Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1844-05-24
SPEECH OF DANIEL WEBSTER,
THE SPEECH OF THE HON. DANIEL
WEBSTER, BEFORE THE GREAT
WING CONVENTION AT BALTI-.
MORE.

WEBSTER, BEFORE THE GREAT
WING CONVENTION AT BALTI-.
MORE.
Mr.. WEBSTER (being repeatedly and loud
ly called for) said,-I enjoy, gentlemen,
quite an unexpected, but a sincere pleasure
in finding myself in the midst of this vast
assembly of the Wings ofthe United States.
(Cheers, and a profound sensation.) |
come among you for the single purpose Of
adding, one more humble. but devoted
Wing to that Assembly, (renewed cheers,
with cries Of welcome" "welcome,') and
to Join in swelling these tones Of public
sentiment, which springing up from this
multitude, and from the whole land, have
I found a voice and an echo in the proceed
ings of the Nominating Convention, ire
newed and prolonged cheers, and shouts for
CLAY, and hurrahs for Webster. The au-
dience from its anxiety in regard to the feel
ings of Mr.. Webster for his supposed rival,
Mr.. Clay, broke ont in tuinuliuous plaudits
at this evidence ofconcord, and Union.)
Gentlemen, we have assembled here to
perform one of the most responsible and sol
emn duties that can devolve upon freemen.
or upon the citizens of a great country in
time of peace. We have assembled to take
out from among us men as candidates for
our highest Offices, nay the highest offices in
the gift of man and to express opinions on
grave matters Of Government decIaratory of
the course we mark out for a President and
a Vice President ofthese United States. In
a period OF time marked with unusual inter
est, in the presence of a future that seems
to be full Of great events, we come here to
, select candidates, with whom we would
trust our Government, and who for four
4 years in the administration Of that Govern
ment, can exercise the greatest influence
over the interests, the happiness, and the
, honor Of a whole country. Sensation. y
n Thus then say we came here to discharge
$ a duty the most responsible and most SOL
; emn, a free People can have cast upon them
in a time of peace. Gentlemen of this as
I sembly have left their homes 10 come here,
from every walk in life,-men of the highes,
patriotism, and the severest and most dis
ltinguisbed virtues,-men renowned in the
Halls of Legislation, on the highest benches
of judicature, Of all professions,
venerable in age and profound IN learning
men too, from all the members of this great
confederation Of States and after assem-
bling in convention, they have submitted to
you the results of their elaboration, to
which they have come with a unanimity al
most unparalleled (Cheers.) Iney nave
presented to our consideration, and to the
consideration of the country, a candidate
0 for President, whose name is to form one,
the sole, the single, the only rallying point
of all good Wings Of the United States
Tremendous and prolonged cheering.) ]
address you then who are here, and with a
- ~. -. ILL - -lI.-.- H. A.
, ask you, how is it, by what means, under
what auspices, you intend to bring about
successful election, and with a view to i'm
press upon you the duty of using means, lei
me remind you that when our fathers begar
the struggle to achieve the independence o.
!, the country, they told the world as a pledge
OF their frmness, and as presage of their in
tent, "Ou eause is just" Our Union 4,
perfect" We too have a duty TO perform
less dangerous and less glorious than oul
fathers had, it is true. We are not born tc
create a country, TO erect n constitution, Il
d frame a Government, TO start it in motion
or to spread the light Of liberty over III,
J. earth as they were, but we are born to, anC
l. we must preserve, and protect and TRANSMIT
undiscovered, %unimpaired, untouched tn,
! heritage they left us. CHEERS and cries o
u we WILL we willy In the discharge o
our duties to our country, therefore, ",
must borrow not only their patriotism, ant
IS their devotion, but we may adopt their Ian
5, guage, aud let the cry go forth from tn,
$, Gulf of Mexico.to the Falls of st. Anthony
from the rivers Of the West to the shores
of the ocean, with a tone and vigor, and en-
ergy, the world will hear-"OUR CAUSE II
r,cr OrD UNtoN &c prprrcsrO (Hraman
= dous and prolonged cheering, and excla
I'd nations in the crowds, as hats waved in tn
air, "Our cause is just, our Union is per
fect.")
Gentlemen, Continued Mr.. Webster) tn,
Convention has proposed HENRY CLAY, o
al Kentucky, for your SURFACES. (Grea
st cheering for Clay.) For thirty years ant
u more, he has been prominent and eminen
:, in the public service. He has served hi
nj country faithfully and honorably, both a
l. home and abroad, (great attention here.)-
n This long career Of public service, this EN-
~inence before the country marked him GU
be as a man most fit TO be trusted with the ad
81 ministration of the Government OF the coun
T.; 10 try, and to command the suffrages Of hi
fellow countrymen. There were other in
D. dications of public sentiment, that he of al
the rest was the man, and the only man upO
= Ohom they, VhoSe principles were an unisO
wiM his, should nOlD unite. And in thes
clear indications, / for one, with the irues
sincerity. can say | heartily rejoice (cheel
bv ing with great difficulty restrained)-rejoic
de that there is not a dissenting nor a doubtfl
ID voice to break the unanimity of the nomini
lg ton. (Here there was a tumultuous ou'
hraak of cheers and hurrahs for Claw an