New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1846-12-04


IFS subject, the following sentiment
DANIEL WEBsTER-The faithful representative tie
able negostor the fearless statesman ire eloquent de-
feuder Of the Constitution his patriotic services demand
cur grsti,ude-is untar.hed honor Is the nation pro
per;y
This sentiment was received with prolonged and
enthusiastic cheering, waving Of handkerchiefs by
the ladies' &c &c The whole VAST assernbiage
rose and gave cheer after cheer for the Defender
Of the Constitution When the huzzas hsd finally
subsidized Mr WEBSTER rose and said
1t IS nv duty in the first place. 70 express the
deep emotions which feel in rising 10 discuss most
important subjects in the midst Of such presence
as that which nov surrounds II has not been
ny fortune heretofore the discussion Of sued
topcs while galleries such ;hese have been filed With
niby OF the intelligence and beauty OF M ccn-
trywomen.
come among you 10 address. you as 81. assembly Of
the business men OF the city OF Philadelphia Of men
engaged in the honorable pursuits OF private lie and
having other interest in the political events and &C.
Of the day than they have bearing on our
practical aiiars and Is they now Immediately aect the
prosperity and industry Of the country You are er
chants and such. deeply concerned IN the peace Oh
the country. You are manufacturers and mechanics
having important interest in the protection oil capita.
and LABOR You are lsndhoders many OF whom nave
doubt: cultivators Of your own land in the rirne
diata neighbnrhood of thu city Finally you are amer
cans members OF this great and glorious hepuoIic'
effects Of its present prosperity and its future glory
have been honored by an invitation to address snch
an assembly s always agreeable 10 me to think and 70
sneak on general questions OF National policy and
trace their results they have bearing on the city OF
Philadelphia With no habits OF public e, but such as
have been connected in more especial manner win
the Constitution OF the nited States having been &C
custoed somewhat 10 the study OF its history ana pm
.ipics and hnying. for years, taken part IN lis
practical administration il Is natural that should look
back with interest the origin OF our National lndc.
- Iffav .TstsFTf rTrs
OF which the Government Of the country, well rs
its unexaInpled prosperity, have since grown These
reflections bring with them many local associations
The Declaration of National independence was
made in yondcr Hall The Constitution OF our country
was framed in the same Hall. II there be spot
which forms 10 Americans the object OF supreme human
regard il i. spot like this Il Il natural that he should
gather in Imagination those great men and illustrious
patriots who once occupied that sacred apartment
rhev have ali gone their graves but they have lcit
their work behind them the mpcrishable memorial of
their wisdom and patriotism.
The City OF phadephiais, IN certain respects, much
connected with the history OF Government and she
deeply Interested in all the veal and which 5etde
the Republic. Her central position on the coast her
large amount OF population, and her commercial ad-
vnntAges give her importance among Atlantic cities.
She is the capital OF the great State OF Pennsylvania,
which has not improperly been denominated the hey
Stone In the Great Arch OF the American Union re-
member that some years ago in addressing
blage OF her citizens, said what then believed, and
what believe now that, with the exception Of England,
existed spot the G!Obe 80 iu!! Oh
riches as the state OF Pennsylvania. Applause.
ENJOYING mild and ishitul climate, possessed o; a
rich and eXuberant soil, and endowed wan mineral
riches to TN extent beyond hll calculation know oil no
spot which can 20 beyond her in naura! power Tor the
production OF wealth Pennsylvania may be said with
truth TO concerned in every great interest which be-
longs to the United States. On the East her boundary
touches the Underwater OF the Atlantic on the West II
borders on those great rivers which bear their bosom
the rich products raised beyond the Alesanies .
streams which while they connect themselves in one
direction with the Cult at the South have no less con
ueCtiOn with the Ocean on the last II she chooses to
say we will connect the navigation OF the winters oil the
Cult with the navigation Of the waters OF the Atlantic
she can do without trespassing upon any man terri
tory Ii is with her home affair she may at pleasure
wed the waters OF the Ohio with tie waters OF the Al
lan,ic.
Standing where | do ! cannot help thinking what
p,npsylysnia is and what Pennsylvania ia 10 be- All
tina, she is and all that she will be- Is greatly owing 10
the Con sti;ution and Government under which we live
would not indulge an !doatrors feeling toward the
Constitution of the United States or any other mere
work OF man. but this side OF dolatry. hold II IN most
profound respect believe that no human work APP
proachcs so perfection that no human ability
has produced such result or holds out such pros
pect of socia huppiness for ages and 10
the Constitution transmitted 10 by our fathers.
And whs, is the duty OF Us who enjoy ii We are
here but Tor single night yet limited in some degree
protection and support OF II must be- what IL the
duty which il does or rather which i, does deyolve
upon us Some of chose "a, the time the Constitution
adopted did not spprove OF IL There were some
who feared it. from natural jealousy OF po"er But
the great majority Of the people OF the United States
adopted it, and placed Washington at Us head I'm
ncnse cheering.
This Constitution fairly interpreted is the bond Of our
Union Those who opposed IT, were all bound IN honor
10 sustain and follow the example OF Patrick Henry
who though himself opposed TO H. when he saw was
adopted by the country took it in the iulness OF its
spirit and the usness OF its Interpretation II was not
lair 10 come in under it. and then TO iirer away is
meaning because disliked it, The people had
adopted it, and ought 10 be received with honest &C
quiescence.
For the same reason those who recalled upon now
adays To administer the instrument may think that II
they had been consulted, they could have made much
better one They may persuade Themselves that cur
unfortunate fathers had the necessary intelligence 10
construct document OF this importance, and hn, IN
this particular and in that il might have been much m
proved and Try 10 get out OF its PLAN meaning and
intent But that was not fair We all called upon 10
administer il honestly snd IN the sense in which II was
adopted and which has been pracucrd upon ever since
Ii may happen that there have been instances in which
the spirit OF the instrument has been departed from
Blu, wha, OF that Are We 10 abandon Il on that se
count Abandon Il should soon think OF abandon
ing my own s,her when ruaians had attacked him
Here Mr. w was interrupted by long and ond cheer
ing /; is rather duty on that account to rsiy
round it, stand by il or fall with H. Renewed cheer
ing.
What was ;he conduct oil the great lovers o. liberty
in English history They passed Magma Chsrta. The
rown violated i,-snd what did they do Did they
abandon the Charta No They reahrmed ana reen'
forced IT, and that is what we are 10 do.
| have never felt more interest! may say never 81
much interest in all my public life did in OF the
periods OF the last Congress could not but persuade
myself hist we Were in the midst OF the most important
events Il my purpose toward tbs close OF The see
sion 10 have reviewed with some care the acts OF Con
srcs and the OF the administration during that SEES
sion but i, 80 happened that during the lying hours
which marked the close Of Congress no opportunity
offered and then determined 10 sva myself oil some
occasion to accomplish that purpose by passing IN review
the leading measures of Congress. and making on Them
such comments in my humble Judgment they might
And this may perhaps be proper occasion ior
the performance Of that duty But purpose has been
80 long deferred that he task has been anticipated BY
other commentators more authentic than J. ard they
have given their continents lis proceedings. Loud
laughter and cheering
Political events have occurred since The session that
have impressed me with profound emotion The result
OF the s,e Eecnons-especialy in the central Stsie on
the Atlantic seaSosrd hiss been such 10 awaken new
hopes. There has ceen movement in The nation la
too deep and general 10 End is IN sny merely
evSnssccn; glow Of temporary feeling No such revu
sion the political aspect OF the community has hap
pened within the las; airy yesrs. The remark viii sp
ply especially 10 the SXtes OF Pennsylvania and New
York When has such revolution occurred il PeunSy
vanis since The great controversy IN 1879 snd $500 AZ
thai rerod there strongly contested election be-
tween Governor MckeSn and Mr. Ross, which resulted
in the election Of Governor Mexican, and " ach led 10
lon, series of political which have SINCE follow
ed From that rme Pennsylvania hiss witnessed no
such revolution in public sentiment