Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1843-12-02
MIR. Webster's Spe ech at AndO.
yer, Massachusetts,.


semblage of People took place at Andover,
on the 9th ult., to hear speech from DAN
TEL WEBSTER, upon public affairs.
After the resolutions had been adopted,
Mr.. Webster came forward amidst the
most tumultuous applause, and was re-
ceived with nine hearty and deafening
cheers. When these were concluded and
jus, as he was beginning to speak the storm
broke out afresh, and three more were Civ
en- with equal cordially and enthusiasm.
When silence was restored Mr.. Webster
said
II is not without considerable reluctance,
felow-citizens, that present myself be-
fore this meeting to-day. 1t had been my
purpose TO abstain entirely, in time to come
| from public addresses 10 such vast assem-
blies as are here to-day. But the invita-
| ton came to me from sources which | so
much respect, and appeared to be urged
with so much earnestness that it was not in
my yielding nature to withhold assent
| (Cheers.) And that consent, gentlemen. |
cannot regret; when look around me, and
before, and see such collection, not only
IF the citizens Of Andover. but of the cit-
gems Of other parts of this country and of
other adjacent counties.
Gentlemen, | concur most zealously in
the hopes expressed, and am ready to per-
form any duty to accomplish what is so
much desired to be accomplished in the
election of Mr.. Briggs and Mr.. Reed to be
Governor and Lieutenant Governor of
this Commonwealth of Massachusetts,
(Cheers) | do not propose, gentlemen,
on the present occasion. to enter into any
extended discussion of the topics of State
politics; but will say. generally, that
wish most ardently to restore Massachu.
se,ts TO what have known her. In the
transactions of the last year, have seen
much which does not appear to belong To
her character, to her history, to her princi.
piles; much which has had no flavor M rel
sh Of the Old Bay State in it. (Cheers) y
Gentlemen. entertain not a particle Of
doub, that the good feeling of the people Of
this State will effect the ends aimed at and
accomplish all that any honest patriot could
desire. | see the omens of this success.
not in the noisy ebuIitions Of a vaporing
spirit, but in that profound earnesiness of
conscientious sobriety. of a sense of duty.
with which sensible men. and patriotic
men. prepare themselves for the proper per.
fnrmance of the functions which belong 10
them as independent electors of the State.
Gentlemen. the Committee Of Andover
which has invited me here has desired me
to address the assembly which might I've
convened, on number of vastly important
topics. 1t will be impossible, of course.
fDr to 4 IL IL
have proposed; and yet, gentlemen. it is
my purpose to confine what have to sub
jecls by them suggested. have been de-
sired, gentlemen. to express to them my
opinions on the respective duties Of the Ma
tional and State Governmen,s:-on the du-
ty Of the General Government towards the
various classes of society, agriculturalis,s,
merchants and manufacturers; on the i'm
portance Of keeping sacred the public
faith and the obligations to pay debts, and
on the importance of effecting some refor-
nation in the currency of the country,
which shall make it such as our people
need, of uniform receivabilty and of equal
value. Now. gentlemen. one portion of the
embarrassment which feel on the present
occasion, arises from the circumstance
that really, upon these subjects. have vc-
~ little that is new TO say. By the favor
of the people of Massachusetts | have
been now good while in public life, and at
times Of extreme and general embarrass-
ment On most of these subjects of gene
raj interest my opinions are well known,
and. gentlemen, they are quite UNCHANGED.
But will, nevertheless, at the invitation of
the Committee, avail myself of this occa-
sion. not so much TO announce any doctrines
certainly no neD doctrines, as 10 recurto
sentiments on these various subjects, which
have long entertained and which | still
entertain, believing them, as do, condu.
Give to the public good and the public hap
piness.
Now. gentlemen, in regard to the duties
Of the general government there are some
which every body acknowledges, belong to
it. All agree that il is the duty of the gen.
eral government TO protect and defend the
country; that it has the power of raising
an army and equipping navy adequate to
this purpose. All agree that to it belongs
the power and the duty of experimenting
our foreign relations, and in general that
the maintenance of the honor and interests
of the country, 81 far as they are connected
with foreign States. belong to the general
government. But in regard to IFS domes,
Tic duties, To the objects in harmony with
our Institutions and with a view to which
it ought constantly TO be administered,
there has grown up difference of opinion
of great breadth and leading TO diverse
consequences on one side or the other