Weekly national intelligencer., 1850-11-02
NATIONAL lNTELLIGENCER.
SPEECH OF HIRAM KErcHUM.

The following speech was delivered by Mr..
KETcHUM at the late Convention held al Uuca,
New York. Mr.. X. seldom appears before the
public but, when he does his eminent standing tor
ability, conscentiousness, and purity of character
gives weight 10 what he says. On thrs occasion has
address may be considered as an exposition of the
views generally held by the conservative portion of
the Whig party of New York:
Mr. Po.rn rose and remarked hst he came there to kear
such men as had already addressed em, and speak
himself There one such man whom he knew this
dience was desirous to hear and that Mr. HraAM
Us, of New York.
Al this appeal Mr. KErcHUM took the stand and was
greeted with three ousng cheers from the sudencs which
now 6ed every in the large hail. Order being
stored
Ms KxrcHun said: Gentlemen, although it has been my
fortune address my elow-cizens
public topics yet had the faculty of mang them
laugh and really as matter OF tasf my riends IT could
make YOU laugh, should wish do tonight II has
not been my fortune be much in public life like most
of you have been occupied for HE, not short, in my
own private concerns Dung the last session Of Congress-
however being long extended into the summer, when had
some leisure went Washington weAt observer;
and now, my friends, wish TO tell you what saw, what
learned and what heard not TO make you laugh but a
may presume say to make you think, to make you
think after You leave this house tonight have not word
TO say about conventions Syracuse have
word to say about eguas boters that Is not in line
come to blame nobody but speak Of that which interests
you and me, = think, my friends most deeply.
You all know that during the last session of Congress- for
nine months there great excitement you know thatone
topic occupied the deliberations of that Congress almost
cusivey, and the controversy very angry bsh Sides
We have indeed witnessed 20 long and angry conro
versy during any session Of Congress and will you al
low say my friends that it long and sngyas
in the Judgment persons best competent decide to ind
that dsunon hand This believe. Indeed
80
susceptible of mathematical demonstration. In hs state
Of things the oldest at Washington-I mean the men
who have been most trusted BY parties toth deshough
their duty aay excitement torestore peace to the
ellis of the country, and prevent the collision of But
hear my friend yonder cay, Oh yes Mr. Clay
excited and he made great Speech but he wants be Pres
dent hear another say, Tuewe think that Daniel Web
ser is wonderfully great man. perhaps Of the most
powerful intellect earth he certainly has been thirty years
Washington, watching the Of events end is
competent Judge in the matter but ws will not believe Mr.
Webster, because he wants 10 be Pre- sden" WE'LL they
were not the only There General CassS old
man. who has been in the service Of h countyhough he
differs from poiticaly-he too, excited and alarmed
But say you, "Oh yes, be- too old and he too,
wants to be President. Now, my friends, thus you dis
pose Of the witnesses, and cannot persuade you here
night if you thus dispose Of the vii nesses to believe that
there has been any danger any pprehenson Of COLI
sion of between the General Go and section
of this Union But you believe the witnesses if you had
snd talked with them, and had the spo and
been danger of collision of arms an most immnent dam
ger tothe Union, then, my friends, would feel do
Well, now in this state Of things. these great
both sides feeling appr ehension, and having
common object in view, aided by niger and able have
forward and settled the cont oversy, made adjust
ment without that collision Of and settled upon terms
which were believed to be fair am honorable as could be
settled between the North and the ouh has been barely
settled for although their nfu has been united and
has been directed with for weeks together
the object and aIheugh the have broughtith them
the reputation Of half century, end influence which is
commanding all this nation yet their influence, their
arguments have barely brought fbout adjustment which
has prevented that collision of arms.
But that adjustment made, nd the solemn question that
wish put to this audience is you wish this ag
tatlon renewed lCries of "fvo no. speak to those
outsiders for outsider know that the gentlemen
who here in Convention all right but speak my
feow-cizns the sober citizens of Oneida county Oneida
county one Of the richest oct civilized, most happy, and
most fourishing counties in this country lAppause.
speak to and speak in sober earnest whno desire to
abuse any body to uphold any body to put up
and pull down another, and sk you do you wish to
which, in my solemn judgment, has already brought this
country to the very vergeof ru renewed ICies Of No.
"no. Do you wish oty the experiment how much the
Union will bear It is the deepest anxiety upon this great
question, any question between Wings and Demo-
Gratis, thoug, have been Wing till this hair has grown
grey and eyes become somewhat dm that has brought
me here made anxious spectator in this Conven-
onand the Convention at Syracuse. Shall the controversy
i
repeat that is the questions and this question desire you
my friends 60 home and seriously and sobery consider
This Uni on, what 10 ,ita What has filled the State in
which Ii with abundant prosperity What has given
our palace in which live What has given
broad fields ind cultivated them to the highest pitch Of agr
cultural peril ction1 What has filled busy workshops
What has 81 schools, colleges and institutions of
learning, apd erected temples Of religion What but the
prosperity VIII ch has resulted from the union Of these States
Applause Now asky0u, my friends, you willing to
peril the exist Of this Union lShouts Of "no," no. y
Your answer is but you do not believe, cannot make
you believe beeve that it is n DANGER solemny be-
ieve, my eI as that such contest have just
ended would Il rmnase the existence Of this Union
Why, look at il! What is the union Of this country
You abstract the union of good feeling of kind and bohery
regard of pride the Of American of the recol
lection Of days when struggled under the stripes
OF the nation and do you think these forms Of government
this conscientious however perfect in its organisation will keep
you together! Can any man suppose And here are
sober men before discussing how will this Union be dis
solved! Let this controversy be renewed and be reopened
let angry contest arise theoor Congress- suchas may
arise at day during excited session. and let that pro-
duce general conflict the floor Of Congress- and this
Union s dissolved tell you my friends if it is patriotism
at the North hate the Sonh and If the South have no
feeling Of regard except for its section Of the Unon and
if these anagonsc feelings brought into collision inhe
councils Of country the Union possibly stand
matter how perfect the machinery Machinery can be made
to stand STILL and when the machinery Of this Government
stands still there end it. All this is worthy of con-
sideration at this moment
Now look back for moment and who has preserved
this Unon What chosen band Of and what organiza
aon has preserved this Union Why, gentlemen. at the
ooun there is natural tendency by of the great In
terest they have in quessn unite and become local
~ eeng and organization. They combine naturally de-
lend themselves AT the North the Union party has aays