Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1844-06-08


(AppIause.)
Gentlemen, continued Mr.. Webster, the
duty before us and other wings of the
country is TO restore that ascendanCy of
constitutional government which circum.
stances have taken away from us-to re-
establish wing principles and measures-to
re-aflirm the sentiments acted upon in 1910,
to do that work over again-and to do it
now, God willing, so that IL ,ciH hold. (Spo-
ken with emphasis and followed by ire
mendous cheers) The present circumstan-
ces of the country, its public prosperity,
the general contentment and happiness of
the People in their business cmployments,
show that much good has been done by the
revolution in 1910. Our duty now is TO
hold on to what is good, and to obtain as
much more as we cana laugh)-to
achieve as far forth as we can, the general
prosperity of the country, and establish on
some fixed, some settled basis, the great in
terests of the People. Nothing is more
ruinonS to country, gentlemen, than pol
icy always uncertain, ever vascillating. 1t
will he our duty, | take it to impress upon
the legislation OF the country, durability.
strength, something upon which the hard
hand and willing heart Of Labor can rely,
something, too, that will tempt to labor,
and make labor sure of what it earns
something that will stand: and thus by the
creation and contamination of Wing mca-
surcs and Wing principles, to carry out
what we once before fairly won. (Cheers.
There are two views | take of our posi-
ton now. Mr.. Clay will be our next Pres
ident, if we discharge our duty, and our
whole duty in addressing, or arousing the
people. And if we do not, then Mr. Van
Buren, will be, for take it for granted that
he is to be the opponent of Mr.. Clay
(Crics from below, mo, never; Van Bu-
rem never can be President again.0 You
observe, continued Mr. Webster, | qualify,
by the rcmark--that if we desert our duty.
if VIC abandon the defence of our princi-
pies and our candidate. Mr.. Clay we
know, (emphaticaly) His general char
acter, the general course of his measures,
his policy, his manners, his habits are ali
pledges of what he will be. We shall IN
dcrStand him, (great cheering) when he is
right, we shall see in what he is right, and
if wrong, in what his error consists.
OF Mr.. Van Buren, | would not speak
with disrespect, nay would speak with
that respect due to him for the high offices
he has held, and the high estimation in
which he is held by large portion of his
countrymen-and do not think tresspass
upon decorum, when say he has not made
that proficiency in the use of the English
tonguc-[a laugh he has not studied its
shades and degrees of expresson-he has
not comprehcnded its phrases, positive neg
alive or cquivocal--[ renewed laughter l.
10 Ia 4 4 al
, ways TO be sure, or ever to be sure, that
know what he means when he holds inter
, course with the public. Great outbreak
of laughter and cheers. hope it will no
l be deemed dsrespcctful in my suggesting
! that that distinguished gentleman nigh
| save himself world of trouble, and the
} world, soto rOce, a world of reading, ire
newed laughter if he would adopt some
short, settled, formula Of answering ques
TONS continued laughng.] When two
men meet in the street, or on the road, thu
first question is, how do you doP the an
: swer is, pretty well, much as usual, how
= are you? If the salutaton be in my coun
try, the answer is: oh, thank We, prett
5 well, much as usual" Continued laughing.
Now, it strikes me, that if, in the CORES
pondence of Mr.. Van Buren,, this Yankc
!, phrase was adopted, it would be a great Ia
II bor-saving phrase, for when new question
: were put him, he could answer, oh, don
Z know, pretty well, thank We, pretty muc
j. as usual" Cheering and loud outbreaks
= of laughter, mingled with hurrahs for som
Il time prolonged.
u never could agree, gentlemen, to thi
!" maxim Of the poet
J. ain forms of Government, let poets contest,
l. Whatever is best administered is best"
c | know--we all know--that under certai
? forms of government, men are more likel
u to enjoy happiness, and to be able to pre-
l. tect their own interests. There arc Gel
D. tain forms of government, too, into the c
rs cments of which enter deeper and large
a. regard for the public interests, and the pu
n lie sentiment. But in disputing as to form
of Government, there is one great, one in
s. portant truth, men are apt TO overlook, al
w that is, no form of Government, howevC
a. pleasing in theory, however hitherto su
n cessful in practice, can work out the soc
r. of the people governed, under bad adm
at nistration of that Government. Cover
c. ment is not mere piece of mechanics
of that needs but to be wound up right, to {
all right forever 1t is not cotton,lenny-
at but moral process, calling for good int
he tons, for honesty, for good conduct.
of constitution of government is essen al
of good public sentiment, as compass or t
he stars. or the sun and the moon are essent
. for the nav gator, or as the light houses c
cir tending oyer thousands of miles of Goa