The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-05-06
.eu HE8oeuuE On


Al a Complimentary Dinner, Richmond, APri
seth, ls4y. a. sl
Mr.. VIM, H. Macfarland, president the occasion
having introduced Mr. Webster to the meeting with Thu
following sentiment:
Honor to the statesman and urist who honor to hi
county,
Mr. Webster rose and said Before proceed to max,
any remarks in to the sentiment that has beer
given, you will allow to say that am for the frs
time hoping TO make visit among my fellow citizens
the southern States. Owing to the circumstance that
the suitable for such visit my duties have
fined elsewhere, have been traveller in my owl
country When Ipass the James river, shall be beyond
all my previous ourneylngs and undertakings. | am de
srous TO endeavor to portion of the country hav.
vet to travel, TO the people the
ceremonious reest manner. in which fellow citizens may
meet and interchange civiites Ii is not my purpose
make any tour Tor addressing mundes or
is well known. have new lights and don't belong
to the school Of new lights. am pleased to meet SO ma
ny persons this growing and beautiful city, to see then
faces and show nine and exchange with them the seni
mens and feelings that belong TO men OF the same genera
ton and the same country. - -. :,
After the complimentary aluslon oil the Fresieent, al
low say, in the whole course OF my pubhc me-
acknowledge, with pride and avow that nave looked
to the institutions OF tins country anq 70 a s ns. %
the great production of the age that preceded u.s. honor
as much us any the military achievements OF the men
ed to the hazards OF fortune They hazarded every
thing for the independence of the old thirteen States Buf
trat at last are natary achievements! 1t Is true, they
affairs But, after all, tsat their end but TO establish
free government, and promote public prosperity Beyond
that there rational Christian object IN ciu acar
fare It's only just object IS to establish cuii and religious
liberty, to RAISE man 10 the standard Of human rights
tese be not their objects, them military achievements
unworthy Of human regard
From The constitution itself have looked to the OF
the constitution, the period when the country threw Of
its dependence, (Which il is true accomplished BY mil
itary achievemens) We look TO a part OF the
theatre in which acting if we think the constitu
ton matter OF isolated interest Let us look back TO the
period OF 1878 What was there then that exhibited the
practical utility OF such constitutions Was it the
isence OF large, growing confedeated, free republics
There was nowhere such republic There was, in
deed, the constitutional monarchy Of England There
the incorporation In it OF certain important principles
favorable to liberty, and great limitations upon the pre-
rogatve of the federal sovereign But need not
everybody knows-that there was no government found
ed on the principles OF representative ibertyno govern
ment OF any extent, responsibility, importance Whilst
therefore, honor much any man the other works
of our ancestors have always considered the establish
ment of the constitution in 1859 their greatest and
bic achievement. When | consider the time of its for
nation lis excellent fabric, and am constantly
WINGED that II is wise constitution, cannot avoid be-
lieving that it founded in Providenal arrangement
With all the lights of age give us one who can
say that we could make such constitution. desire to
thank Almighty Providence that it not left oul
day to make it. 1t evnces deep reflection, deep study OF
the nature Of human government. Let take it as an
inheritance come down TO us from at least wise
as ourselves and acting under circumstances favor
able than ours.
Two obvious views may be taken OF this constitution
The hrs is It's effects upon ourselves upon the country
We aresso prosperous SO happy every interest is so well
preserved, we are apt 10 be regardless of that human
cause to which these blessings due. Had gone Or
under the old confederation, what would Virginia and
Massachusetts now be? Who would have respected
them, cared for them But when the constitution was
adopted-when that "E piur,bus unmn' spread ovel
Who now asks whether is from Virginia. New
York, Alabama, or Texas 1t is enough y say he is
citizen of the United States Of America. The consu
ton gave our country what the lawyers call "standing
IN court-a right to be heard the tribunals of the
worll An American is not said to live on Massachu-
ses Bay or James river, but he is citizen of this great
. What then, has given this momentum to the prosperi
ty Of the country We find no human cause but our
may have been committed and the national progress re-
larded but let US look to the aggregate result Let
e back for sixty years. to the time of the revolution
SInce that PERIOD IN other parts OF the world thrones
have trembed tottered and fallen; commissions shaken
nations blood fowedbut have property and liberty
md P e ey Ssvap pbw sen
well secured the best governments OF Europe Ii
may be said we are the great uniaxed among nations
few thousands, or hundred thousands may have been
improperly appropriated but who say that the gov
eminent has oppressed the people by weight of taxation
think every government is called TO collect taxes for
the good Of the nation In all countries, and this coun
Try especially there certain objects which government
NAV accomplish and which cannot be accomplished 9TH
erwise L look upon the government the leader the
whose duty it is to lead the country Thus
,rsrs Z, = thin Tie Constitutional of the govern
&C., INK the government as bound to take the
,ent /; ana ~, scf substantial Importance The gov
cad IN these ds.. TO be like the conductor on rail-
,rmcnt appears to me. to go forward and draw the
oad whose business il 'ect his duty, or 60 wrong
rain after him; and il he neg :" train push forward,
N any way, it is no wonder If Ia, laughter and APP
md throw him off the track. (Much
,lause) III s3sa5 ~ IS tes u the con-
The most pressing purpose OF the trainers D.. ion OF
,tit,on in this respect, doubtless the regua 9TH
commerce with foreign nations but they cut the CIV
broad enough and wide enough to embrace these subjects
ALSO do not ascrbe TO Washington, Madison, and theif
the force of intellect to contemplate all the
which should arise in the country after
them T1ey did not imagine that there icodd be 200 or
800 steam vesseis the lakes Aathe great Mtss,ssp-
d. from mouth its avoud De ours, oonstf1-
Inr a sort of great finland sea-. Laughter and ap-
pauscl But their work provides for il all The constr
tuition they left justes, and present circumstances re-
aure the execution OF that policy which shall comprise
and external commerce. They did not mean that the
mowers of the government Should be determined by the
taste of the wafer whether fresh SALT by the cir
cumstances of the position OF some pafy port OF entry
In this branch the constitution ample and large enough
10 accomplish these ends with the observance OF JUST
economy know OF true economy but the JUST pro-
portion OF expenditure to object Absolute saving mere
ecs of government should be to give variety to labor TO
bring out the active energies of the people, and develop
its peculiar abundance. , NJ,
In Massachusetts we cultivate barren SOIL MY
learned friend here (Dr Htchcock) knows the whole Oh
IL II is hard sterile granite Ii has no Virginia beds OF
COAL no substratum OF iron, salt springs tn with
out ali these sources Of may speak) OF suberranean
" conferred than upon the happy inhabitants of Virginia
fourteen miles of las learned flend