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

[Applause What has it done for the population of
the American people land permit me TO say that
| the character of the augmentation and decrease of
the population is of the surest and most signif-
| cant tests of the excellence of its government
| what has it doneI From the figure in 1890 of
3s00,0 people, il has risen in 1850 10 25 900 900
What has II done fellow citizens, for the enlarge
| ment of the home OF the American people? Ii has
grown from mere oceanic border, constituted
by the original thirteen States, TO embrace CONT
nent! What has il done for the arts and sciences
Gas they constitute objects of care and affection
with all civilized people,) what has ii done for
them? Ask, fellow citizens, if he here, or you
could bring him here-ask the shade of Fulton and
let him say whether, If he the progress of that
which scarcely quarter OF century ago he start
cd--a steamboat-he would not be appalled, by the
result OF his invention Go further, and consult the
single iron track along which the lightning express
passes, enabling New Orleans and Boston TO 'whis-
per soft nonsense" in each others every min
ute. [Applause.l
Ask in addition, as 10 the progress of science and
OF art, the great iron track that contributes
terial and important element to the great Union,
interlacing all the Union and marching back
wards and forwards, in every direction, for the
comfort, accommodation, and convenience OF trade.
Go further, and ask, finally, this subject of the
progress of arts and sciences in this great country,
the last, the growing indication-that which a
British author has told his countrymen is the
| writing the wall-ask the victorious steamer,
the Pacific"
Further, fellow citizens, what has this Govern
nent done for the benefit Of the rights of men and
| the soace Of humanity: Where will you get your
readest answer 10 that question:! You will find it
in the scowing glances of every despot upon earth.
| lAppiausel Or II you cannot see II there, fellow
citizens, will tell you where you may find it; you
| may find il in the countless welcome throngs who
| have emigrated from abroad-who came as well
| from old Ireland AS from our German fatherland.
| [Applause.l And you find here that solace that
freedom, that happiness, that consolation through
out lfe amidst all its changes and difficulties,
| which the other continent denied. [Applause.l
But, fellow citizens, this government of ours,
since the year l790-what has it added to the
honor Of the American name? Go, go, if you
want an answer to that question, to the grave of
Pike, OF Ripley, of Games of Decatur, of Balm
bridge, Of jackson, and of Taylor. [Great and con-
tnued cheering.l But there is one thing, fellow
citizens about which there can be no difficulty at
all upon this the results Of this
government. 1t has given that which we all
delight to see-that which, whether at home or
abroad, speaks comfort and pride 10 our bosoms-
1t Is the star spangled banner. [App!ause.l With
out that government, where would that be?
And when summoned by the extraordi-
nary condition of our country to assemble upon an
occasion like this, it is important for to reco-
lect that the instant those who aim their deadly
blows against the Union of these States succeed
that gallant banner floats more! Applause. !
Now, have attempted thus rapidly and more by
ailuson, certainly than by anything OF argument
or persuasion, to characterize the Government of
the United States formed by the Constitution
that went into operation in 1883. Well, if these
be the results OF that governmental such be its
prepared, any one of you, to abandon and destroy
| iR [Cres of ''nol no!''l
Well, at the recent session of Congress, fellow
citizens, there were mooted variety of questions,
| interesting to the permanency of this great Gov
eminent of ours There the Admission of Cal
iforna into this Union, State, an equal foot
ing with any one OF the existing States [applause;]
there the settlement of the boundary, west and
northwest, of the lone star of Texas there was the
formation Of territorial governments for New Mex
leo and Utah; there was the removal of the slave
trade from the District of Columbia; and there was
the adoption OF a measure commonly known as the
Fugitive Slave Bill-[applause.l Now, fellow
citizens, involved directly or indirectly-expressy
or by implication involved, in all these measures
was the question as 70 domestic servitude in the
South.
They who framed the Constitution of the United
States, TO which have referred, neither fan
ciful, nor fanatic men. They framed a Constitu-
ton for a Union of sovereign republican States
they took the sovereign and republican States as
they: found them with their institutions, peculiar
they might he-with their local usages what
they might be, for all their pecuiarities their
institutions, their local usages were matters with
which the great men who framed that Constitution
felt and knew that they had nothing whatever to
do. IApplause
say, then, fellow citizens, that In reference to
the first four measures to which have adverted, it
is scarcely necessary that / should engage or oc-
cupy your time for instant These first four inca
irreversible-they have gone into the past
California-our young sistcr-Caifornia is in the
family-she is one Of the States of this Union, and
she cannot, by any course of legislation, be driven
out oft. Applause. The boundaries of Texas
are hxed-hIed not by any one Of us-not by Penn
sylvania, New York, or Virginia-not by either
the North, or by the South but the boundaries of
Texas are fixed and Interchangeable henceorward
by the consent Of the National Congress and by the
consent Of Texas herself [Applause The run
ming Of the boundary makes that an Interchangeable
boundary.
do not suppose that there is man in this whole
nation, whatever may be the contrariety Of opin-
ion-to which my good fellow-citizens are very
subject do not suppose that there IL in
this whole nation who dreams for one moment of
recalling to the capital Of the United States the
slave pens tnst have been overwhelmingly ex-
PEELED. The governments % the Territories Of New
Mexico and Utah, after much discussion end long
and laborous effort Of the Congress of the United
States, have been adjusted upon the usual custom
airy, and wise and established principles of the
Constitution Of the United States They will re-
main unchanged. There remains, then, fellow
citizens, but OF these measures-and that is the
last TO which have adverted-that may become
subject Of serious discussion and difficulty. mean
The Fugitive Slave bill.
That ball. in the fret place, is a law of this land
[Great and prolonse cheering No matter what
character discomfort may assume, wherever il be-
10 the North, TO the South, to the East or 20 the
West, disooptent and dissatisfaction must expend
Themselves in words, and cannot, and must not be
permitted to dare by force, resistance 10 the exc
cution of law. tGreat applause.I Such a course
strikes at the liberties Of the countryside order of
the counuy-strikes at the very principle thai is
dear TO a civilized American, and il Is enough for
him 10 know that, If the law be in itself objection
abe-f 1t be in tself entirely, or in any portion Of
its detai inconsistent with the Constitution Of the
United Stsesb discuss discuss, discuss till dooms-
day, II you like, but, while ~ q law, you must
yield 20 its operation a manly and republican ODE
disnce. JApplause.l
My fellow citizens, omitted to say that this is
feature which charnctorizes cgcn the Constitution Of
the United Statcs. That glorious instrument has
within itself principle Of amendment, and when
you do not like II in any Of ts features you have
only TO try and zee whether you can bring about
such change in the hearts Of the American peo-
pie as will induce them TO call a convention to mo.
dify the words Of Washington, OF Franklin, Of
Madison, Of the greatest and post glorious Of Anne
rcan statesmen and patriots. IApplauseI Let
them try their hands at IL, let them try their tai
ents at II, let them try their pens at it., and the
they try all their various instruments for the
purpose, the more certainly will the American peo-
pie adhere 10 the Constitution which has 80 nobly
tried and proved itself tApplause.l
say, then, in the first place. this Fugitive Slave
Law 10 law Of the land; and say, in the second
place, gontlemen-and say il with the conscious
ness that am heard by those who are wise in the
/ Law, wise in the Constitution, wise in the primer
/ ples of our popular Gevernmeni-l cay that that
Law -, in every one Of lie features, In every
one OF its arrangements, from the beginning a. ,he