Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1843-06-02
UEl!R PRRS
MIR. WEBSTER'S SPEECH.

ton of Mr. Wcbs,er's speech at Baltimore
10 Which we referred last week. The speech
was reported by Mn. HENRY J. RAYMOND,
assstan, Editor of the Tribune, who is Justly
regarded as one Of tho best reporters in the
country.
Ma PnEsirExr: lam sure ,hst receive with pc
enliar qualification this mark of your respect for well
intended efforts to the country in the Office Of
the Government which have filed. give you my
thanks; and feel especially obliged to you, sirwho,
I know, come into public scenes rcluctany-for do
ing the honor Of filling the Chair this evening.
And the OCCASION Mr. President and gentlemen is the
gratifying to me, as have heard you say sir,
that the gentlemen comprising this very respect table
meeting come here acuated by party motive, by
no sinister or oblique view tending to blind them to
important truths; because know-1 think know
that in the absence of such motive have the as
surancc that this meetings. what ii purports to be-a
compliment to an honest purpose to serve the country
not unattended if we can Judge correctly from the
idence we have with certain degree of success and
conscious as am that, in this endeavor TO serve the
country have been freelrco from and far above all
party all local sectional objects or purposes--l
need hardly say that receive this compliment
not altogether inappropriate.
Mr.. President and Gentlemen l scarcely know
how hest to return to make you some not unbccom-
ing return for this proof Of your and regard. But
feel myself to be in one of the principal cities of this
Union, city distinguished for its commercial enter
prise for its rapid career for its patriotic character
and feel the present moment to be of great inter.
est 10 the commerce of. the coun'ry-pehaps could
no, do better than to occupy the few moments which
are permitted TO me-, in adding some suggestions
touching our commercial affairs. IL ia n truth quite
tr,c but not the less importans that the great inter-
es,s of Society all harmonious and united that
the Agricultural interest, the Commercial interest," the
Manufacturing interests, are all entwlncd if we may
cay so around the stcm supported by the same
trunk to he nourished together or to fade ogeher and
he friend to neither who would attempt to set up an
opposition between and another OF them. This
truth. no common, is which cannot here be
too often repeated because IN contests Of interests,
In the struggle for preference by law in favor of one
against another, this general union Il may say this
common destiny, is not always understood, or If UNI
dcrs.ool it /, not always regarded
We live in country in which the greater part of
the inhabitants find their in the pursuits
Of Agriculture; in which there also great masses
fed and clothed and housed by Manufacturing other
great masses fill the mars of Commerce-whose
houses are the and the first proposition
of the American Statesmen the essential connection
between the interests of these various persons, and
the high importance that they should always e re.
g,rded as essentially the same: If we look to the
Agriculture of country, we find that 1t furnishes
means Of s,lstenauce tn human lenas; but Il does
not furnish the mems Of cheap and comfortable cloth
ing. What then will he the fortune of Agriculture If
there is demand for its surplus in the consumption
of masses, Manufacturing or Commercial, without
Agriculture? The Manufacturing interest what
would become Of it, if there consumers of
manufactured articles and commercial articles y
There must be commodities TO be transported; cs-
changes 10 be accomplished before the destined trans
por.ers the agents employed in exchanges can find
support or employ.
occasion :, express what feel 70 be undeniahle--
tina. is to the commercial interests i is to heasso
cation, and spirit and enterprise OF the commercial
citizens of the country that s 10 be attributed in the
first place the original movement in favor of these
great works of internal improvements now so ex-
tended all over the land. This rcsults.cerianly from
natural causes. The capital is in this class the
ne ri
the canals and the railroads and all the great works
which distinguish modern times, but for the activity
of the commercial classes! And where is the ndi-
vldual treasure poured out like water, not on the
ground OF rich return Of interest in dividends, but in
the advancement Of business and the general accom-
modaon Of society? Long long since has the mag.
nicent enterprise been engaged in and this railroad
worthy of Rome when Augustus stood at The head
Of Empire worthy of Bonaparte, great in peace
as he was in war-"orthy Of any government and
any Europo,n power by which should be connected
the waters of the Chesapeake and of the OHIO river:
work which proposes To surmount some ridges OF
tho Aleghanes, to penetrate others, 10 proceed from
tide water by steam power on land till the power OF
steam land shall yield to the power of steam on
she water, and connect the great Valley Of the Yves,
with the Grea, Ocean that lies along our Eastern bor-
der is in process OF completion. The prosperity Of
individual happiness, with the growth of cities, with
the revenue Oft country may add and as connected
with all works of internal improvement which CON
meet by 90 many ties the North and South the Eas
Of the highest and most important considerations
which could engage the attention of all public men
and of all intelligent clzens
l may be permitted TO state that we hear allaround
US, i'll every part of the country, that there exists
conviction Of this truth. We are now ut the end,-l
am incorrect IN that EXPRESSION, for we have not
trust reached the end was about to say we arr
now AT the end of n universal peace of % years;
meant to say that we are now at a point of tln
when % years Of universal peace had elapsed. Du
ring TINT period all civilized nations have been turning
their thoughts from war to peace
They have given their attention TO their own I'M
provemen, TO the advancement of Their own interests
agricultural, commercial, manufacturing; so tina
while there is not now a contest about the porer O
any nation. there is severe and well maintained con
troversy many sides in regard to the progress o
arts, the furherance of the pursuits aud products
labor, and the general Improvement oil all rams q
society In short, we live in an nge--t Is our goo
fortune TO live in an age-in which government an
individuals are thinking more of benchtting them
selves than Of destroying or ANNOYING their enemle:
This appe lrs 10 me- gentlemen, TO have led TO yer
general feeling, not confined to this country but per
va hing great part of Europe, Of this kind Mer
public and private men, have taken strong opini2
that the interests Of the principal nations Of
lc1ra may be made subjects Of treaty stipul tion--
mean the commercial interests. to greater Cxter
than is yet granted. II is found 10 be common sil
ject of discussion in the two houses Of Parliament,
the Chambers Of France in our own Halls of Legs
latlon and through the whole commercial world.
10 have It's origin in the idea Itself just on
that if nation seeks lis ntcrests--that of Rev
enue those interests called PROTECTIVE interests,
regulation of duties. il Is wise, before nations rcso
TO Independent legislation with a view on the part
one TO con,erval the acts of another, TO consider
II be not expedent for the parties to attempt
come to an understanding without the aid of this
wha, we may cal-almost hostile LEGISLATION. IT
commercial interests of nations are affected in our da
almos. in every thing, by two consldern' ions: Rer
nue. and the Encouragement and Production and Pr
lection of the Home Industry of the country The
two may he of various Importance -someines o
uppermost and sometimes the other. But all na,lo