Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1847-05-04
SKETCH OF THE REMARKS
Of the Hon. Daniel Webster.
WtHIdFN Dtflner ga Il
29ih, lS47.

| .A.> cDSlef.
Al Complimentary Dinner in Richmond, April
| 29h, lS47.
Mr.. VIM. II. Mcfarland Precedent on tho occasion
having introduced Mr. Webster the meeting with the fol-
| lowing sentiment:
Honor to the statesman and just who is an honor to his
country"
| Mr.. WEBSTER rose and said Before proceed to
make any remarks IN the senmcn thai has bs.
gwen you VIII allow me 10 that for the first time
hoping TO make visit among my fclow-citizens of ,hs
SoHhon STATES Owing TO the circumstance that at the
seasons suitable Tor such visit my duties have ~
elsewhere, have been no traveller in nv own conn,, ~
When pass the James River shall be beyond ali mas,
previous lourncyings and undertakings am desrous 10
endeavor TO PORTION OF the country have meyer y,,
seem % travel 10 see the people in the most uncereuo
NOUS lretst manner, IN which icow-cuzens may moo,
and interchange e'yites IL Is my purpose to make
any tour Tor addressing muluiudcs discussing political
| questions There IL bu, little OF me tina, Iule i well
known have no new lights, and don't belong 10 the
school OF New Lights. pleased 10 meet q, many ne
sons IA tins growing and beautiful CITY 10 see their fcc
ana show mine and exchange with them the sentiments
and feelings that belong 10 OF the generation and
After the complimentary ausion of the Preden, ,lo,y
me TO say IN The whole course of my public fc acknov
ledge wish p'tc, and ayow that have looked to the in
situations OF this country aud TO that first and chief of ,bcr
l the Constitution of the United States A. the prr,t nv,
dueton of the age that preceded US honour as much a,
any man tue military achievements OF the men OF the re-
N'nNon II was bold revolution. They trusted To the
hazards al fortune. They hazarded every thing for the in
dependence OF the old thirteen States But what at I,s
are lultaTN aCnievcmcnt-f IL have
Ia' OF nations turned the tide OF human aiIiirs But nt.
ter all what their end but establish free governn,e,,
and promote public prosperity Beyond that there is no "a
uonai no christian object in civil warfare s only ma,
object Co establish civil aud religious liberty o r,,sc
man 10 ihe standard OF human rights II these DE not their
'bees then military Achievements unworthy of human
| regard. '"
From the constitution itself have looked r, tho 81
me constitution the period when the country threw off lis
dependence, which It Is It accomplished by military
achievements We look To n narrow oar, OF The Ibcs,,
2 a hfnkfh tho
efoi Isolated interest Lot look back 10 the petiod nj
100 "ha was there then that exhibited the pracuca
| auUy OF such constitution Was It the oxs,ence of
afee growing conederated. free republcs2 There was
90 where such republic. There indeed the constr
u'onal monarchy OF England There was the incornora
L'n ia % oi certain important principles favorable IN lin
efy, and great limitations upon the prcrogatye f ,b. -
deta sovereign. But need say--eyey BODY know
that there was no government founded on the pncples
OF representative hberty-no government OF any eXent
r.speciaoiy, or Importance. Whilst, therefore, honor
As much any man. the other works Of our ances,,.
haze always considered the establishment Of the cons,t
ton 100 ~ their greatest and noble achievement, Wb,,
con, der the time Of it, formation It's excellent f,bric
aud am constantly convinced that tie wise cons,
luton cannot avoid believing that was founded in Pro
w1entIal arrangement With all the new lights Of opr no.,
give u one who say that cOdld make such CON
'Higuon desire to thank Almighty Providence tbot !,
was not a' To our day To make H. tevinces deep reec-
uo ueep study OF the nature Of human government Let
US take a. inheritance down to us rom men NJ
east as wise as ourselves and acting under circumstances
/ more favorable than ours.
Two obvious views NAV DO taken Of tbis cons,,,,i,
Inc s its effect upon ourselves, upon the country
We are 90 prosperous, happy every interest Is so we'll
preserved we are apt TO be regardless Of that human cause
20 which these blessings due Had We gone on undo,
the old confederation, what would Virginia and Massachu
sets now be Who would have respected them or cared
tor them But when the constitution was adopted Vic,
nat"e pl1ribH5 uHum" spread them ALL IL gave b.n
a new charter, destiny Who now asks qhctbcr q.
man from Virginia, New York. Alabama or Texas II
enough to say he Is citizen Of the United States Of Ame-
ca Inc constitution gave our country what the lawyers
call, standing in court" right heard in the tribu
mails OF the world. An Amenean said t1 live on Nns
sachuscis Bay james River but he IL citizen Of This
| great Republican Government.
What, then, has given this momentum to the prosperitv
oil the country We can lind no human cause but our
united government IL true in party strifes cr,or
have been committed and the national progress retarded
but let Us look u tho aggregate result Let US 20 back for
rIIV years or 10 the time o the revolution Since that
period, other parts O! the world thrones have ,tebcd
tuefed and fallen commissions shaken nations; blood
howcd-but have not property and liberty in this countr
been secuiel Has tyrannous power uampled ON on,
rights Properly life, liberty. have been az well secured
as IN tho best Yernmenis Of Europe IL may be said We
are the great uHf0xed among nations Our Government
mas not been an expensive Government few thousands
or hundred thousands, may have been Improperly anp,,
pn1ied, but who say that the Government las d
the people by wei hi Of taxation Whilst tatat,n h. ma,
me great end Of Government think every Government is
called on 90 collect taxes for tho good Of the nation ia
a countries and 90 this country especially there are Ger.
tain Cccts which Government m1y accomplish and which
cannot Dc accomplish otherwise. look upon the Govern.
neni ne the leader the conductor wI0se dufv A. n. =,
lead on tho county. Thus | have alv,ys tbougb, ,t
improvement Of harbors md rivers &C. within the roost
nnonaI view Of the Goyommen and think the Govern.
nehl 10 bound TO take the lead m these matters Of .uaan
uiI importance. The G,ycrnment appear, q, mo q, 10
ike the conductor road, whose business IL h. a.
g forward and draw TIC train after him and he neglect
hs duty wrong any way 10 no wonder al ala.
rlin push forward and throw him OIL the tr,cL MI
laughter and app'ausc)
The mos pressing purpose o. the trainers Of the Const
inuln Bro this respect doubtless the regulation Of com
mefce with foreign nations; but they the cloth bron,
enough rnI vide enough 90 embrace hcso subjects ,.,
do mot ascr1c 10 shnRon, Madison and their com,
pWo1-. Tie iDfcc 0i intellect contemplate n the con
u1g.nrIr7 winch should tie country after then,
ltfy 80 not Imagine that there would be two or tb,,
hundred steam vessels tho lakes, that the great NJ
T % from Doe month 10 ts source would be- ours crsff
iint s0u Of great finland fol" Laughter and An
p'H'. Bot thor work provides for 20 oil. The const,iu
on They icit lusucs, and pcsent circumstances require
m execution Of that policy Which shall cOmpfisr the who'll
country 1s one country, both Internal md ettotp,
commerce. They did not that tho powors Of tho 90
vc'nmeni should be- determined BY the taste Of the water
whether fe5h Or SALT o by the crcum-innoc Of the poso
q" sou1 pafy pou Oi cnfy. IN this branch, the ,Ynsru
ton be- ample aud large enOugh accomplish these end
with hc oJ'orvanoo II just economy know Of no tru
"yny bhi lhc Iui proportion o expenditure t. object
Absolute sowing b. mere mranncsg ~ country II sue
extent OIL ts the objects Of government should IN Civ
variety o abour. bring Tho oncqes oil the pco
pc, alI dcvclopo ifs peculiar abundance.
lu Ma achurrt's, cultivate barron sOil. Nv learn
'd iusnd hero on ~ hitchcock knows the whole II h.
hard. seulr granite II has Virgins beds NJ coal, n
l'sn'um oi r0n salt springs. IL s without oil thee
s'ufr'B 20 may spcak) NJ Hlbtfuantau wealth No
vhofs ore these advantages bouuteousy eonfefre
Dian upon the happy inhnbtanw ri Virginia. Within four
ten mr Of youf ciy) my learned friend tells mol thef
geol gctl phenomenon bed oi coal thirty feet thc
resting granite rock. Our Now England granite know
40 such company. Now IL always appeared me that Il
Dor and enterprise needed is, not excessive proeeo
tom the government IN order o. draw these sources
mnersl wealth ffom ie earth. have, TOO always been
man for canals and railroads Just extent when Lou
NV established his grandson on the throne Of spain. J.
sad There sfe No longer Pyreneos!" But ms
ION pe the Phrase more useful add proper sense, an
ha' We shall proceed with canals and railroads until