The national whig. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1847-1847, 1847-07-13
II WIG SPEECH.
PROFESSION versus PRACTICE,

VI WHO SPEECH.
PROFESSION mrsus PRACTICE.
II is with no little pleasure that we lay before our
readers the Presidents speech at Augusta, Maine,
DUNG his recent visit 10 that State. His a Wing
speech. II is profession yersus practice. With the
exception of the expression that, az the Chief Ma
sisato of the people, he is selected "to execute their
will" there is not IN idea in the speech which would
not have honored head heart, aud lips Of Clay, a
Webster, Mclean, Taylor, Clayton, a Corwin,
or a Crittendcn. It's Wing all over. And tho ex-
preston to which we take exception may have boon
intended by tie President to mean the "constitu-
,iona and legal will" Of the people, though il bears
too much the appearance Of that pestiferous doctrine
Of modern Democracy. that the Presdon; is to exc
cute the will Of his party ascertained aud doter-
mined by party organization. II, however he meant
TO say, that, Chief Magistrate, he is the insru
ment Of the constitutional and legal will Of the peo-
pie, he has asserted sound Wing doctrine even on
this point.
But il is matter Of deep regret that we should
have Chief Magistrate who could make SO sound
~ h'6 rPSSSh 40 Wis., CN0iy pdIt
and portion Of il by his practice. We purposcd Ia
have pointed out on the present occasion wherein
Mr.. Polk has not practical as ho preachcs but the
length Of the speech itself forbids. The readers
own judgment will not fail to mark the difference
the contradictions On another occasion we shall
endeavor to follow the President in his Whie
preaching, with view of showing the variance be-
tween his profession and practice. Meantime we
commend this speech to the consideration Of every
Wing in the Union worthy Of being printed in
gold, and of being treasured up in our heart o.
hearts. It is peculiarly applicable to the present
emergencies in the Wing party.
NE SPEECH OF THE PRESIDENT,
AT AUGUSTA, MAINE.
The President, standing in the area in from
Of the speakers chair, made the following re-
ply:
SIN: II seldom happens that the course o
any mans life is marked by so distinguished a
reception as has been accorded to me to-day
have been met not only by the cordial hos
ptalilies Of your citizens, but have now re-
ceived, through you, their constituted organ, a
welcome equally generous, from the highes,
authorities Of your Stale. While, with all my
heart, tender to- you, and 10 those whom you
represent, my grateful thanks for the honor
which has been thus conferred upon me, fee
that can. IN no sense, appropriate It to any
considerations merely personal to myself. i
is a homage. paid 10 the institutions unde,
which we live, and receive it, therefore, only
as the servant Of the people, called upon by
their suflrages 10 administer for brief period
their own government. In such capacity
more than any other, am proud and rejoiced
to meet you on this interesting occasion, and
to exchange with you and my fellow citizens
here assembled those hearty congratulations
which il cannot fail 10 suggest, both upon The
prosperity OF our people, and the continued
existence and success OF our invaluable system,
of free government. In other countries, the
monarch rules, and the people are required to
obey; but in this country, thank God, there is
no monarch but the people themselves; no al
legiance but 10 the constitution and laws which
they approve, and no political power which
they do not give, and which they cannot take
away. While, therefore, / occupy, by their
choice, the high Office Of Chief Magistrate d
the Union. leel that l occupy itonly as thei
representative, selected TO execute their will
and il is my great ambition so 10 discharge tht
elevated duties which they have con6ded L
my care, as, at the close Of my public career
10 receive the rich reward Of their cordial ap
probation.
This sentiment is in strict accordance with
the whole theory Of our free institutions. Upon
the sovereignty of the people, and the respon-
sibity TO them of their elected agents, was
constructed by our fathers, the great fabric
which they have transmitted 10 US, of free
and united coniederacy Of independent States.
\. .f cL al
cred trust, not only for ourselves and our de-
scendents, but for the future welfare Of all man
kind. We cannot, therefore, TOO deeply ap.
preciate lis value, or TOO earnestly seek to pre-
serve and to perpetuate it to the latest time.
During my visit 10 this section OF our common
country, and my observation Of its condition,
its pursuits, lis great varied interests, and its
enlarged prosperity, have become more than
ever impressed with this important truth, and
more than ever sensible Of the inestimable
advantages of our confederate Union. IN
der The broad shield OF our constitution are
embraced fiourishing and equal States, OF va
rlous climates, varied pursuits, differing habits,
aud dissimilar Institutions, and there is no
greater triumph of human wisdom than that
which successfully achieved one common gov
eminent Tor SO many different interests, and SO
many distant States. 1t was the work Of a
convention oveLwhich presided the great and
the good Washington, and in which were col
lec,ed as noble a body Of patriotic men as the
world probably has ever seen. A spirit oil
concession and Of compromise pervaded all
their counsels, aud we live now TO witness and
10 enjoy the fruits Of their wisdom, and the re.
suits Of their self-sacrifcing toll. Fifty eigh,
years only have elapsed since our constitution
was adopted, but within that period the popu-
lation of our country has multiplied seven-fold,
and our territory has been extended from your
own borders here on the Atlantic, 10 the Gulf
OF Mexico and 10 the far Pacific. Thus rapid