Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1850-12-05
Speech of Hon. Daniel Webster.

On the 10Th inst Mr.. Webster had an interview with
the Union Safety Committee and other friends of the
Union and Constitution, the Asor House, in the city
of New York. where he was addressed in an appropri.
ate welcome by Hiram Ketchum, Esq. The following
are the concluding remarks Of Mr. Webster on that &C.
casion in which the great objects the formation of the
Constitution set forth, and, in which he shows the
rapid progress of the city under that instrument Mr.
Webster said:
never had the pleasure of being in New York until
passed through it my way Washington, in the
first session in which took my place member of the
House OF Representatives, in Congress. AT that time
New York and Brooklyn contained less than II 900 in
habtants and during my time of service in Congress,
which, however, has been long Tor any one individual
the population OF these cities has increased to three
fourths of million 1t could be no bad government
under which has sprung up such growth OF population
prosperity and wealth within such comparatively short
period The population of this city has doubled within
the last twenty years. and could have been
TALLY bad government under which this great city had
doubled its population in such short period
The attainment oil many great objects had induced the
people OF tins country TO form the present government
They wished to have strong united, cooperative gov
eminent, which could alone carry the objects they
had in view At the close of the Revolution there was
large unpaid debt there also the public lands to
be sold, which to be used a fund TO pay that
debt. But among all those causes which led to the for
nation oil this Federatve government the interests oil
trade and commerce the foremost and to promote
those interests it properly considered that there
should be but system and set of laws to regulate
them and that from Massachusetts to Georgia there
should be different duties. II you look back the
reports made at that time to Congress, particularly by
Hamilton, Madison being chairman, far back 1873,
not only it that the great prompting and promo
ting OF the Convention to form Constitution for
the people of the whole Unon has its commercial inter-
ess. The history of that time will show you that at
the North and South, it was the commercial interests
which supported the Constitution the several States
there
the State Of New York, from districts which did not
touch tide water.
The same is true of Massachusetts. Worcester, and
other counties which did not derive much benefit from
commerce. opposed 10 the Constitution while Ply
mouth Suffolk, Essex and the other midland counties
were in favor of it, This shows from what tie
constitution had its existence. 1t formed mainly to
establish uniform set OF duties to pay off the national
debt, and carry the government; and in that
spirit 1t upheld in this city when it went into opera.
ton.
read account OF Washingons installation in this city
but still feel the emotions when turn back to
the time read the account Of it, When he stood up
Wall street, surrounded by who had gone with him
in the revolution, Known, tried, PATRIOTS such
Livingston and others, who for this city, and these
States, and for the whole country formed government
and that great man adopted it.
1t was formed in spirit of Unon in spirit of mutu-
al interest," for the preservation and promotion of lib
erty and well being nation And if to his
farewell address, must it not affect to find many
us acting IN opposition 10 the patriotic sentiments OF the
great Washington! 1t is time to return his authority
and draw in new drafts of patriotism from the orgna
fountain.
1t is time for us to become more and more American
and to become individually imbued with the merit o
America.
This government formed for certain objects leav
ing to the State governments in the spheres
signed to them and the general government to perform
the duties entrusted to it,
As for us, nothing discoura cling in the pres
ent aspect of affairs. Conventions may be held at thu
North at the South, but they will all vanish into THU
air.
Cabas and factions may arise and will arise but thel
will be rebuSed and suppressed by the great body of thu
American People"