Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1844-05-24

Mr.. Van Buren,, that ! have not yet made
such proficiency in my knowledge of the
English tongue | have not studied so far
all its shades, and varieties Of meaning, |
have not SO compassed all its broad and mar
row phrases, positive, negative, or equiUocat,
(shouts of laughter as ARRAYS to be sure
or ever to be sure when that gentleman at
tempts TO communicate his sentiments TO the
people, that | know not what he means
Great outbreak of laughter and cheers. /
hope it will not be deemed disrespectful in
my suggesting that that distinguished gen
tleman might save himself a world of trou-
BILE, and the world, soto Uocc,a world ofread-
ing, (renewed Iaughier) if he would adopt
some short, settled formula of answering
Observation-Disclosures laughing) When
two men meet in the street, or on the road,
the first question put is-''how do you dol"
the answer %is-"pretty well much as usu-
al, how are you?" IL the salutation be in
my country the answer is son, ! don't
know, | thank We, pretty much as usual
Continued laughing.) Now it strikes me,
that if, in the correspondence of Mr.. Van
Buren,, this Yankee phrase, was adopted, it
would be a great labor-saving phrase, for
when new questions were put TO him, he
could answer, ooh, | don't know, pretty
well, | thank ye. prttty much as usuai.'-
Cheering and loud outbreaks Of laughter,
mingled with hurrahs for. some time pro-
longed.)
I never could agree, gentlemen. to that
maxim Of the poet
ain forms of Government, let poets contest,
Whatever is best administered is best"
| know,-we all know that under certain
forms of Government, men, are more likely
to enjoy happiness, and to be able to pro-
tect their own interests. There are certain
forms OF Government, too, into the elements
of which enter a deeper and a larger regard
for the public interests, and the public SEN
timent. But, in disputing as to forms of
Government, there is one great, one impor-
tant truth, men are apt to overlook, and that
is. nc form Of Government, however pleas
ing in theory, however hitherto successful
in practice, can work out the good of the
people governed, under a bad administra-
ton Of that Government. Government is
not a mere piece of mechanism, that needs
but to be wound up right, TO go right forev-
! err. Ii is not a cotton jenny,-but a moral
I process, calling for good intentions, for hon.
esty, for good conduct. A constitution oil
Government is essential to guide public SEN
+ timent, as a compass or the stars, or the sun
4 and the moon are essential for the naviga-
= to., or as the lighthouses extending over
' thousands of miles or coast but neither the
compass, nor the stars, nor the lighthouses
{ on every promontory, will avail unless there
be a regular bred seaman at The helm. Sc
in political affairs, or in constitution of Gov.
eminent, they may be prohibitions or re.
: stra.nts, but if we have at the helm a man
: who will not see the light of heaven. who
pays no regard to the compass, or the chart
S no matter how magnificent the vessel, hi:
power is over, she must be shipwrecked
notwithstanding all this. (Cries, and erie,
of ''good.") Therefore, il is a duty incum
bent on every generation, on all men, to &C
with vigilance, nay, | may say, with jealousy
a for jealousy is often a virtue in a republican,
form OF Government. Ii is the duty of th,
citizen TO observe every thing, or to hav,
every thing observed. 1t is the price Of hi
citizenship, the cost Of his privileges,-ant
C it is a duty that cannot be put on, or put of
| don't deem it too much to say, then, tina
as to this country, there is thus a duty il
thho EuuidinhSbps an OoliSdtiph iniptidtN'
h upon us, which cannot be shaken of, an,
demanding selfsacriices. according to on
o profession of principles, and the name W,
bear, we call ourselves Wings, and we cher
n ish the name OF Wing. Who are our an
is ~cestorsa / see some of them here befor,
e me, bearing on their chests the badges o
l776. Wings they are now. Wings the,
n were then. Companions of Washington
b the link that connects our generation witt
IF him. Renewed cheering.
" We bear a name, then, Of lofty renown
la Ienown that must never be sullied,-
. a name won amid wounds, and scars, an,
blood, denoting great and selfsacriicin,
patriotism, and enrolling upon its recor'
the highest characters that emblazon on
history. 1t belongs to us, then, If true Il
ourselves, tenderly to guard and to cherisI
the honor of such a name, and to remem
Der with it the spirit there is attached to il
= Our destiny cannot be discovered from it,
And while nothing should be done TO fright
e en- us from our propriety, nothing shoul'
lead US to give up one Of the principles tina
belong to it. Ours is 10 preserve the Con
= %stitution our Wing forefathers bequeather
US, TO uphold its principles, to carry out il
measures. to act upon its injunctions, to Sc
that honest aud able hands administer il, I
take care that while it is entrusted TO on
$ guardianship, it suffers nothing of disgrac
from the way we watch over it. And let u
re so conduct ourselves, and so educate thos
who come after us, and leave children, tina
re if there be a wreck of that noble structure
the greatest work of the world, there sha
be no record that shall be found to ascrib
a ~. b.