The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-01-13

look upon II as an honor.
was not very old before perceived that. wit
the mighty lever which you work. the ready write
Is stronger than the great orator. Cicero coul
only address those who came within the sound
his voice; but now an editor can address thou
sands in all portions of the world; he can make IN
views known TO them; he can impress his opinion
upon them; he can make himself heard by them
as it were. Bot what Is he? What is this editor
after all! mere piece of weakness and inetii
cheney, without that active energy which you Civ
TO his labor, and that dissemination which you sc
cure to his ideas and principles.
Truly tine life of editor il a hard life. For, il
this day OF Improvement and progress, that stean
press, Of which you have heard 50 much ight
hurries the editor at rapid pace. Hc has his trial.
and his difficulties 10 keep up with that inexcrab
steam engine, which is the great fact OF this cen
tury. But he must keep up ioih IL, for that public
opinion, of which you have heard from my trienc
opposite 10 me, is a5 ne1orabe as the steam engine
No matter what news may come upon US to- igbt-
II we should hear of revolution and commotioi
abroad -of such revolution and commetion a
that which conyused France in lSiS-if we shoulC
hear that Europe was convulsed, and thrones wer
tottering, that it might if God was agar
saying to the nations, "remove the diadem and pu
of the crown''-your editor to morrow Is expected
to know where every line was planted, where every
division situated; to know every law, every
custom that was in issue. Inexorable public opin
ion, and the inexorabe steam press, command him
10 know the of the conflict and all other facts
and circumstances, so that he may be able to SCI
forth all the iact5, and to elucdate all the points
national law involved, and have it all prcpa RED
icithout any error 'or mistake. There is hope o
being able TO correct himself to- morrow. He must
have 1t all ready and accurate for his readers al
breakfast time, or he is a worthless editor. WoS
be to him II he commits a mistake! Voc be tC
him il he falls into error! He has committed a
crime which admits no justifcaton-even ex-
cuse wiil not be heard. The editor has no right to
make mistakes-he has no right to fall into errors
If he does either then that huge, ugly, and vora-
clous beast, INCONSISTENCY, ID turned loose upon
him, to devour and destroy him.
But let us look, gentlemen, at your lot. We have
the representative systemwe have representative
These representatives will make speeches, and you
have to print them; and il they do not make good
speeches, my friend whom l see taking notee, will
have to report them, and you and he will have to
make good speeches for them, or fall under the
curses that fall editors. trust the reporter will
treat me as Congress would require him TO treat
ono OF the representatives of the people.
These matters are incidental They are the mere
friction Of the machinery. That machinery is ne
cessary in order TO give breath and vitality to peo
po which, like the people of the American continent,
have had TO hew down the forests and build up a
system OF governments and OF States the like of
which has never yet been seen upon the earth.
We stand indifferent among these things-the Won
dcrs which encompass Daily custom has made
them familiar to us; and in like manner are
accustomed to see the rise every morning in
all his splendor, while we take notice Of the
great miracle which is rising upon US. But sup
pose we had been race born in darkness-that
had never looked upon the light of day-that We
saw for the first time tina, luminary rising in the
heavens-then we would instinctvely do, as the
fire worshpers of old, PROSTATE ourselves before it
in humble worship. So If the great phenomenon
of the present day-THE PREss--had arisen sud-
denly upon the vision Of the world in all its power,
not having cast aside the mist which rested on
nens minds, where is he that could comprehend
and encompass it? Where is he that could look on
its splendor without yelling his eyess
The Press has worked wonderful effect, 1t has
had q wonderful influence 1t has changed not
as vO
been told tonight, but ii has changed the whole
structure of government, and il has reversed the
relations which existed between the government
and the governed The distinguishing feature OF
ancient civilization was, that the mas was the mere
thing made for tho government. The Press has
incucated .he true belief that government il the
thing made for the man II is the only proper use
of government TO shield and TO protect the citizen in
his rights, and to secure TO him the enjoyment of
all that belongs to him. If we begin to consider
that there is something sacred in the government
itself-something sacred in the mere ma 1hincry
which men have devised for The purpose of their
protcction-thcn We begin 10 retrogradc. No gov
c,nlnent is rightful, no government is legitimate
but that government which does justice, which
preserves right and which giyes to labor the fruits
OF its own toll.
IlQyc this Union, aud IN my humble way have
done what could to ipcuioate reverence for it,
Bat If this Union is 50 be preserved it only be
preserved by preserving the rights Of the great CO.
partners which formed il; protecting them in the
enjoyment OF their property under the Constitution,
and in making not the thing sacred, but The bonds
which make that thing sacred There memo
res in the past, there are hopes in the future, which
should make every man love this Union, and cling
to it as the ark Of safety. Blu! leokng ,e tho n-T
and looking to the future; ne p,sa sAn 49, .s,
" ho wilfully tra,upi,-. u,,o- " 80, me that he
Syn.ti,. ,.tiur. H~ principles OF the
e'--- ..- wilfully sets at naught the
=, compromises of that compact, he who urges
the people Of 4hese sovereign States to fratricidal
war against each other, and wishes 10 array them
rttri.t IN
banner of this ConfederaCy, because he chooses to
sing p9ans TO the Union.
Our fathers were bound to each other by common
sutierings and by common tolls. They were united
by common feelings and common sympathies, by a
common religion and language. Their hearts were
welded together, as 1t were, by common dangers,
by common oppression and by common trials, and
by common triGmphs. Thus was the Mon formed
BY cherishing the remembrance of these things
only can this Union be preserved The Union can
only be eserved by preserving justice. No SOW
ereign has right-no sovereign people have a
right-to contravcne the requirements of justice.
Government should shield labor protecting and
securing it--taking from it none of its just re-
wards. Let capital have its due, for capital is but
the product OF former successful labor Let 1t all
be protectcd; let all be honored; let il all be
speccd; but, above all, let labor have its just re-
wards.
l conclude, gentlemen, by giving you this scnti-
ment:
The Printers Of America: Their influence like
that of the sun, shines in all lands, bringing forth
good fruits-a harvest of sound republican princi-
pies
The Committed of Arrangements next proposed.
The Baltimore Graft: May they never run out OF
sorts as long the Sun shines, CLpper skins the
waters, an An.oican lives, Patriot dwes on the
land, or an drgus sees.
The President of the Baltimore Typographical
Society acknowledged the compliment IN sppro-
pirate terms, and proposed the following senti-
lnent:
The Typographical Profession throughout the
Union for the sake of the United States.
The Committee of Arrangements next pro-
posed
The Reporters-The most accommodating friends
Of the printers except when they keep them stand
ing for copy.
Mr.. SnEAHAN, of the Republic, responded to the
compliment, and proposed:
The American Printer-To be an independent
man, should know the value OF his labor, and never
take lees.
The next toast was
The Philadelphia Printers Union for the cake OF
the Union.
Mr.. KEysKR, of the Philadelphia Union, re-
sponded; and proposed:
Franklin--W hen his name shall cease 10 be re-
vered, gratitude will be extinct and patriotism