Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1844-05-16
Speech of Daniel Webster.

After The first formal proceedings OF
the Convention were concluded, the
Chairman (Mr. CLAYrox) presented
IN front of the stand. On making his
appearance on the platform, Mr.. Web
ster was generally aud vocilerously
,heered During the frs, few sentences
there was some noise incident 10 the
gathering Of the crowd more closely
round The stand But through the greater
part OF the speech the silence was re-
markable, and the attention Of the au-
dirncc cpns,an, To the close. When the
iumult incident To Mir. WEBsTEG's ap-
pearance had subsidized, he delivered, in
his usually clear and strong voice, the
following SPEECH:
IenI"y, gentlemen, quite an unexpect-
cd bnt Sinrere pleasure ~ finding myself
III the mijSt nt this vast assembly of the
Wings oI The Un'ied States. Applause
Aud come among you for The SIM. le
purpose nf adding one more humble bu,
decided voice Ia those tones of, eminent,
which, spr'ng'Gg from this multitude,
shall bear over the land the tdings Of the
decisive appreciation and confirmation of
the proceedings of the Nominating Con
vention yesterday. We are assembled
we are assembled, brethren, TO perform
one oi the most responsible duties which
can devolve on ireemen, the citizens OF
great Country, IN time Of peace. We
are assembled to take measures and 10
express opinions preparatory to the en-
suing election for Presiden, and Vice
President ol The United States. In
time marked with uncommon interest in .
The presence Of the future, which seems
To he iulI oi great events, we are ASSEM- l
bIed To take counsel together for the \
election oi those high officers who. for
t"ur years TO come, are to exercise great II
influence OIL the prosperity, happiness,
and honor Of the country. II
Gentlemen, an assembly conposed GI
persons from every part OF the land and
from every walk in life persons who
have hanored themselves and have HI
hon"r"d the country in the highest posts
oi public service those who have dis. \,
hnguIshed themselves IN the halls off
congress, on the benches of our ludica- III
lure those who are ornamepts of eyery \,
profession ; those who are iatercsted in
the COMMERCIAL, agricultural, and mo-
chanical pursuits oi the country-an IA.
sembly thus composed, has. npon wise 4
delibera'Inn, submitted To this mee,ing
,he result oi their selection aud they
nave come To that result with unanimitv II
almost unparalleled. They have pre. .f
sented Tor our consideration, and for the i
consideration oi the country, candidates {
Tor the Offices of President and Vic.
President entirely likely, in my judgment, +
I" form one, the one, the single, the only
ra''y'ns poln, of all good Wings. rGrea, ,
cheering A
Wings of the United States, I address =
you' who ate here in your own persons, ,
and would say to you all, Whip of the
Unned States, how is II, by what means. .
"nder what auspices do you intend TO ac- y
complish The coDsnnmation of those nom. (
nations which this wise and considerate =,
assembly has made 7 Let me remind !,
yon that when our fathers resolved tho,
'h"y wonld achieve the Independence of ;,
Ih"ir country, they announced 10 the -
world, as their own reliance and as the ;,
presage oi their ultimate success, that i'm.
p"nant declaration, "Om cause IS inst #
'm Uaion IS perfect ~ We have a duty I,
% pprlorn less dangerous and less rlor. =,
'n~ Than {, u 4" the ilt of our fathers II 4
W" are n"I bonn 10 create an indepen 81
i"hi system We are ni born 10 erect n a
i"f"bl" aud free Government which shall g
'pr'ad w" light oI civil liberty all over !,
U" "hrih but "" are horn with an in. II,;
'''uhncc coinpnsrd of Constitution and =,
Institutions "i cIvIl liberty and we are \,
h'fg"d wrh the high remaining duty off a,
hrW preservation f; aud, therefore, IN The r
l~rharg" ol Ihls duiv, let US borrow no, .;
Dly their Language, huI their sentiments. -,
l"ir p'irihIsp, hpIr devotion. Let the i,
rclnraIinn 30 imth from this immense :,
Ssrn'blage ." the.Gulf of Mexico, to The In,
ais oi the NliSsopri, Ia the extreme I,
'm'h, aud ih" extreme East, aud let IL 4
~ ~ " tone and with n yignr that shall a,
ncouraae evory Whig hrau aud m a.
I"ngih"n .very Whig mind in The sen G.
n.ni, HAT 'o,0 cause is Iust, that our 81
ni"n Is perfect" T" Long coIliinurd and a.,
cheers liz,
The Convention has presented asa H.
"d'd"e ior The P'eside"ry Of the Of