The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1846-12-04
THE
GREAT SPEECH
OF THE
HON. DANIEL WEBSTER,
DELIVERED AT
PHILADELPHIA, WEDNESDAY, Dec. g. 1876.

cHH POSITION
GREAT WING PARTY.
1t is my duty, in the first place, to express the
uncommon emotions which feel on rising 10
discuss important subjects in such presence az
that in the midst of which now am--an assem-.
blage composed of the worth and beauty of the
city. Gentlemen, ,come among you, an Assem-.
blage of the men of business of the city of Phila.
delphia--of men engaged in the honorable pur-
suits of private life, and having no other interest
in the political events of the day, than so far as
the acts Of Congress and of the Government, con-
Germ property and industry.
You are merchants; you are, therefore, deeply
concerned in the peace otsthe country and in its
commercial prosperity. You are manufacturers,
mechanics, artists, and have interests in the
protection Of labor. You are holders of
city property-manY Of you are land holders
in the country-and In this vast assemblage
there are men, no doubt, who are cult
vators of their own land in the neichbor-
hood of their own city. Finally, you are all Ame-
ricans-you are members of this great republic
bound to its Of all the happi-
! am here by invitation to address such an as
semblage of my fellow citizens; and will say, too
that it is always agreeable to me to speak upon
great questions respecting our political institutions
their progress and their results in this city of
Philadelphia. With no habits of public life but
such AZ have connected me with the con.
stitution of the United Stntes-accustome
somewhat to study its history and its princi-
pies. and called upon now for many years to take
. part in its administration a. far as a member of
Congress could-it is natural that / should look
back to the origin of the circumstances out of
which that constitution grev', and to the constitu-
ton itself, out Of which the government arises
These bring with them agreeable associations
The independence of our country was declared
in yonder hall-the constitution of our country
was framed in the Same hall and as enc to whom
that declaration and that constitution are of su-
prsme human regard, when enter that hall it is
natural that should gather around me, in imagi-
ton, tho great men, the illusrious patriots who
filed it on such an occasion. They are all gone
to their graves-they have left their work behind
them, in an imperishabe memorial of their wis
dom and patriotism. Gentlemen, the city O.
Philadelphia is in all respects much connect
ed with the history OF our government She
IL
or wo, shall beide the republic. Her position is
centrHlv-her population is large-the occupations
Of her People various. She is the capital of the
great State of Pennsylvania-not Improperly
called the keystone of the arch Of this Union.
Gentlemen, some years ago, in addressing an
assemblage, said what believed, and now be.
hsrc, that perhaps, with the exception of Eng.
land. there is no spot on the globe so full of so
many natural riches as the State of Pennsylvania.
A mid and delig ttful climates rich and exube-
rant soil, one of the best in the woTld-with mine
raj riches beyond all calcuation-I know no spot
on the globe that can go beyond her in any just
estimate Of natural power and productive wealth.
Pennsylvania, too, gentlemen, is concerned in
every interest that belongs to the country. On
her easterly boundary she touches the tide waters
river which carries west and south her products
raised beyond the Alleganies. She is open to the
Gulf on the north, to the ocean on the east. Her
position is central-her population numerous. II
she chooses to say that she will connect the waters
oil the Gulf with the navigable waters of the At
lantic, che can do it without trespassing on any
mans territory. It'll with her home affair-a
family business; for the waters of the Ohio are
owned by her. Gentlemen, can't help thinking
that what Pennsylvania is; and what PennsyE
vania is TO be and will be, is greatly owing to the
constitution and government under which we live.
would not be idoiatrous towards the consti.
tuition of the United States, nor TO any other
work Of man, but / hold it in profound
respect. believe that no human work on
such q subject has ever produced as much
happiness, or provid it now to as many millions
of people, through succession OF ages, as the
constitution OF the United States And what duty
does it impose on us-wo who are here for a sim
gle life, and yet in our several situations in society
entrusted, in some degree, with its protection and
support--what duty does it not impose ON US F.
who conscientiously doubt, its fitness. Some Of
those at the time the Constitution was adopted,
did not approve of it. Some feared 1t from
an excessive jealousy of power-some dis
liked tia great majority of the United States
adopted it, and placed Washington at the
head OF the first administration. This con-
sttution fairly expounded, justly interpreted, is
will be bound, in justice and honor, to follow the
example of Patrick Henry, who himself opposed
it; but when 1t was passed, took it in the fulness
OF its spirit, and in its honest interpretation. 1t
was not, then, fair for those who adopted the con-
sttution to come in afterwards and endeavor to
frtier it away. The people had adopted it, and
they were bound by it. But, gentlemen, in
other days, those called upon to administer
it, think that if they had lived when that
instrument was framed, that they could have
made better one. 1t may have been the misfor-
tune Of our forefathers that they may not have
had the intelligence Of those men (laughter.)-
That is not fair Every man who is called upon
TO administer the constitution of the u States, or
act under il, is bound in honor, faith and duty to
Jake il in its ordinary acceptation-as it was
understood by the people. who adopted it
and as it has been practiced upon since. /
think instances have occurred, in which the
spirit OF this instrument has been departed from.
What of thati Are we to abandon il on that ac-
count? Why, / should as soon think of abandon
ing my father when rufTians attacked him. We
are to rally around it with all our power. We
must cling to it or fall with it. What was the
conduct OF the great lovers of liberty in English
history The yeomen OF England passed the
magma charta without KING John. The crown
violated IL, and what did they do! They rein
iofcedit and thai is what we are 10 do, gentle
men. Gentlemen, have never felt more interest,
may say, never as much interest-in the course
oil my pubic lie, as during some periods of the
last srsslon OF Congress. could not but per-
suade myself that ~e were in the midst of i'm
poTtant events. Ii was my purpose, towards the
close of the session, TO consider with some care
the acs Of Congress, and the course OF the admin
however, that in the hectng hours of the last
xteek of The ae Sson no onn0rfunifx offared ..,A