Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1847-05-21
SPEECH OF MIR. WEBSTER AT RICH.
MOND

MOND.
TIL, Richmond Times rives the following
eketch OF Mr.. Websters remarks at thelate din.
ner given to him in that city -
Mr.. WEBSTER rose and said Before pro-
ceed to make any remarks in answer to the sen
tment that has been given, you will allow me
to say that | am for the first time hoping tc
make visit among my fellow citizens of the
Southern States. Owing to the circumstance
that at the season suitable for such visit, m,
duties have confined me elsewhere I have beer
no traveller in my own country. When | pass
the James River shall be beyond all nv previ
Gus journeyings and undertakings. am de,i
rons to cndehvor TO see portion of the country
have never yet seen to travel, to see the peo.
pie in the most unceremonious. freaSt manner
in which citizens HAY meet and interchange
civi!ities. 1t is not my purpose TO make any
tour fer addressing muitudes. or discussing
political questions. There is but little of me :
chat littlc is well known. have no new lights
and don't belong to the school of New Lights. -
! am pleased to meet so many persons in this
growing and beautiful city, to see their faces
and show minc and exchange with them the
sentiments and icengs;shat belong to men of
the same generation and the same country.
After the complimentary alusion of the Pres
ident, allow me to say in the whole course of
my public life. acknowledge with pride, and
avow. that have looked to the institutions of
this country and TO that first aud chief Of
them all, the Constitution of the United States
as the great production OF Tie age that preceded
us. | honor as much as any man the military
achievements of the men of the revolution. 1t
was boz! revelation. They trusted TO the
hazards of fortune. They hazirded every thing
for the independence of the old ;l.irteen States
But what at last are military achievements p
1t is true, they have fixed the fate of nations,
turned the tide o. human affairs. But, after ALL
what is their end but to establish free govern
merit and promote public prosperity Beyond
that, there is no rational. no christian object in
civil warfare. Its only Just object is to esab
lish civil and religious liberty, to raise man TO
the standard of human rights. If these be not
their objects then military achievements are I'M
worthy Of human regard.
From the constitution itself, have looked to
the era of the constitution, the period when the
country threw oil It's dependencies, which it is
true it accnmpl shed by military achevemenis)
We look TO ii narrow part Of the theatre in
which we are acting, if we think the con-titu-
ton matter OF isolated interest. Let us look
back to the period Of IT'S. What was there
then that exhibitedthe practical utility of such
constitution Was it the existence Of large
growing confsderat-d free republics 4? There
was nowhere such republic There was in
deed tn. constitutional monarchy of England
Ihere WAS the Incorporation in it OF certain
important principles favorable to liberty. and
great limitations upon the prerogative of the
federal sovereign. But one need not sav--eve-
ry body knows--that there vas no govcrnm INT
founded on the princi pies Of representative lib
erty--no government of any extent, respectable
ity, orimportance. Whilst, therefore, | honor
as much as any man, the other works of our an
cestors, have always considered the establi sli-
nf no tt,sf.,, -,
and nob'est achievement. WhenI consider the
time of its formation, its excellent fabric, and
am constantly more convinced that it is wise
constitution, ! cannot avoid believing that i,
was founded in Providena ARRANGEMENT
With all the new lights ofour ago, give us one
who can say that we could make such A const
tuition desire to thank Almighty Providence,
that it was not left to orr day to make it. 1t eyin
ces deep reflection, deep study of the nature O
human government. Let us take it as an in
hertance come down to US from men at least a
wise as ourselves, and acting under circumstan
ces more favorable than ours.
Two obvious views may be taken Of this con
etitution The first is its effect upon ourseye,
upon the country. We are so prosperous s
happy, every interest so well preserved, we ar
apt to he regardless of that human cause {
which these blessings are due. Had we gon
on under the old confederation what would Vir
GINA and Massachusetts now BE- ? Who wOu
have respected them or cared for them Blu
when the constitution was adopted when tina
&c pluriJus mum" spread over them all, i
gave them new character a new destiny.-.
VINO now asks whether man is from Virginia
New York, Alabama or Texas? 1t is enonrl
10 say That he is citizen the United States OF
America The constitution gave our coun,r,
what the lawyers call standing in conrt y
right to be heard in the tribunals of the world
An Americans not said to live on Massachn
sets Bay or James River, but he is n ci,;:.a,, y
this great Republican government
What, then, has given this momentum, g. a.,
prosperity of the country We can 6ad ~ Wv Wv
man cause but our united government ~ 7, Nv
true in party striies, errors may have bocn or,'
mitted, and the national progress RETARDED .I h
let us look to the aggregate result. Iot 49, y"
back for sixty years, or to the time Of IN. -
luton. Since that period, in other parts If w
world, thrones have trembled tottered ami fT FIJI
en- commissions shaken nations blood aowo
but have not property and liberty in this conn
try been secured Has tyrannous power tran
pied on our rights Property, life, liberty,h ay
been as well secured as in the best Government
of Europe. 1t may be said that we are Ii
great untaxed among nations. Our Govern
nent has not been an expensive government.