Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1840-10-31
Mr. Webster's Speech at Rich
HnODd before $4,000 Virgin

the most tumultuous cheering, above which rose
in every quarter the most inspiring cries of swell
conceived come"
| Silence having been in few minutes restored,
Mr.. WEBSTER rose and addressed the Convention
as follows:
Firgtnidns! The wisdom Of our fathers, has
established for us Constitution of Government,
which enables me to appear here to-day, and to
| address you my teLo,o-citi2ens, Icheering and
| half century of experience has shown how use
fol 10 our common interest, how conducive to our
common renown and glory. IS that Constitution BY
which we have been united | desire to pay due
| honor TO those ilustrous men who made us-the
children of those VINO fell at Bunker Hill and York
town--members of the same political family, tied
| together by the same common destiny, and await
ing together the same common prosperity or COM
mon adversely in all time come. 1t is the extra
ordinary nature Of the times, united with long
cherished desire to visit Virginia, which has occa-
stoned me the pleasure eniov of being in the
midst of you all to-day. | have come more for The
purpose Of seeing and Of hearing you than Of
speaking to you myself. | have come to mingle
myself among you; to listen to the words of your
wise and patriotic men; that may aid my own
patriotic feelings by communication with the chv
alrous spirits OF this ancient Dominion. ICheers.
But inasmuch as there are, or may be, some ques-
tons Of national policy or Of constitutions power
on which you and differ, there are some amnble
persons who are so very considerable of your repu-
tation, as TO signify that they esteem it great
breach of proEriety for me that you should invite
me to come here, or that should come among you
| Loud laughter and cheering, mingled with cries
of "welcome, welcome p" Let US hope that these
amiable persons will allay their own fears.
II there be any question or questions on which
you and differ in opinion those questions are not
to be the topics Of discussion to-day. No! We
| cuit. Cnft for -
! that. laughter We are battling together in
the face of common enemy-we are armed to
the tceth--putting forth many hands MS Brareus
| and with each hand dealing him all the blows we
can--and does he imagine that at such n moment
we shall be carrying on our family controversies!
That we are going to give ourselves those blows
which due to him ! No; he is the enemy Of
our country--we mean to pursue him till we bring
him 10 capitulation or to flight; and when we hare
done that, if there are any differences of opinion
among us, we will try to settle them ourselves
without his advice or assistance, laughter: and
we will settle them in spirit Of Cancellation and
mutual kindness. If we do differ in any Of our
views, we must settle that difference not in a spirit
Of evaporation, bnt with moderation-with for.
bearance-in spirit of amly ami brotherhood.
| It is an era in my life for me to find myself on
the soil of Virginia, addressing such an assem-
bage as is now before me: feel 1t to be such
deeply feel the responsibility of the part which
has this day been thrown upon me. But although
it is the first time have addressed an assembly of
my feilow-citizens upon the soil of Virginia,
hope | am not altogether unacquainied with the
history, character, and sentiments of this venera-
BILE State. The topics which are now agitatnr
the country, and which have brought US al here to
day, have relation whatever with those in which
differ from the opinions she has ever entertained
The grievances and the misgovernment which have
reused the country, pertain to that class Of sub
Il I'll, i 1 =
Virginia, and have from the very beginning Of our
history. | know something Of tie community
amidst which stand: its distinguished and ardent
attachment to civil liberty; ard its disposition for
political dsquisition | know that the andhoders
which it contains competent from their llca-
ton and their leisure TO discuss politica que 'tons
in their elements, and TO look at Government in
its tendencies as well as in the measures it may
at present pursue There is a sleepless suspicion,
vigilant jealousy of power, especa 'ly Of Execu-
tive power, which for three quarters Of century
has marked the character of the people of the Old
Dominion and if have any right conception Of
the evils of the time of the objection to the
measures of the present administration 1t is, that
they are of such kind as to expose them. in an
especial manner, to that seepless jealousy, that
stern republican scrutiny, that acute and astute
inspection which have distinguished the present
they have all preceding generations of men in this
ancient Commonwealth. Allowing this to be so,
et present to Won my own view Of the present
aspect Of our public affairs.
In my opinion, decisive majority of all the
People of the U. S. have BEEN for severa years past
opposed to the policy of the existing Administra-
ton. | shall assume this in what have farther
to say, because ! believe it to be true and | be-
ieve that events are on the wing, and will soon
take place which will proclaim the truth of that
position, and will show vote of three fourthS OF
the population OF this country in favor Of change
of men Cheers, and strong marks of assent. TAX
ing this for the present the true state of political
feeling and opinion, next call your attention to
the fact of the very extraordinary excitement, OF
agitation, and | had almost said of commotion,
which marks the present moment throughout every
part of the land. Why are these vast assembages
every where congregated! Why, for example,
am ! here, FIVE hundred miles from nv own place
Of residence, to address such an assembly Of Vir-
ginians! And why does every day, 10 every
State, witness something of similar kind ! Has
this ever been the case before Certainly not in
our time, and once only in the time of fathers.
| There are some present here vino witnessed, and
there are others who have learned from the lips of
their parents the state OF feeling which existed in
l774 and 70, before the resort to arms was had to
effect the objects Of the Revolution, | speak now
/ of the time when Patrick Henry, standing we
now do, in the open air, was addressing the Vir-
ginians of that day, while at the same moment
| James Gus, and his associates were making the
same rcusing appeal to the people of Massachu-
sets. Loud cheering. From that time to this
there has been nothing in any degree resembling
what we now behold, This general earnestnesS,
this universal of all men in public affairs,
is now witnessed for the first time since the Revo.
uli0n Do not men abandon their fields in the
midst Of seed-time-do they not leave their various
| occupations, as yon have now done, to ettend to
matters which they deem more important And is
it not so through all classes of our citizens all
over the whole land Now the important question
| I wish to put is this, and | nut it as a question