The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1849-11-24
Speech Of NzE. Webster.


The following speech by Hon, Daniel
Webster, was delivered at the New Hamp-
shire Festival, on the 7th inst.
Gentlemen, departing from the charac-
ter Of particular States, leaving for the
present, and as last, the as'eeable thoughts
that have entertained us-of our own homes
and our own origin, it seems to me, before
we part, not improper that we should call
to our attention the marked character OF
the age in which we 1--we, and the great
part that in the dispensation of divine
Providence we are called upon TO act in it.
We are in an age OF progress. That
progress is toward sclI-government by the
enlightened portion OF the community ev-
cry where. And a great question is, how
this impulse is to be carried on without
being carried to eXcess-how popular gov
eminent can be established without running
into licentiousness.-This is the great ques-
ticn, and we have seen how difficult il is
by those not taught in the school of cXpe-
rience to establish that government.
1t is q common sentiment, distributed
by those who would revolutionize Europe,
that to be free you only have to gil it.
That is tallacy. There must be prudeuce
and balancing Of departments, there must
be persons who will teach the science OF
government, and there are but few, except
in this country, who can teach this science.
Hear, hear And we have arrived at
this ability by an experience of hundred
years. And how has it come! Why,
we are on oil-shoot of the British constitu-
ton. We came here and established this
government by a great popular principle,
and that is by REPRESENTATIVE poper, and our
people have been accustomed to this for
two hundred years.
10 abide by the voice of the Represen-
ta,ives fairly choscn-by the edicts of
those who make the Legislative enactments,
has been our policy. And from the first
settlement of the colony at Plymouth,
through all our subsequent history, we
have adhered TO this principle. We threw
off the power of the king. We also re-
jected the power of the Parliament. That
was John Adams doctrine. And this is
the reason why the Parliament was not
alluded to in tile Declaration of Indepen-
dence. The colonies acknowledged the
power Of the Crown, but never acknowl-
edged the authority of the Parliament,
they disdained to give any reason Tor
throwing off the power of Parliament.
When the revolution severed us from
the mother country, then we had nothing
to do but 90 on with our elections, sup
plying the Governors not appointed by
the Crown by our own election, and so go
on as at first and that which it was ena-
bled the colonies of Connecticut and Rhode
Island, down to very late period, to con-
tlnue their ancient constitution.
| But where else could this be done
! Could you 60 to the colonies of South
America to find anything like a represent
tatlve government?
If you look any where besides at France
on the continent of Europe, can you find
any thing that bears the aspect of a repre-
sentative government !-There is nothing.
1t is very difficult 10 establish free con-
servative government for the equal ad-
vancement of all the interests Of society.
What has Germany done-learned Ger
many, fuller of ancient lore than all the
world beside! What has Italy dome
what have they done, who live on the spot
where Cicero and Justinian lived9 They
have not the power of self-government
which common town meeting possesses.
(Applause.)
Now | say that those persons who have
gone from our town meetings to dig gold
in California are more fit to make a Re
publican Government than any body OF
men in Germany, because they have learn
ed this one great lesson, that there is TO
security without law, and that under the
circumstances in which they are placed,
where there is no military authority TO
cut their Threats, and there is no will but
the will of the majority, therefore if they
remain they must submit to that will.
1t is the prevalence of this general SEN
timent of obedience to law-that they
mus, have representatives, and that # they
be rairly chosen, their cdicts must stand
for law. And where they have our habits
you will find that they will establish gov
ernment upon the foundation OF a free
basis, and nothing else will.
Now | think, gentlemen, that while we
prescribe no forms-while we dictate to
nobody-our mission is to show that con-