Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1847-05-06

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occasion, taving introduced Dir. Webster 10
the meeting with the following sentiment
"IIopor 10 the statesman and Jurist who 10
an honor TO his county,"
Mr. Webster rose and said: Before | pro-
leeed 10 make any remarks in answer 10 the
sentiment thai has been gwen, you will allow
me to say that am for the first time hoping to
make visit among my feilew-cliizens Of the
Southern States. Owing 10 the circumstance
that al the seasons suitable for such . visit.
my duties have confined me elsewhere, have
been no traveller III nv own country. When
| pass the james River shall be beyond all
ny previous joIrEeyings and undertakings.
| ara oesirous ID endtavor 10 see portion Of
the country have never seen; TO travel. TO
see the people ia the most uncefemonlOus,
freest manArr, IN which felow-citzens may
meet aud interchange civilues. tits not my
purpose to make any tour Tor addressing null
itudes. or discussing political questions
There is but little Of me; that little is well
known. have no new light, and DON, be-
long to the school Of New Lights. am
pleased 10 meet SO many persons inthis grow
ing and beautiful city, to seek their faces and
show NINE, aud exchange with them the SEN
t,menls and feelings that belong 10 men Of the
Alter the complimentary allusion Of the
President, allow me 10 say, III the whole
course OF my public life. acknowledge with
pride. and avow, that have looked to the in
slhuilons Of this country. and 10 that first and
Chief Of them all, The Constitution Of the ".
States as the great production OF the age that
preceded Us. honor as much as any man
The military achievements Of the meu Of the
,i,1t,s I tucu hci1
trusted To the hazards OF fortune. They haz-
arded every thing for the independence of the
old thirteen States. But what a, last are mill.
lary achievements? 1t is true. they have fix
ed the fate Of nations, turned the tide OF hui
tnan affairs But after all. what is their end
bet 10 establish Tree government aud pro-
mote public prosperity? Beyond that. there
is no rational. no christian object IN civil war
fare. Its emily jus, object is 20 establish civil
and religious liberty 10 raise nan TO the STAN
ard OF human rights. Il these be not their
Objects then military achievements are unwor-
lhy OF human regard.
From the constitution itself, have looked
10 the era OF the constitution. the period when
the country threw off lis dependence, which
: II is true II accomplished by military achieve
men,s.) We look 10 ID narrow part Of the thea
constitution matter o! Isolated interest. Let us
, sok back to the period OF l775. What was
there then that ex iiblted The practical utility
. OF such a constitution? Was il the existence
I Of large growing, couiedpra,ed. Tree republicsl
= There was no where such a republic There
!, was indeed the constitutional monarchy OF
England. There was the incorporation in i,
} OF certain important principles favorable to
limit
alive OF the federal sovereignty. But one
need not say--every body knows-,hat there
was no governmentioundcd on the PRINCIPLES
Of representative libeTy--no government o:
any extent, respectabiliiy, or importance
Whilst therefore, honor as much as any
e man, the other works of our ancestors, have
always considered the establishment Of the
{ constitution in 1889, their greatest and noble
: achievement. When consider the time OF
{ its formation. its excellent fabric, and am con.
: stantly more convinced that il is a wise con.
e stltuton, ! cannot avoid believing that II was
i, founded in Proyiden,ial arrangement With
e all the new lights of our age, give us one who
n can say that ,re could make such a cons,itu.
e ton. desire to thank Almighty providence
e that it was not left to our duty to make it,
# 1t evinces deep reflection, deep study Of the
as an inheritance come down to us from mer
A al least as wise as ourselves, and acting under
: circun,stances more favorable than ours
/ Two obs ;ous views may be taken of this
constitution. Tn. first is its effect upon our
selves, upon the country. We are so pros
porous, so happy, every interest is so wei
? preserved, we are apt 10 be regardless Of thai
human cause TO which these blessings arc
due. Had we gone on under the the old con.
federation, what would Virginia and Massa.
, chuseus now be7 Who could have respect
ed them Or cared for Them? But when the
| constitution was adopted; when that "ep!uriJus
ununs" spread over them all. II gave them q
f new character, a new destiny. Who now
, asks whether man is from Virginia, New
York. Alabama or Texas! 1t is enough to
say he IS citizen OF the United States OF
America. The constitution gave our country
what the lawyer call a Standing in Court" a
f NIGHT 10 be heard in the tribunals OF the world.
An American IS no, said 10 live on Massa-
chuSeils Bay or James River. bat he is cili-
zen OF this grea, Republican Government.
What then, has given this momentum to
; the prosperity OF the coun,ry2 We can find
no human cause but our united government.
II is true, IN party STILES. errors may have
been committed, and the national progress re-
tardrd; but lei us look 10 the aggregate result
Let US 90 back Tor sixty years. or TO the time
OF The revolution. Since that period, in othsr
: parts of the word, thrones have rembed
oIIered and fallen; commissions shaken ma
tons; blood howed-but have not property
and liberty IN this country been secured
has iyrannous power trampled upon on our
rights! Property, hte, liberty. have been as
well secured as IN the best Governments Of
Europe. 1t may be sad. we are the greai IN,
taxed among nations. Our Government has
not been an expensive Government. A few
thousands OF hundred thousands. may have
been improperly APPROPRIATED, but who can
say that the Government had oppressed the
people by weight OF laxshop? Wits, taxa
iion Is not The grea, end of Government,
ihihk every Government, is called on ~ collect
taxes for the good the nation. In all coun-
tries. and IN THIS country especially, there are
certain objects which Government may &C
compllsh, aud when cannot he accomplished
otherwise. look upon the Government as
the leader, the conductor. whose duty it IS 10
lead on The country. Thus | have always
thought the Improvement OF harbors anu nv
vers, &c. within the constitutional view Of
the Government; and think the Govern.
menl Is bound to take the lead in these
matters of substantial importance. Tie
Government appears to me 10 be- like the con-
ductor on a railroad whose business IN is In