Morning herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1837-1840, 1840-10-08
s P E e C HI
HON. DANIEL WEBSTER,
AT THE CONVENTION AT RICHMOND,
OF THE


Webster commenced at half-past twelve, and ended
about three O'Clock. The following are the leading
features of his speech
vIReINIANs-The wisdom OF our fathers. which
established for us the glorious constitution and go
vernment under which live. enables me to APP
pear here to-day and TO address you, Virginans as
nay fellow citizens (Cheers) And half a century
of experience has shown how useful, how valuable,
in our common history, how productive Of our COM
renown and glory, is the common bond by which
we bound together. Loud cheering } And |
desire to be thankful to my God and to pay you ho-
all of the children Of those who bled at Bunkers
Hill who made all Of us the children Of those who
fell at Yorktown Loud and continued cheering
We are all members tf the same great political
family; we have all one common destiny, and we all
have one common adversely and one common pros
perity, and God grant it may be so for all time to
come! tremendous cheering, which lasted for Sc
veral minutes.)
1t is extraordinary Characteristic of the times,
that with an act OF great public duty, have been
enabled to unite the long cherished desire TO visit
the beautiful metropolis of your noble state and
this has given tenfold pleasure in appearing be-
fore you to-day. (Cheers)
But, my friends CONF with desire of hearing
rather than speaking; with a desire to mingle with
you in common communion; to learn your senti-
ments upon the great tapcs which now agitate the
country-to listen to the words of the many wise
and eloquent men which Virginia numbers among
her sons and to encourage nv own patriotic feel
ings, and my own hope of the future prosperity of
our common country, by cemminging with the Chi
vary and the glorious spirits of the Ancient Domi
Mon Enthusiastic and long continued cheering.
Gentlemen-Inasmuch as there are, or may be-
some questions of public policy, or constitutional
power, in regard to which you and may entertain
somewhat different opinioBs-some exceedingly ami
able persons so exceedingly cautious of your
putation, and exceedingly cautions of my reputa-
ton, that they have with the almost amiabilty con
descended TO term it great breach Of propriety,
that you should invite me TO come here, or that
should after you had invited me- [Cheers
- r. Il Il
come ~ Let hope, my friends, that ofthese
exceedingly amable persons are present, to wit
the glorious spectacle which this place this day
presents, and that il they not turned from the
error of their ways by il, let least hop, that
thew may go and sin, in similar way, no more
Loud cheering and laughter
IT, my friends, there be any question or questions
of public policy upon which you and hold differ
ent opin ons these are not the topics which will be
brought up for discussion to day. [Cheers.l Be-
ieve me, my friends am not yet quite soft enough
for such operation as that. Loud laughter, and
great cheering No, my friends; no, no; have
say in the north, 'other fish to fry" [Cheers
and laughter
We are brought together at this time, in these
immense numbers, by our sense Of our common
danger, [cheers to encourage and assist each other
in making common cause against common enemy.
Cheers, and cries Of "That's true!'1 1t is true,
my friends and nothing convinces more strongly
that righteous cause will succeed, than the de-
monsrati by the proud sons Of the Old Dominion,
that they determined to bury the Ratchet in rea-
ton to all differences, real or supposed, between
them and their northern brethren, who are fighting
under the same blood-bought banner Of liberty and
reform. Tremendous cheering, which lastedso
minutes
Our common enemy, my friends, is any thing but
idle. He is up and he is doing; though he appears
to be laying snsgly in his lair He is making all the
exertions that he is capable of making against the
friends Of freedom in the North and in the South
and you and told daily that he is to defe at them
all tCries Of Never"1 He is putting forth the
hundred hands Of Bri@rius, in the shape Of execu
tive patronage purposing to -rappe with, and put
down all opposition to his rule and reign tCries Of
" the iigs up."l
BIT does he imagine that at thi. tim. we shall so
far forget what is due to fathers memory, and
to our chldren's welfare as to indulge in any
family controversy or that shodid be so lost TO
the first lessons Of common sense, as TO bestow
those blows upon our own backs which only
due 10 him, lCheers and lSvs hter ! and which in
tend to lay thickly and heavily enough, before
we have don; him.
Yes, my friends,at present our common enemy alone
is common object; and we will pursue him with
blows so heavy and so thick, that We will either
bring him to capitulaton, or drive him to despe-
rate and ignominious fight-t Immense eheering]-
and then, all Differences OF opinion, IL any difference
OF opinion does re ain amongst US after thatwhy,
wen settle the whole of them without his advice or
assistance Loud laughter and enthusiastic cheer
ing,1
Then let all adopt a spirit Of cancellation TO.
wards each other in the coming contest; cheers.
let Us all agree when we can agree; toheers and
where must differ, let us differ, not with s.pe-
rity, not with rancor or malignity, tcheer.l, but
with moderation and a spirit Of 10 rbearance, and a
feeling Of amity, which should pervade us all as
brothers Of one great and glorious family. I'm
mense cheering and cries Of" we WILL we will"
NV friends, my fellow citizens, il is an era,-a
proud, pleasant cra-s my life for the first time,
TO set my foot apon the soil Of noble old Virginia
fcheer1 and To address such assembly Of its mo-
bic sons, upon political subjects. l now see be-
fore me Immense cheering. deeply and broadly
feel il to be such. tcheersI feel the responsible
ity Of the part thrown me 10 perform TO be a,c-
fui. tCheersl
Though now, for the first time in nv life, address,
ing an assembly of men-tHe nigh, have added la.
dies for there nearly 1000 very beautiful ones
presentl-upon the soil Of Virginia, hope that I
rious history and the noble character Of the sons
Of the Old Dominion. Loud cheers ] And, my
friends, the topics which now agitate the country
from one extremity to the other, and which have
caused this vast assembly, and brought me here
contain nothing, in which it can for a moment be
supposed that I differ from virginans. TCheersl
A: series OF acts Of continued mis- government has
roused the country TO sense OF it's danger; and a
waite hfulness over the conduct Of government. a
Jealousy Of the encroschmsns Of pow er on the part
IT the federal executive, aud an undyipg love Of
liberty are feelings which belong, and have belong
cd, TO Virginia, since the first existence Of her
commonwealth. tI"mense cheering, which lasted
some minutes
Gentls men, 1 know something Of the history Of
that part Of our common ,untry upon which stand
| know that Virginia has been most ardent-wbere
all ardcnt-for the preservation Of civil
a. Tor universal freedom OF political disquisitions.
The lsnd"lders OF virginia, distinguished as they
aud ever have bser, can compare with the prou-
dest people on earth IN their education, in their
spirit, and in their leisure and ability discuss po-
ical subjects in their elements to discuss govern
ment in its tendencies, well in its Immediate
and existing measures. tCheers A powerful de-
gree OF suspicion of men in power, spirit Of pure
stern vigilznt jealousy of all the en-
croachments Of power especially Of srecufire poorer
has for af least three quarters ofa century charae
terized the people 81 the old Dominion. loud
cheerisg.l
And IL have any true idea Of the sentiments Of
the people Of Virginia, or or their true TO
the present administration, IL is that these measures
OF the general government from first to last d.
reetly opposed TO that rerublcs spirit that
acute jealousy &c executive power which has dis
tnguished all the great zen in times gone by IL this