 hoist the
Liberty Pole, and 10 risk their lives to
prevent II from being taken down. The
Whites, my father among them, foughr
any and every where, when called on
70 secure that independence we are as
sembied to celebrate. They were Wings,
enc and all. not in name only but in
deeds. They aided in successfully re-
s,sing iawless. unconstitutional power.
! my enemies choose to call me a Wing.
cory IN the name, provided it is such
= h'g as the Fathers of the Revolu-
,.oh were. am not National Repub-
.'esh Wing, nor Multiplying Wing; but
tennessee Wing. just such a Wing as
~ 'a'her was in the year 1875. One.
4,"ays determined to resist the exercise
y unconstitutional and oppressive pow
Is iet The attempt be made by whom II
friends.
There is a radical difference between
~ opponents and myself upon this sub
Fe'' and II will be clearly perceived by
:, aas one who will compare and coatras;
zoe public course of our conduct. They
S.lsse democracy consists in always
1Ts'hg With the same man or set of men,
.nat the whole conscience belonging TO
.ae party is deposited for safe keeping
sad use ,cith The head or chief and that
.ae members are true Democrats while
,aey continue to do tchaiereT they are d,-
''c'ea. without stopping TO consider wAe