Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1846-12-07
MR.. WEBSTER'S SPEECH,
At th' Dinner siS'n him in Ph,iade'pAia, Dee.

n
presence as that which now surrounds IL has not
been my fortune heretofore 10 enter on the Discussion of
such topics. while galleries such these have been filed
with an assembly Of the intelligence and beauty OF my
country women.
come among you address you as an assembly Of the
business men OF the city OF Philadelphia; OF engaged
IN the honorable pursuits OF private lite, aud having other
interest IN the political and occurrences OF the day
than as they have bearing practical affair." aud as
they now Immediately affect the prosperity aud industry of
me county You are merchants aud such, deeply
eerned in the peace OF the country. You are manufac-
tuors and mechanics having important interest in the
protection OF capital and labor You arc land-huders
many OF whom | have doubt are cuiyators of your
own land IN the immediate ncghhorhood Of this CITY Fl
NAVY You are Americans, members Of this great and glo
nous Republic, bound lite dcstncs and LARGELY para
king IN all the effects OF its present prosperity ard its flu
tuc glory. have been honorcd by an invitation to ad-
dress such an assembly IS always agreeable me 10
nA ana To speak on general questions OF national
cy and TO trace their results they have bearing the
city OF Philadelphia. With no habits OF pubie Ire bpt
such as have been connected more especial manner
with the Constitution of the United having been
accustomed somewhat the study history and prin-
cpes and having tor come taken part prac
uea administration is natural that should look back
win interest TO the origin OF our National Independence
and TO tho formation OF that Constitution. cG which the
G0vernmcntoi the country well pros
periv, have since grown These reflections bring with
them many local associations.
The declaration OF our National epcndenco was made
IN yOndcr Hail The Constitution OF our country was
framed IN tho Hall Ii there be spot which forms
10 Amcrlcans the object OF supreme human regard 1t Is
spot like this 1t Il natural that he should gather IN imag
great llustTiUus
occupied that sacred apartment They have all gone 10
their graves, but they have LETT their behind them
the mperish1be memorial OF their wisdom and patriots
The city OF Philadelphia IL, N certain respects much
connected with the history OF Government and she is
deeply interested in all the veal aud bcudc the
republic. Her central position the Coast, her large
amount OF population, end her commercial advantages give
her Importance amongst our Atlantic cities She IS the
capital OF the State OF Pennsylvania which not
improperly been denomina,ed the Keystone the Great
Arch OF the American Union. / remember that some
Oi her cltiy
| said, what then believed, and what | believe now
that with the eXcepuoR OF England there existed spot
the Globe tn OF natural riches the Penn
syvania (Appiluse.)
Enjoying a md snd delightful climate. possessed Of
rich and eXubeant soil, aud endowed with mineral riches
10 an extent beyond all ejaculation, know OF spot
which beyond her In natural power the pruduc.
ion OF wealth. Pennsylvania may be " in truth 10 DO
concerned every great interest which belongs 10 the L.
On the East her boundary the tide waters
Of the Atlantic; ON The West borders hose rrcatryes
which bear their bosom the Tch products raised beyond
the ACshaniCs streams which, whilst they them
selves alo one direction Win the Gut 1t the south have
no less connection with the Ocean the East Ii she
will connect the navigation o the water,
# the Gull with the giunn OF the waters ot the
Atlantic, she do 10 without trcsp1ssiug upon an,
mans territory. IS with her home affair She may al
pleasure wed the o the Ohio with the waters of tho
Ono with the waters of the Atlantic. Standing where
do, cannot help thinking what Pennsylvania IS and what
PenEsy yaUla is 20 tc. All that she is, aud al that she
will be, is greatly owing 10 the constitution and govcra
men under which live. would not indulge an idola-
any other work Of man, but this side OF idoiatry
hold 1t IN profound respect believe that no human
work approaches PERFECTION that human ability
has produced esultor no such prospect
cil happiness Tor and the Const
transmitted by fathers. And what the duty Of Us
who ENJOY ~ We here but for single night,
miied in degree protection and support OF il
be, what - The duty which does, rather which It
does not devOye upon Isl Some OF those the time the
Constitution adopted did not approve oft. There
were some who feared It, from natural jealousy Of pow
But the great majority Of tho people Of the a. States
adopted IT, and placed Washington atits head. Immense
cheering
This constitution "a ry interpreted is the bond of ou
Union. Those who opposed II, all bound IN honor
TO sustain and follow the example Of Patrick Henry. who
though himself opposed I;, when ne adopted
by the country, ON It 10 the uuess OF it, spirit and tho
business OF ITS interpretation 1t far TO come in
under IT, and tHcn TO ier away its meaning because
dshed H. Inc people had adopted H. end II ought 10 be
received with honest ucquc ccucc For the reasons
those who called upon npV-l-5ay administer the
instrument may lhuk that they had been consulted they
could have made much better one. They Insy persuade
IN mseyCs that unfortunate fathers had the neces-
saTy INTEL ggnco document Of this mpor-
lance and that this particular nni in that might have
been much improved and SO try 10 geo OF rs plain
ing and intent But that nottar We all called up
TO administer II honestly, and in the IN which il
adopted and which has been practsed upon since
may happen that there have been instances in which the
sp OF the instrument has been departed from But what
Of matt Are We To- abandon It on that account Abau-
don It l should think Of abandoning my own
father when Tg.ians had attacked him.
Here Mr.. w. interrupted by long and loud cheer
ing l;is rather duiy lhl account TO rally round
IT, stand by il or fall with it. Renewed checringl
What the conduct the great lovers Of liberty IN
English history They passed Magma Charia. TIE
violated itand what did they du2 Did they aban.
don the Charn No. Taey re-siltncd and rc-enloIced
IT, and that what are do.
have never felt INTEREST," may say never much
interest in all my public ne as did Of the periods
OF the last Congress. could not but p,rsrade myself that
1 the midst OF the most important events It
my purpose toward the close Of the have
reviewed with the acts OF Congress and tie
Of the administration during that session, but % hlppcn
cd that dutng tie flying hours which marked the cy.g OF
Congress opportunity ii rcd and then determined 10
avail myself Of occasion to accomplish that purpose
by passing IN the leading OF Congress-
and making on them such Comments In my humble udg
they might deserve. And this perhaps a pro-
occasion for the performance Of that duty. But my
purpose has been so long deferred Lat the task has been
anticipated by oher commcntlt'rs more authentic than
and they have given their comments its proccecinss-
Loud laughter and CHI CrIugJ
Political events have occurred since the session that
have impressed with profound emotion. The result OF
the late eleciions-especaiy the central on the
Atlantic seabIard has been such awaken hops
There has been movement IN the nation lar too deep and
general To hnG s cause IN any merely cvaucsccui glow u
temporary feeling. No such Revision IN the political
pcc Ut tie community has happened within the last hi,y
years. The will apply especially 10 the Satfs Of
Ponusy vau.n aud New York. When has such rovoi1-
ton occurred 30 Pennsylvania since the great controversy
IN 1893 and 1901 A. that period there q strongly
contested election between Governor Mexican aud Mr..
Ross which resulted IN the election II Governor Mexican
and which led 10 long series ut political events winch
have followed. from that time Pennsylvania mas
witnessed no such revolution 10 public sentiment
The same thing may 20 some extent b. SAID " y. York
Since 1c great controversy which occurred i1 that
about the period, know oi none which has taken
all men much by surprise. Nor have b,sc great end
manifest changes been tie result OF any combined eru to
pubic opinion. No mass meetings, iapoTuus OK
gfuOus, simultaneous cir's Of the press influence
mems opinions h8yo led a. resut unexpected. Il
seems me one cot the musi f,msrahc cirouusHuca4 oil
the whole affair." that has bscn the spontaneous cousci-
ennou conviction II the people Of large, thai hos produced