Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1844-09-13

are proud-then, say, if the Constitution has done
this, are bound to it by every tie of gratitude
by every feeling of patriotism. We are bound TO
support it with all our hearts, for all our lives, and
to transmit it unimpaired TO our children.
Now,l say in my humble but cor SC entious iudp-
ment, and say thunder mixed sense of gratitude
to God and Of profound reverence for all the wis
dom of our ancestors, say that making all reason
able allowances for the frailties which beset all
men, and the msfortunes which sometimes betide
all governments, I say to you, as my Judgment
say 1t to the oounry-and would to God | could
say 1t to the whole human race and in tones which
should echo to the last generation of men, that this
Constitution has prosperousy, greatly and glorious
y answered the ends Of its establishment. And if
there be any one among you, or if there be in the
country, man who doubts or denies this, he is
man for whose judgment have no great respect
and with whose feelings | have no manner of
sympathy. Now gentlemen, this government was
established at one of the most fearful periods in the
history Of the human race in modern times-iust at
the breaking out Of that tremendous CONFUSION
which SO terribly shook Europe to her foundation,
in all her interests and all her concerns all her
thrones, and all her dynasties-the French Revo-
luton. We had just entered upon the first admin.
stration Of the government under our great leader
of revolutionary times, and chosen to be our great
leader in the times which succeeded-the times Of
peace. We had just commenced our national be-
ing under the present constitution when the French
Revolution broke out, 1t proved the ark of our
safety. 1t proved competent to preserve our neu-
ralty. 1t proved competent, under his administra-
ton, to keep clear from the overwhelming and
submerging malstrom Of European war and Euro
pean contest. In its progress it covered every
with our flag. 1t replenished the Treasury. 1t paid
the debt of the Revolution. Above ALL it gave US
name and fame it gave us character and stand
ing. 1t made the flag, Z pl,uibus unem, known
wherever any thing could be water-borne. In the
Northern and Southern, the Eastern and Western
seas wherever our navy went there went forth the
Stars and Stripes, and there they made known that
the United States of America had become one, in
all that related to their intercourse with foreign
TONS 1t gave general significance, a new res
pect to the power-lnportlng name OF America and
on that rest.
Under this Constitution we have attained the
rank of the second commercial nation in the world.
We have risen from population Of three millions
to twenty millions. Every interest, in my judy
men,. has been successfully maintained sustained,
cherished and nourished by wise and paternal
government.
And now gentlemen, is there man among you,
or in the country, who, in a just and candid exam
inaon Of this history, is not ready to stand by the
Constitution, oraro there those who prefer another
form of Government put il to you TO day, wheth-
er, in the history Of the past, which we have brief
| ly scanned, you see anything you wish reversed
Do you wish to revolutionizo the history ofthe past?
DO you wish to blot it out ? Is there anything in
the history of your country thus far, which makes
you ashamed that you are Americans put it to
the elderly men assembled here to-day, whose ca
reer fife is fast drawing to a close do they know
any better government, any better political system,
to which they would wish to entrust the lives
and property of their children? put it to you,
men in middle life engaged in the concerns and
business of life. Do you wish, you conceive,
have you notion Of any system better calculated
to secure industry TO maintain liberty, TO protect
property, and to enable you to provide for your
selves and for those who are near and dear TO YOU
And you, young men, full ofthe aspirations of in
genous youth full, know Of patriotic feeling, and
aspiring TO enjoy, to honor and 10 your coun-
try, do you wish to render public service under any
other banner?
Then, gentemen,-vthen fellow Americans,-
then friends fit be true that the Constitution of
the United States, under the various and success
i've administrations that have taken place since
1895 has fulfilled all the Just hopes, and more than
even the most sanguine hopes Of the country, is
there question that it is the part Of gratitude to
God ofrespect to our ancestors, the part of regard
for every interest that is dear to and to ours to
cleave to it to the ark of political salvation
that however it may be with Others how ever others
may stray from the great object of tional regard
for us and ours, we will adhere to it, we will
maintain, we will defend it TO our dying day.
Then, gentlemen, if this be So if the Constitu-
ton Of the country has beeniu fact proved eminent
ly needful, the next question is, upon what system
of general policy, according to what measure
lating the great interests of the country, has the
Constitution, on the whole been administered?
t How did it commence !? What measures were
deemed necessary from its cradle, if | may say
so?
Gentlemen, this leads us back to that interesting
. and important epoch, the commencement of WASH
ingtons administration, in the city of New York,
under the present Constitution Of the United
States.
For myself, revisit those scenes always with
delight | refresh myself by going back to this
spring time of the Republic to contemplate the
character of their measures, and above ALL to ad
nire the purity of their patriotism and the elevation
of their principles. In idea love to gather round
the circle of Washington and his great compatrots
not in the field Of battle, but in greater fied-the
field of political WISDOM the field Of PATRIOTISM the
9 field where prudence and discretion and frmness,
are necessary in the greatest conflict in arms
= carry myself back to the Halls of the Congress
3 which sat in the spring Of 80. can present to
uyself sort OF living image OF that great assem-
bly, of wise men. In the centre you may see Wash
ngton himself, and his immediate advsers;- Mr.
Jay, who had not yet ceased to be Secretary for
Foreign Affairs under the authority Of the old Con-
n federation; Mr.. Hamilton and Gen. Knox. In the
: House OF Representatives We're Ames and Good
hue, and Benson and Lawrence, and Boudnot, and
. Fitzsimmons and Madison and lluger In the Sen
/, ate were King and Schuyler, Strong and Robert
: Morris, and Baldwin Of Georgia, and Richard Hem
ry Lee of Nirginia,-he who had moved the resolu-
c ton of Independence in rs, then in the Senate,
l. and he who had proved himself the champion in
J. debate Of that resolution then presiding over the
Senate. In some one or other department we're the
G warriors oil many "well- fought field !" and civil
ans and statesmen, who had been tried IN the fiery
ordeal of the Revolution and come forth like bur-
n nished gold, surrounded the great Chief of the
: government
c Gentlemen, can realize the scene when General
S Washington assembled these Houses of the Legis-
hnta
dine to their character and laid before them and be-
: fore the country those great principles of public
@ and of private virtue, which he wished and de-
4 sired to see the administration Of the Government
established.
a. alt will be consistent" says he, "with those
@ circumstances, and lar more congenial with the
feelings which actuate me, to substitute in place of
o. recnrnmn Of nnricnlar n.nnsnrns the irih-