The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-05-07
hands, an asa motto the well known words
!, The Union Of the Wings for the sake Of the

may NC rasiiy Imagined tuht very large humber
"a 20 Immense an assemblage found il impossible to
approach within sound Of the voices Of the speakers
on one platform alone After the formal proceedings
on the resolutions therefore, were over the members
o. ,he Convention divided pretty equally and those
immediately surrounding the platform reserved for the
invited guests called upon several distinguished gen
ue'nen to address them. There was general senti-
ment among these gentlemen, and especially the emf
neni Wing Senators and Representatives, that their
character was that of spectators and audi
.ors and, for some time, they resolutey adhered to
Their determination TO leave the speech 10 the
many brilliant and enlightened young members offhe
convention But the calls for them were SO strong
ana earnest and there manifest desire tho
part Of large number of the delegates hear speeches
from those who had long possessed distinction
Tors and statesmen in the councils Of the nation that
tney yielded, and, one after another, Mr.. CLAY Mr.
WEBSTER, Mr.. SERGEANT, Mr.. PREsToN and Mr..
GRAVES addressed the Convention
AZ the time Mr.. Clay commenced, the wind which
haa been strong all the morning. blew with immense
violence and he spoke, II were in the very face of
u With that ease for which he is remarkable, he
giided aonce into striking illustration Of the voice
Of the people, potential and decisive which was fur
nished by the strong wind of Heaven The very diff
hcuity which he encountered in endeavorng to make
nise heard, gave additional vgor and animation to
ms manner and he seldom has produced a stronger
impression by his more elaborate efforts of oratory,
IMAM he did to-day, those Immediately around him,
by his fine, free, and stirring address
MIR. WEBSTER next appeared and, taking
position from which he was much better heard,
he held unclaimed the profound attention Of the
assembage; while he urged them TO energy,
zeal and activity in the great work to which they
had devoted themselves.
Mr.. SERGEANT, followed in speech full Of
sound doctrine, strong hope, and confident spirit,
delivered with simplicity aud earneslness.
which carried every word home to the hearts Of
his hearers
Mr.. PRESTON, Of South Carolina then took
the rostrum, and for upwards Of half an hour,
kept the ear OF the large multitude by his pecu-
larly brilliant, captivating and powerful style of
speaking. The most delightful pleasantly, the
keenest sarcasm, the most sparkling wit, and fire.
quenty, passages of the most fervid and com
handing eloquence, gave their united effect to
this admirable address and he retired from the
stand amidst the most enthusiastic plaudits and
cries of $50 on! Go on -
Mr.. GRAVES of Kentucky closed the series on
this platform, with a vigorous and impressive
address.
The Convention was then adjourned, accord
ing to the agreement to which we have referred,
and returned to the city in the same order, in
which the procession had gone out
SCENES OF THE EVENING.
After returning to the city the members Of
the Convention spent the afternoon in the social
enjoyments of the festive board, rendered doubly
refreshing by the active exercise and excitement
of the previous part Of the day. Besides the
private dinner parties in every part Of the town,
there were large companies consisting Of portions
of the different Delegations at each of the hotels
A great number dined at the Eutaw House, the
Head Quarters Of the Committee of Reception
After the cloth was removed, GEN. MCDONALD,
of Virginia, was called TO the chair, and at his
right was placed Mr.. HoRNER of New jersey
who was introduced to the company as the gem
tleman who, at the Harrisburg Convention, last
December, offered the resolution which gave
birth to the Young Mems Wing Convention Of
the 4th of May, in Baltimore.
Upon this announcement the company all rose
and received Mr. Horner with cheers. The
toasts, speeches, and songs, were all good, and
were worthy Of being specially particularized, if
the means were at hand Of preserving them. !.
Speeches were made by gentlemen from Ala
bama, Tennessee, New Jersey, and other States,
according as delegates from abroad happened to
be present-the whole affair being without pre-
vous arrangement, and most Of the company be-
ing strangers personally to one another Yet
as each knew his neighbors to be good Wings,
it was not long before cordial fellowship united
all in excellent concord and good humor, so that
every thing passed off in very spirited manner
There were no doubt similar festivals in other
parts of the city, the particulars of which, il
known, would tend still farther to give some
adequate idea Of the general state of things ex-
listing in the city during the last two days.
In the evening several of the delegations as
sembled at different points, and each was adj
dressed by gentlemen Of talent and influence.
The Massachusetts delegation met in great
force at Military Hall, North Gay street; and
Mr. Wester responded to their call in a speech
singuarly eloquent and powerful, which will
long be remembered by all who had the gratf-
cation Of listening to it. The meeting was also
addressed very ably and effectively by Mr.. VIM.
Cost Johnson, and Messrs Gushing, Saltonstall
and others
Mr. WEBSTER appeared to speak for himself in re-
ply to the many calls made for him, and
the acclamations, which redoubcd his rising sub
sided he entered upon speech in which the familiar
was mingled with the profound, and all imbued
through out with that eloquent spirit which characte-
rises the speeches of this eminent statesman As the
meeting had been called with especial reference to
the Massachusetts, delegation, Mr. Webster, in the
beginning of his speech addressed them particularly
He reminded his fellow-citizens of Massachusetts
that there something like blot furnishing the
name of the old Bay State Ii in vain to talk of
Bunker Hill, of Lexington, Of Concord-those glor-
Gus names of no avail if the descendants Of the
men who made them illustrous should fall of from
the principles for which their fought and
conquered This appeal to the citizens Of Massachu-
Il Al -
county which contains within its limits the honored
spots renowned in our revolutionary hstory--was
particularly eloquent As each cxhortation inter
rogatory from the lips Of this orator it