Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1847-10-14

DELIVERED AT THE WING STATE CoNyEN-
TIoN, AT SPRINGFIELD, MASS.
SEPT. 30, lS17.
Mr.. PRESIDENT With others who have
he honor of representing this Common
wealth in the Congress of the United States,
l have come here to-day, solely at the re-
quest of the Wing State Committee. Ineed
hardly say, sir, that it gives me great pleas
ure, on this, as on former occasions to meet
so large and respectable representation of
the Wings of Massachusetts.
In the more especial duty assigned to the
Convention, of selecting candidates for the
thief offices of the State, / had no original
uty assigned to me. may venture, how
,ver, sir, to express my qualification at the
great unanimmity which has marked the
proceedings of the Convention in present.
ing to the people of Massachusetts, again,
persons so well known for their principles,
so we'll known for their opinions, so well
known for the fidelity with which they adj
here to principle and opinion.
l suppose, Mr.. President, that so far as
those of us who belong to Congress were
expected to take any part in the delibera-
tons of this assembly, it was only looked
for, that we should express our opinions up
on the present state of national affairs, in the
crisis, | think an imminent one, at which
we have arrived. | could have desired, sir,
that some of my colleagues of better health
and more ability, had preceded me in SUBJ
hitting any remarks tothe meeting; but as
it is, sir, being apparently called upon, am
here, ready to express my opinions, humble
as they are, frankly, on any subject and
every subject that is interesting to the peo-
pie of this Commonwealth. There is moth
ing wish to put forward thank God, there
is nothing ! shrink from.
We are, in my opinion, in most unne-
cessary, and therefore most unjustihable war.
| hope we are near the close of it. | attend
carefully and anXiously to every rumor and
every breeze that brings to us any report
that the effusion of blood, caused, in my
judgment, by a rash and unjustiiabe pro-
ceeding on the part of the government, may
cease. In this state of public affairs, in
this state of excitement of public feeling,
which we know, upon this subject of war,
pervades all classes and all ranks, have
first to say, sir, that any counselling from
me, and | am sure that any counselling
which this body would receive from me,
will not entrench upon the loyalty which we
owe to the Constitution of the country, and
the obedience which we are bound to pay
to the laws.
We are bound, sir, to consider the nature
of the government under which we live
There must be in every government some
supreme power, some ultimate will, from
which there is no peaceable appeal. In
mixed monarchies, like that of England
the sovereign will resides with the king
and the parliament In despotic govern
ments it reposes solely in the breast of the
monarch, as in Russia, Austria, and else
where But with us, under our free repub
lican and representative government, Thu
public will, which we all agree, must in thu
end prevail, unless from peace we resort t.
force, consists in the expressed opinion o
the majority, ascertained according to TIN
principles of the Constitution. Within tn
limits prescribed by the Constitution, AM
pronounced agreeably to its forms, we mus
submit to this will and opinion, or give u
all government and surrender ourselves t
state of anarchy. The law Of the major
ty according to our established forms,
majority ascertained in agreement with tn
principles of the constitution, is the LAY
which you and |, and all of us, are boun
to obey.
Sir, should hardly have adverted to th
if / did not think that ] see, aioat in tn
community, signs somewhat of dangeror
tendency. agree that all powers may !
so abused as to require resistance, whethC
it be the power of an autocrat, of king an
parliament, or of maority for all powt
III human hands may be so far abused, ma
make so fragrant case, as to render it il
Al & Ia Of ne
err. That is not the exercise of polite
right under the constitution Of the countr
but the exercise of natural right, again
the constitution. Now, sir, suppose v
are all here to-day, with design TO &C
here and elsewhere, in our several capac
ties, in the exercise of our political RICH
under the Constitution of our country, al
not in the exercise of our natural right
against the Constitution Sir, there is n
one Of us here, who has had the honor
bearing any office, high or low, IN the Tn
ted States government, or any State Cover
ment, who has not sworn that he will su
port the Constitution of the United State
and no man is ignorant of the fact that q
Constitution of the United States coniers
Congress the power of making war Al
therefore there is no man so ignorant as n
to know; when that power has been eXerci
ed according to the forms of the Constt
ton, that the expressed will of Congress
the law of the land, and is the rule of eve
mans civil obligations. We may oppos
and are often in duty bound to oppos
counsels which we think lead to war or OF
err disastrous consequences. hope tn
for one, have not been altogether neg
gent of this duty; but when the delibel
tions of government result in law, tn
the law is of course to be regarded ha
already said that regard the present p