The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1843-05-22
WR. WEBsTER'S SPEECH.

livered at the dinner given to him in this city on
Thursday last, is copied from the New York Tribune,
extra, of Friday afternoon.
The President having announced the fifth toast
% Our Guest-Daniel Webster"-Mr. w. rose and
said
Mr. President | am sure that ! receive with
peculiar qualification this mark of your respect for
wen intended efforts to the country in the office
of the Government which have filed. give you
my thanks and feel especially Obliged to you, sir
who, | know, come into public scenes of this kind
relucts ntl for dong me tie honor of fill ng the
Chair this evening. And the occasion, MIR. President
and gentlemen, is the more gratifying to me, as
have heard you say sir that the gentlemen compris-
ing this very respectable meeting here actuated
by no party motive, by no sinister or obllque view
tending to blind them to important truths; because |
know-I think knOw-that IN the absence of such
motive we have the assurance that this meeting is
what it purpors to bea compliment to an honest
purpose to the country, not unattended, If we
can Judge correctly from the evidence have, with
certain degree of success and conscious as | am
that in this endeavor to serve the country, have
been lree--free from and far above all party, all To-
cal or sectional objects pmposes-i need hardly
say that receive this compliment not altogether
inappropriate.
how best to return-to make you some not unbecom-
ing for this proof of your attention and regard
But feel myself To be in one Of the principal cities
of this Union, city distinguished for its commercial
enterprise, for its rapid career, for its patriotic cha
racter and | feel the present moment TO be of
great interest to the commerce Of the counry--to all
the commercial concerns Of the country-perhaps
could not do better than occupy the few moments
which permitted to me, in adding some sugges-
lions touching our commercial affairs. 1t is truth
quite irte but not the less Important that the grea,
interests of society all harmonious and united ;
that the agricultural interest the commercial ine-
rest the manufacturing interest all entwned,-
if we may say so,-around the same stem, supported
by the same trunk TO be nourshed together or to
fade together: and he is friend to neither " no
would attempt to set up opposition between one
and another of Them. This truth, however common
one which cannot here be TOO often repeated be-
cause the contests of interests in the struggle for
preference by law in fvor of one against another
this general unon--l may say this common destiny
is not always understood, or il understood it is not al
ways regarded
We live in a country in which the greater part of
the inhabitants find their susenance in the pursuits Of
agriculture IN which also great masses are fed and
clothed and housed by Manufacturing other great
masses fill the marts of Commerce-whose houses
the seas and the very first proposition of the
American statesman is the essential connection be-
tween the interests of these various persons and the
high importance that they should always be regarded
essentially the same. II we look to the agricul-
ture Of country find that II furnishes means of
sustenance TO human beings but it does not furnish
the means Of cheap and comfortable clothing. What
then will be the fortune Of agriculture if there is no
demand for its surplus in the consumption of masses
without agriculture, manufacturing commercial
The manufacturing interest-what would become of
it il there were no consumers of manufactured arti-
clcs There must be commodities 10 be transported;
c >changes TO be accomplished before the destined
ransportsrs or The agents employed in exchanges
find support employ.
Mr. President and Gentlemen-All me on this
occasion to express what | feel TO be undeniable-
-, Z. =. a. =. A - =.
ISOLATION, and spirit and enterprise Of the CONNER
cial citizens Of the country that is to DC attributed in
the first place the original movement in favor of
these great works Of internal Improvement now so
extended all over the land. This results certainly
from natural causes The capital is in this class
the means, the stimulus with this class. Where
the canals and railroads and all the great orks
which distinguish modern times, but for the activity
Of the commercial classes And where is the indi-
yidual treasure poured out like water, not on the
ground Of rich return Of interest in dyidends-but
Ia the Advancement of business and the general ao-
Of society Long, long since has this
magnificent enterprise been engaged in, and this
Of Rome when Augustus stood at
the head OF the Empire-worthy Of Bonaparte, as
great IN peace he was IN war, worthy Of any gov
eminent and any European power, by which should
be connected the waters OF the Chesapeake and the
Ohio river, work which proposes TO surmount some
ridges Of the Aeghanes TO penetrate Others pro-
ceed from tide water by steam power land TIL the
power Of steam land shall yield TO the power of
steam the water, and connect the great Valley Of
The West with the Great Ocean that lies along our
Eastern border, is In process Of completion. The |
prosperity Of the commerce of a country then as |
connected with individual happiness with the growth
)l cities, with the revenue Of a country may add, /
aud connected with all works Of internal improve
ncnt which connect by o. many ties the North and |
South, the East and the West the prosperity Of this
commerce Is Of the highest and most impor-
ant considerations which could engage the atten-
ion Of all public and Of all intelligent citizens
may be permitted 10 state that we hear all around
-, IN every part Of the country, that there exists
conviction of this truth We are now at the end
am incorrect in that expression, for we have not |
rust, reached the end,-I was about 20 say we are
low at the end Of universal peace Of 25 years ! |
meant TO say that we are now at point Of time when
3 years Of universal peace had elapsed During
hat period all civilized nations have been turning
heir thoughts from war TO peace
They have given their attention 10 their own i'm
rovement, TO the advancement Of their own int.
ests, agricultural, commercial, or manufacturing ;
0 that while there is not now contest abb the
orer Of any nation, there is severe and well-main-
aimed contest on many sides IN regard to the pro.
ress OF arts, the urtherance Of the pursuits aud pro-
ucts Of labor, and the general Improvement of all
lnis Of society. In short, we live in an age-it is
ur good fortune TO live in an age-in which Govern
rents and individuals are thinking more Of benefit
Y themselves, than Of destr ying annoying their
nemies. This appears TO me, gentlemen, to have
d to n very general feeling, not confined 10 this
)untfy, but pervsding great part Of Europe Of
us kind Men, public and private men, have taken
strong opinion that the interests Of The principal M
nos Of he pord may b. made subjects n freafg aipuia
MI mean the commercial interests, to a greater
Sent than Is yet granted. II is found to be a com
on subject Of discussion In the two Houses Of Par
amont, IN the Chambers Of France in our own
ais Of Legislation, and through the whole com {
ercial world. II seems 10 have lie origin in the {
ca, itself just one that II nation seeks IFS own
terests-that Of Revenue or those Interests called
roecfiUe interests by regulation Of duties-it is
ise before nations resort TO independent lceisla-
IN with view, the part of one TO countervail
acts Of anotherto consider il il be not more ex.
dent for the parties TO attempt TO come 20 an un.
rstandng without the and Of this--what we may 3
u almost hostile legislation.