The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-11-23
JOHN SERGEANT.
Tice Presidents.

Iohn A. Brown Edward Coles,
John Bennett DR.. l. N. Marsellis,
Lawrence Shuster, Howe Keith,
John F. Belsterling, Gen. G. Cadwalader
Samuel Allen John Hare Powell
A l., Roumfort Richard Wistar
James Bell h NJ. Lee,
George H. Martin, Chas. Thomson Jones,
Joseph G. Ciarkson, Francis J. Grund,
"a r. LOPEZ, Edu,. wariman,
Hugh Campbell John r. Smith
VIM Deal VIM. English,
DR. Samuel jackson, DR.. Samuel Thomas,
Robert Ewing, Robert Tyler,
David Woelper. John Lindsay
James Landy, John II. Campbell
Jacob Broom, John Foukrod
Richard Norris, WIN. f. Small.
Joseph b. Busser VIM. d. Lewis,
James A. Campbell, Andrew Miller,
John Oakford, j. b. Lippincott,
Thomas McGrath, VIM. Harmer,
VIM. Wiknson, Hugh Clark
Jas. Fletcher, VIM. :. Price.
John NJ. Scott Edwd. ID. Ingraham
DIR. J. X. Mitchell, Joseph M. Thomas,
James Magee, John Ashhurst,
Samuel Brock, Joseph Ycager,
Col. John swift, John r.. Machette.
Peter Sken Smith,
Secretaries
John G.. Mont omery, Thomas S. Fernon,
John II. Dichl, Henry Nj. Phillips,
Samuel w Weer Charles ]. Bdde,
William V. Boyle, Wash. j. Jackson,
John G.. Brenner, w. Hayward Drayton,
Benz. H. Brewster, Harry Connolly,
G. G. Westcott, Winthrop Sargent,
f. w Bailey, George J. Gross.
AIR. SERGEANT, upon taking the chair, said he
must frat express to his fellow citizens his deep
sense of the honor they had done him in calling
him To the chair of such meeting, upon such
occasion. He would say, with sincerity. that ne
heartily united with them IN ats purposes. lie
verify believed they of one mind and
heart; and he believed, nay, he was firmly con.
WINGED, that there was the same unanimity through
out the whole of this great commonwealth
There not, he was sure, single individual,
within her borders who was a pisunionist a
Secessionist, dissatisfied with his
sociates, TO be willing to apply blazing torch TO
the common ark of our safety, and make one great
conflagratiop of il in order get rid of them. No.
They we're one in feeling, they one in convic-
ton and-be il renaembered-they would be one in
their performance of whatever duty they owed their
country.
He ielt very painfully that, thus honored he
disabled by indisposition to address them as
the occasion deserved. He must, however, say, or
endeavor TO say, very few words, and leave the
rest TO those who TO after him, who
fully competent to embody and express the
thoughts and feelings which belong to the great
subject
This Union bears date the fifth day of Septem-
Der, IVA; and every American should remember
that TO maintain it il duty always binding upon
him. He has no choice about IL he must take
that the Constitution and Laws ntained
and enforced, and the Union preserved. The right
is clear rs that OF an individual to preserve mis-
own life.
The Constitution was the work of the Union
the whole of the united people of the United States
made il. They declared that the Constitution it.
self and treaties and laws made under il, should
be the supreme law of the land. They bind con-
clusvely all States and all individuals. Provision
il made for alterations of the Constitution. Until
alterations are made, according 10 that compact 1t
is the duty of the Government to maintain it, and
oi the whole people of the United States 10 aid them
TO do If there be doubt about the constitution
atty Of law, there ia tribunal under the Consti
tuition TO decide II, and the decision is final. To
that, also, submission is due by own compact
And he aTU ms n IN att he Doy-
given by the Consultation be nghtlully gwen
as they undoubtedly are-and if il be the duty OF
the Government TO enforce, and of the people TO
support them-if the powers given by an act OF Con-
gress be constitutional and It be (as il certainly is)
the duty of the Government TO carry laws into ef.
feet, thus Is our duty 20 sustain the law by aiding
the Government. He, therefore, had no further
duty to perform than to declare the meeting
gained and ready TO proceed to business.
Hon. G EoRoE NJ DALLAS then came forward and
spoke follows:
ments through their chairman, have handed me a
series Of resolutions, prepared by themselves, TO be
submitted TO this meeting. That duty shall be per
formed. Before, however, these resolutions are
read, you will allow me to call upon your intelli-
gepce while make few, and, / hope, a very few
predatory remarks, explanatory in come degree Of
their scope, their character, and their tone. ! do
not propose TO argue or persuade. II there be any
ono present 10 whom IL may be necessary 10 use
Argument persuasion, he had better not listen TO
me. tApplause ] will not 70 Pennsyvanians,
nor 20 Phtladeiphla use argument on persuasion,
when such meeting az thsis invoked 10 stand By
the country in her hour Of trial. fGreat applause
But, fellOw-citizens, no torm oi government Is
more difficult TO construct than federal union Of
sovereign republican States. All history shows The
extreme difficulty Of accomplishing such task.
Ga order 10 achieve IL there IL necossary 20 much
Gorbearance. 80 much sacrifice Of local prejudices
and interoststbere 10 necessary the exercise Of
much public virtue for the general good, that all
mankind have found II one OF tbe hardest, If not
an impossible task 10 accomplish.
To make such government is hardship only
equalled by the difficulty Of maintaining II; and yet
when once made, and once in operation, all reason
and all experience prove that IL il the very best
government for man that be formed. ZAP
plsusel A federal union Of Republican States,
gives 70 commerce, trade, and agriculture almost
an unboundcd expansion and perfect security Such
n government gives 10 the arts and sciences,
impulse, encouragement and refinement Such
government IL absolutely necessary for all the
tions purposes Of power, Of wealth. and of chsrac-
ter. Such government gives TO the enjoyment of
private rights in the humbest, well az the high
est spheres Of life, perfect guarantics and such a
government, fellow citizens, creates a rallyinp
symbol, portrayng the character and obiecl of ia
existence, and beneath whose flowing folds every
man finds honor and respect. [Applause.l
Fellow. citizens, such a government was formed
soc us. ! need not advert TO the eminent men no
adorned their country at the period OF the formation
Of The Constitution Of the United States. need
not mention their names, although their names are
sipnals for the admiration the ycnerntion the nf-
The Government was formed, and from the thir-
tieth Of April, 1889, when George Wellington lap
plausel took the oath Of office Chief Magistrate,
under that government, in the city Of New York
FROM that hour down To the present il has accom-
plished all the great objects Of the American poo-
pie tApplsose.l II has proved itsclf TO be match
Teas instrument, framed by extraordinary wisdom,
as you will recollect, fellow sitizens il oriqi-
mated, was discussed, and adopted in a convention
thai assembled in this city; and subsequently that
form Of government, thus adopted, passed through
the various States then composing the Union in this
country, and received the confirmation Of cOnven-
tions 10 each and every State. SO ratified by the
universal voice, and so adopted in emphatic Ian
guage, IL has worked we'll and nobly. lApplause ]
What has that government done for commerce.
for navigation, for trade During the lsst sixty
years, from the period Of its adoption down 10 the
present moment, II has run up the tonnage OF the
United States from the humbest TO the highest
hgure-ifOm 5000 tons 20 3 800 900 tons. Zap
piause u has made the aggregate Of exports and
imports Of the United States augment from the
figure in 1890 Of siO0OO,0OO, 10 the figure in 1850