The New York herald., 1844-08-29


elder world. Il Is true, therefore, that during such
period there has existed on great scale, pop,i-
lar and republican government, It's officers enewed
by the choice OF the people, and their accession
power has been as peaceful and regular as ia any
OF the established monarches or dynasties of the
ancient world. In the second place, our history
proves not only that such republican government is
capable OF continuance, and as We hope, of perpe-
tuity, 0ut That It 10 capable also OF exercising all
the functions and all the powers necessary for go-
vernmenf, and OF performing all the duties which
are requisite Tor the protection and the defence of
tne country and the advancement OF the prosperity
oi the people; and IN the third place, our history
shows that government thus constituted,
and spread over a vast portion of the earths
surface, as administered by men and good men,
ana supported by a virtnous community, is, IN its
teh'ency, assdlntary governmenl--that It's general
propensity Is to act for the good of the people,
that, therefore, as parental and guardian in its
charactef-as exercising wise functions for the
general weal II attaches to Itself the sentiment of
general support and appreciation; and, finally, gen.
tlemen, our history proves that such government
may exist with all the necessary powers oil govern
ment-with all the tendencies to salutary admins
tration--and exist at the same time with perfect
safety to popular liberty and private right Because
IN this respect, looking back to the half century
which we have passed, we may somewhat proud
y challenge the world, including the most
advanced and enlightened nations Of Europe, to
show, that any where on the face Of the earth,
there has existed in the commissions OF the last hall
century OF which speak, greater security OF pr-
vate right OF life and OF properly, and greater
cury for popular public liberty than has been main-
tanned In these United States. Now, as | have
said, gentlemen, IT appears to me that In reviewing
the past we may well congratulate ourselves that
we have set this great example not only to pos.
terltv, to whom we are to commit the preservation
OF these institutions, but to the whole civilized
word-an example which the world has desired to
see-an example which all the lovers of civil
and religious liberty throughout the world, es-
pscially in the present tendency to popular go
mi he how olxy
sought 10 behold. You know that il has been a
current opinion amongst those who have specula-
ted on government that the republican form OF
government was adapted only to the affairs Of
losopher, writing some sixty or seventy years ago,
said that this had been the general opinion Of poll
tlca writer's but that the truth OF that opinion
about to be brought to the test of experiment and
America. II that distinguished Englieh writer
had lived to this day-had lived to review
with US the incidents and occurrences of the
last fifty years;,-if he. were here to-day to see
pnblic questions are considered by the body
of the people, he would have said, and it would
have rejoiced him to be able to say, that that
great experiment had succeeded in q remarkable
measure. Now, gentlemen, there are two pro-
positions which i Is my purpose to submit to you,
and IN support of which to offer such remarks as
may be able to make. AMI you to hear, in
;y-six years on the Sd Of March next, has fully
and fairly, to the satisfaction Of all men, and the
admiration OF the world, fulfilled the objects in
tended by it, then it is our interest as we value
our own happiness or those who are to come after
US, to support that constitution OF government
(Great applause.) And in the second place
! say that, if the success of this const.
tuition for the period have mentioned be fairly
referable to the practise to the adoption and prac
tise OF any great system OF measures which we car
understand which we have experienced, then,
say, that il we love that constitution, and mean tc
oeisnd It and transmit i 70 our children, then oul
duty is, as far as III US lies to pursue that same
system OF Iubhc measures, and adhere to all anl
each and every one OF these great principles The
question is-has the American constitution fulfilled
the objects OF Its adoption and establishment? To
an Intelligent understanding of these questions, and
to the rendering OF satisfactory answer, let me rs
look back to the period Of Its adoption and ascertain
what We're Its objecss-forth the acbieveme of wha
great ends was it destined-ior what sgnifican
and especial PURPOSES did our fathers adopt the con
stitution OF the Federal Government? Now, gen
temen. however commonplace il may be, it is ne
vertheless important that should remark also or
thus occasion upon the state ofth country whilst the
States were connected only by the loose bonds Of the
old confederacy. The revolutionary war on its ter
mnation in the year 1888, made the thirteen States
independent States, but il left them with feeble
connection They were contederacy for certain
purposes and objects They had not government
tor certain objects. They had no common revenue
They had no common commerce. They had M
common nationality. man could call him
self a. cifizen of New York-of Massachusetts
or OF Georgia. But no man with any EN-
phasis-certalnly no man with any particula
pride, such as we all now experience, could cal
himself, any where on the face OF the earth Al
AMsRIcAN-because there was no community-nt
natlonaltynO specific idea attached to that term
now SO glorious throughout the habitable world
(Cheers) The war lett the States embarrassed
with dsordered trade-with heavy debt-a the
States overwhelmed with deprecated paper money
no unity OF action, or of character-in short No
perfect union amongst the people of the States
and especially there existed varieties of CONNER
cial reg aatons In the intercourse Of each State
with It's neighbor, and with foreign nations, thai
constituted not only variety, but contradiction, and
all sorts Of discord, as have stated--a state o
things which Mr.. Madison, with his clear perception
and patriotic regard for the best interests OF Anne
rca hesated not to call "a wonderful anarchy Of
trade" Now this was the state Of things in which
the Constitution OF the United States was con.
ceived by the wise men Of that day. They sci
about the accomplishment of that great purpose
no easy one certalnly-the formation OF a new
bond OF union between thirteen independent sove-
reign states-each jealous OF hberty-each jealous
OF its own rlghts..-each estimating highly It's own
peculiar and local advantages. But wisdom and
patriotism and an earnest devotion to the interests
OF the whole operated every where, and that work
OF almost supreme Importance was at length &C.
complished. Now, gentlemen, to look little
more particularly into this matter-to require
something more definitely for the objects for
which the Constitution was formed. Its one
great object was TO make US all one people
That the government over them was to be
tor this purpose, we have the most authentic
evidence-l allude to the address Of the members
OF the Convention who framed the Constitution, to
the States and to the people. That address was is
sued in the name OF the Convention and with the
great authority Of Washington. II said, "the
friends of our country have long seen and decided
that the power Of making war, peace and treaties
that Of levying money-the regulation OF commerce
az - flnO and r1dio al ttoV
ity-should be fully and effectually vested in the
general government OF the Union. We see here
then that the object Of this Constitution was to
make the people Of the United States one people,
and to place them under one government in regard
TO every thing that respected their relations with
foreign States, and the aspect in which the nations
OF the world were to regard them. 1t was not to
amalgamate the people with one government
ties and State authorites-that would have
haen ifumAYNOn exlinguishment-nnt uninn :