Daily Richmond times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1849-1850, 1850-11-22
From the New York Express of Tuesday,.
CD EINGII A NJ III


by the COMMITTEE oil Safety appointed here at the great
Union Meeting, and by considerable number Of our
most respectable merchants, engaged in all the varieties
OF commerce who desired to express to him their pro-
found gratitude for his patriotic and national course
~ hiram Kechum, ESQ., the organ of the Union
Committee, and in most appropriate language, he ex-
pressed himself.
Mr. Webster replied in substance, that he was highly
grathed to receive such delegation from the Commit
tee appointed by the general Union Meeting in Castle
Garden. and other gentlemen who had accompanied
them he purposes oil that meeting, its aim and objects
met with the approval of his head and his and
with a his mind and his might, he would always be rea-
dy to defend them, and carry them out (Applause9
There were crises in public affairs, when it was
necessary to revive and re-anmate an attachment to
the Union, and to recall the principles upon which it
was formed, and the motives for winch it formed
and one OF these crises was now And in his opin-
on there was no place for this revival becoming as
among the men Tor whom the union was formed and
whose influence confirmed and established the Union
The Union was created for many purposes. One was
to pay on The National Debt another to the
proceeds OF the Public Land Tor the payment of that debt
Yet others Were to make people and to give
peace at home and responsibility abroad
But 1t will be found by those who investigate the matter
that the main purpose for which was formed was to aid
and protect Trade and Commerce Underline old conted
Grafton the business interests OF the country continued in
the most deporable condition-and though the war of
Independence had given the People Liberty it left them
little but Poverty, and little hope for the future but
continuation OF that Poverty.
10 create government which should protect Trade
ties upon imports, and regulation as to exports
which would make the conflicting business Legislation
OF thirteen independent States the legislation of but one
| Government-was the main argument urged for the
adoption o. the Federal Constitution.
twill be found in perusing sthe reports, the argl
ments the newspapers of that day, that Commerce and
Trade, more than anything else created the Consti-
tution-and when the Constitution is in danger Com
merce and Trade first naturally rally to protect it.
(Applause.)
As long ago 1857, just after the Peace, it will be
found that your Mr. Jaw and MIR. Madison, urged one
Government, and and that a Union Government, upon
these grounds, and for these reasons and when the
Constitution was brought before the People to be adopt
ed, Its main defenders and protectors, came from the
commercial classes.
In your own State it was on tide water alone that
in the Convention, the Constitution bad hearty sup
port and that but for these tide water counties, the
Constitution never would have been adopted.
So in Massachusetts, The Federal Constitution,
when 1t came before the Convention had its defenders
and protectors in the commerce OF the maritime part Of
the State.
The great counties of Worcester and Hampshire.
which had received so many blessings from the Con-
stuon, not its advocates but its supporters came
from Suffolk, Yarmouth, York, and Cumberland and
others.
Thus, it will be found that Trade and Commerce
which projected the Constitution be received of the
Confederation and which it projected to protect trade
and commerce, were in the State Conventions lis main
defenders.
Thus now when the Constitution is assaulted when
Its contracts denounced, when its whole spirit OF
dIlty Is threatened Wltha break
ing up;-the commercial classes here, and elsewhere
rs calls for its support and first calls upon the people
to the rescue. (Applause)
The Union not in danger gentlemen when the spirit
OF the people Is awakened Tor its defence. The danger
now will bowlover, when such interests as see here be-
fore me, come to the Under the blessings of
God we shall escape the present peril as we have
capped all other perils.
Conventions NAV be held in the North and in the
South that teach unconstitutional doctrines and that
threaten nuhcaon; but they will blow over, and the
men who start them, will blow with them. The
great objects Tor which the Government formed are
greater now than ever and it is not possible, that tho
People will after reflection, endure an abandonment of
them.
We have lived together as one people now sixty odd
years and moreand we shall continue to live together
as long cherish the interests that make us one peo-
ple The great object OF government is Protection to
property at home, and respect and renown Abroad
Gentemen,i was not my fortune to see your city,
tn many years. Just passed through it on my way
for the first time to take my seat in Congress 1t then
had, including Brooklyn, think, some $4,000 nhabi-
ants.
Amid all our discussions upon subordnat ssslbjects,
the government ffs gwen us this projection at home
and this renown abroad slong it thus answers its
end and aim, will not be> the power of parties, or
factions, or cabas, to abolish it.
1t has given commerce, responsibility, and protection
abroad, and it has created and animated your commerce
here
1t now approaches including Brooklyn, l am
told, three quarters of million. In this wonderful
growth, and this great prosperity which has lined your
WnarVeS WIN snlS, ana your streets with warehouses;
you no doubt are greatly indebted to your enter
prise but you are much more indebted to this Union
this being one Government,-this being one people.
When General Washington took his oath, in Wall
street. to support the Constitution of the United States
administered to him by Chancellor Livingston, and
rounded by the officers and men, who fought with him
to achieve the independence that gave them thepower
TO create that Constitution the merchants of this city,
who then locked on for the first time, felt that they had
Government, and that this common coun-
try.
Without this Government, without this Union, your
enterprise would not have existed but it would have
struggled with rival governments with dstractng in
teress, with elements that would have constantly
threatened civil wars 1t is natural then that when you
feel this government in danger, you first start to its res
cue.
AS that country has extended you the successors OF
these merchants, have grown with growth, increased
with it's strength, and every interest then existing for the
creation OF this government fold now Appause)
Mr.. Webster, concluding with some other remarks.
then thanked the gentlemen for their kindness, and
wished them health and prosperity for themselves and
their families