Litchfield enquirer., 1840-10-22
MFR. WEBsTER,s SPEECH.
AT RICHMOND. VA. n..

I l most tumnuous cheering, above which rose in ever
 quarter the most inspiring cries of " MeIcme---wel
 c"ihe SIitnrc having been in few minutes re
 stored, Mr WEE TER rose and addressed the Con veBiiOn as follows: ,.,-..,I'- - Firginians: The wisdom of our fathers ho. cstatilsed for us a Constitution of Cavern,
 mcnt, which enatlcs me 10 appear here to- day, and t0 address yOu as 7Hq felLom- cifize,s | (chsefihg,) and half q centuryut cXpeMence
 has shown how useful to our common inter. est, how conducive to our common. renowr
 and glory is that Constitution by which we have been united.u l desire to pay due hon. or 10 those illustriors men who made us-thc children of those who fell at Bunker Hill and
 1orktown--memhers of the same political I family. tied together by the same common destiny, and awaiting together the snvne com. mon prosperity or common adversiiy in all time to come. It is the extraordinary nature oi the times, united witha long cherished de- sire toJViSit Virginia. which has occasioned me the pleasure enjoy of beng in the midst ofyou all iosday. hl have come more for the purpose of seeing and of hearing you than of speaking to you myself. I have come to m'ngle myself among you; 10 listen to the words ot your wise and patriotic men; that may aid my own patriotic feeling, by com munication with the chlvalrous spirits of this ancient Dominion. (Cheers.) But inasmuch as ihere arc, or may be, some questions of national policy or of fconstitutional power, on which you and differ, there are some ami able persons who are so very considerate of your reputation and of my reputation, as 10 signify that they esteem it a great breach of propriety for me. thnt you should invite me to come here. or that Ishouid come among you. Loud laughter and cheering, mingled
 with cries of" welcome, welcome,") Let us hone 1h0f fhnca amin h1o x,,:n their own fears. ,...,5' ...t.. lfthere be any question or questions on which you and differ in opinion, those ques- tons are not 10 be the topics of discussion today. No! We are not quite soft enough tor such an operation as that. (Laughter.)
 We are @battlipg together in the face of a common enemy-we are armed to the teeth--- putting forth as many hands as Briareus, and with each hand dealing him all the blows we can-e:3d does he imagine that at such moment we shall be carrying on our family controVersiesa That we are going to give ourselves those blows which are due to hlm l? No: he is the enemy of our scountry-we mean to pursue him till we bring him to exploitation 10 flight; and when sce hare done hGt if there are any differences of opin- ion among us, we will try to settle them our selves. without his advice or assistance {; Daughter ) and we will settle them in spi- rit ot cancellation and mutual kindness. If we do differ in any of our views, we must settle that difference not in spirit of exas- peration, but with mOderation---wth forbear- | anee--in spirit of amity and brotherhood. | t is an era in my life tor me to find n.y. self on the soil of Virginia, addressing such an ussemblage as is now before me feel 1 it to be such: deeply feel the respensibili- ty of the part which has this day been D,,x ol& se :,s sLaG | time have addressed an, assembly of my fellow-citizens upon the soil of Virginia, hope am not altogether unacquainted with the history, character, and sentiments of thls venerable State. The topics which now are agitaiing the country, and which have bro't us al here today, have no relation whatever with those in which differ from tho opinions she has ever entertained. The grievances and the misgovernment which have reused the country, pertain to that class of subjects l which especially and peculiarly belong 10 Virginia, and have from the very beginning l of our history. l know something ofthe l community amidst which stand its distin- guisheG and ardent attachment to civil lib- erty :; and its disposition for political disqui. sition. l know that the Iandholders which l it contains are competent from their educa- l ton and their leisure, to discuss political l questions in their elements, and to look at Government in it's tendencies as well as in the measures it may at present pursue.- There is a sleepless suspicion, vigilant jealousy of power, especially of Executive power, which for three quarters of a century
 has marked the character of the people of the Old Dominion and if have any right conception of the evils ot the time or of the
 true objections to the measures of lhe present
 Administration, it is. that they are of such g 1 I,so ;En n al nsS
 ner, to that sleepless jealousy, that stern re- l publican scrutiny, that acute and aslute in
 spectiOn which have distinguished the pres
 ent as they have all preceding generations
 of men in this ancient Commonwealth. Al lowing this to be so, let me present 10 you my own view of the present aspect of oul
 pubic affairs.
 In my opinion, decisive majority of all the people of the U. s. have been, for several
 years past, opposed to the policy of the exis ting Administration. l shall assume this ir
 what have farther to say. because believe it to be true and believe that events are on the wing, and will soon take place which
 will proclaim inc truth of that position, anC
 will show vote of three. fourihs of the pop
 ulatiOn of this country in favor of a change
 of men. Cheers, and strong marks Ot as
 sent) Taking this for the present as tht
 true state of political feeling and opinion,
 next call your attention to the fact of the ve ry extraordinary excitement, of agitation
 and had almost said of cornmotion, whicl marks the present moment throughout every part of the land. Why are these vast assem
 biages everywhere congregated! Why. fol example, aniI here, five hundred miles iron
 my own place of residence. 10 address suci
 an assembly of Virginians! And why doe
 every day, in every State. witness something