Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1844-09-12
DANIEL WEBSYEk'S
S Pc { c II
At the Great Mass Meeting in Albany,

NI'bNup n''SN w I'll ~ 10 "l-t w pause, ,
To- review the past, 10 consider attenuye-
ly the present, and 10 contemplate prob
able iululity. We are, fellow cn,Zens,
upon the eve Of general election, full
OF Importance and OF interest involving
questions which rise iaI above all C0nsId-
eratl"ns oi the personal qualities Of tie
candidates for oillce--qucstiuns Of the
greatest and of the nearest bearing upon
present aud existing interests, aud likely
10 affect the prosperity OF the country III
all time to come.
In my Judgment, therefore, it is highly
proper, IN such a state of things and on
such an OCCASION, that we SHOULD bring
the past into our immediate presence and
consider and examine it; that we should
ponder assidnously existing interests aud
existing duties, aud that we should exer-
else whatever of forecast aud sagacity
we possess, in endeayoring 10 discern
what is, or what may be, yet before us.
On ihe third OF March neXi, ffty-six
years will have expired since we began
our National character and existence,
under the present constitution of the
United States. In tie lapse of that pc
Rod, we have gone through fourteen
Presidential elections, aud have elected
eight and twenty successive Congresses
of the United States. OF these four
teen Presidential elections, twelve have
been effected by the popular vote, ac-
cordng to the provisions Of the CoDsti-
tuition; and two have taken place, 10 pur-
suance Of other constitutional provisions,
by the House ot Representatives in Con-
gress, and in delaul, of an election by
the primary mode Of the country. All
these successive elections have been lG-
gal and regular. Every successive in
cumbent of the Presidential Office has
been acknowledged, in succession, to be
yightlully in possession of that Office.
All these elections have been conducted d
without violence or disorder, without the
interference OF an armed force, and by
the regular, peaceable, constitutions
exercise Of the public will.
Il In my estimation, gentlemen, this is q
! fact of the highest Importance to US, and
Of great interest and Importance to the
whole world of mankind because il
prOres that Republican government over
II great country of various interests, con
nections, associations and pursuits, is yet
practicable; !; that it has IA possible perua-
uence; that il may be continued and ex-
crcise its functions. For such n govern
ment has existed, has continued itself,
has exercised lis functions, as ] have
said, for more than half a century; and
that half century, be it always remcm-
bered has been period in history for IN
it fierce wars have afflicted the nations
of Europe, and revolutions without paral-
lei, for convuson and violence, have
shaken the dynasties of the elder world.
1t is true, therefore, that on a great
area there has existed, during this peri
cd, republican and popular form Of
government. Its officers have been
renewed during this period, 10y thc choice
Of the people, in which the succession
OF power has been as poaceabIe and
regular as IN any Of the established
monsrch.es or dynasties Of the ancicu,
world.
4 In the second place, our history proves
that not only Is a republican govern
ment capable Of continuance, and, as
we hope, Of perpctuty, but it is capable
also Of exercising al the functions and
! all the powers necessary to Government,
/ and of performing all the duties rcGui-
/ site TO the protection aud defence OF the
country, and to the advancement Of the
prosperity Of the people.
| And in the third place, oGr history
I shows, that tins Government and ihi.
! Constitution, though spread over q vast
/ portion of the earlh's surface, Is admin
stered by wise and good men, and sup.
i ported by yirtuous community; is il
its tendency salutary Covornmcn,;- -
4 that its general proprletv is to act for the
good Of the people; and that, therefore, a'
parental and guardian in irs character
as exercising IT'S functions for the gene
rsl veal, it attaches 10 itself a sentiment
of general support aud appreciation.
II And finally, our history proves, tha
such government may exist, with al
|, the necessary powers OF government
with all the tendencies Of salutary ad
mnlstrailon and exist, at the same time
with the perfect safety % popular llbert,
and of private rights-because, IL thu
respect, looking back over the half cen
tury which has passed, we may some
what proudly challenge the world, inclu
ding the most advanced and cnlightene,
nations OF Europe, to show, that an,
where ON the face of the earth, ther,
exists government which provide
greater sccuily for private right, 10
life and propcrty-and greater sccurlt
for popular public liberty, than has bee
maintained IN these United States.
Now, as nave said, It appears to M
that, in reviewing the past, We Ina
congratulate oui selves that we have ST
this great eNamplo-nnt only TO our pos
terity, but 10 the whole civilized world, =
an example winch the world has desire
20 see, which all the lovers of civil liber
.ty aud all who are friendly TO popula
government, have anNiously sought I
behold.
You know, fellow citizens, that il hn
been current opinion with those VIII
speculate upon government, that Rcpul
lican forms Of government ate adaptc
p only to the affairs Of small countries
A distinguished English philosophc
writing some sixty or ssvsniy years ag'