The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-07-03
From The National Intelligence.

From The National hlteHigenee.
The Webster Dinner at CApOn Springs.
A friend who was present has supplied us
with the following particulars respecting Mr..
/ WEBsTER's visit to the Capon Springs. He
was most cordially welcomed at that place by
the proprietors, and, we understand has not
only enjoyed but been benefited by his sojourn
there.
On Saturday last he was entertained at a
public dinner, given to him by two or three
hundred of the yeomanry Of that region Of
country, without respect to party. IL was, in
every particular, splendid affair, and there
were persons present who had travelled fifty
miles Zone old revolutionary soldier having
lcGlked in the burning sun some fifteen miles)
for the purpose of paying their respects to the
defender of the Constitution" The speech
which Mr. WEBSTER delivered on the occasion
was received with the greatest demonstrations
of pleasure, and we are happy to publish the
subjoined accounted it in our paper of to-day.
The enthusiasm which it excited was immense;
and we are informed that distinguished mem
bers of the Democratic party compllmented the
speaker in public manner for his b0ldness in
giving expression to his liberal and enlarged
views
Sir Henry L. Bulwer. the Hon. Lewis c.
be present, were toasted, and also delivered
brief speeches, which were warmly received,
and are complimented in the highest terms by
our correspondents. OF these, that by Sir
Henry Bulwer is the only one which has come
to hand, aud we publish it in connexion with
Mr.. Webster's.
MR.. wEBsTER's SPEECH.
The gentleman who presided at the dinner
w m L. of Tor. nd
in introducing the distinguished guest Of the
company, he remarked as follows:
am about TO announce the next general toast.
The sentiments expressed in ii are in nowise dis
tnguished for novelty They known here in
the secluded recesses of North Mountain as they
are known at the National Metropolis, or at the
Court of St. James Vienna. They do not be
long to, nor can they be appropriated by, any To-
caity, by any State, confederation of States but
wherever man is Free wherever he is the subject of
constitutional freedom, or is struggling for that
boon, there, in whatever cline or latitude he may
be, he claims to participate in this general fund.
Announced now on this OCCASION as they have been
announced heretofore and over again. they
will be reannounced again and again, by the pres
ent age and all future ages, long liberty and
union are one and inseparable. [Applausel Our
distinguished guest, who ID the subject of these
sentiments, has been so kind as to say that here,
1 in the bosom of VIRGINIA, he is at home. think
he said he felt himself at home. Sir, we intend
you shall be at home. fApplause.l We have given
/
| you-but we have given you our affections. Long
ago you enchanted our understandings; now you
have thrown spell over our hearts You imperled
all for usand Virginia is not the dwelling place of
! ingrautude. lGreat applause. You have asserted
the vital rights of the South lettering power of the
! General Government leaned against you for sup
! port, and you upheld it. You claimed its execu-
! ton not merely by silent vote, or u formal
/ speech in the Senate; but you have travelled into
! your adopted State, which was bone of your bone,
and which, for quarter of a century, has given
you all she had to give and Is ready to do it again;
and there, with the shadows of that great revou-
tonary monument you, and in the language
| OF your great prototype, you have declared, aye
men OF Athens, ye worship an unknown God
And you have but returned from the great State of
| New York, aud there, IN the central parts, where
these hydra principles first received serious pOi-
cal organization, even there rung, with moral
subimity all your own into the ears of every civil
officer in that vast dominion the fearful challenge
to look to and respect the oath he hath taken to
support the Constitution of the United States. Sir,
! you come among Us suddenly, and can add
| expectedly. We have neither pomp nor circum
stance to give you; but we have deep and abiding
sense of the inestmable service you have rendered
our beloved country, and have sought, and do
now most earnestly seek, to impress your mind
with that conviction. give you, gentlemen
/ "DANIEL WEBSTER, our distinguished guest:
/ The jurist and statesman who has illustrated the
/ glory of our country The champion of the Con-
stitution and the Union, who has the seed of
constitutional liberty broadcast the civilized
world
Mr.. WEBSTER rose to respond amid deafen-
ing applause. He said:
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN: FELLOW CITIZENS OF
VIRGINIA: 1t is my fret duty to express, however
inadequately, my gratitude to you, and all, for
this unexpected token of respect. am aware that
many Of you have come from great distances;
many of you, know, have come upon the saddle
under burning sun, and you have done this to
| tom mo tolre If ard rpo oil
that many of you have left your estates and har-
vest fields at time when every hour, whether
] proprietor or workman, is so important For this
gentlemen, thank you. am afraid this courtesy
which you have extended to me has been to you
costly and inconvenent, and therefore, gentlemen,
| il sinks more deeply into my heart. thank you,
! gentlemen.
1t has been my fortune, gentlemen, to have seen
much of Eastern Virginia and of Southern Vir-
! ginia; in past times also, gentlemen / have seen
something of Western Virginia, those counties
bordering the Ohio river; but not until this
week, gentlemen, was it my fortune to have seen
any thing of the beautiful and renowned valley
where now stand. Iesteem it my great for
tune to have had few days leisure, or at least
| few days that could spare from my official du-
ties, to follow tho of the Potomac, penetrate
the Blue Ridge. and, turning to the left along the
! country between the Blue Ridge and the Allegha-
ny. My journey through your country thus far
has been one of great pleasure and admiration.
am free to confess that, from the time crossed the
Potomac, and, leaving it, went with the train up
wards along the valley Of the Shenandoah, have
seen a country Astounding in fertility and remark
able for its vast richness and beauty. / have seen
the great grain growing country of New York and
of Ohio, and other western States, Of England,
from Hertfordshire to the borders Of Scotland but
/ have never seen any thing surpassing that which
] crossed from the time left Harper's Ferry till
reached Winchester. have been told that the
same rich country extends beyond, and is to be
found through Shenandoah, Rockingham, and
Augusta counties, hope, gentlemen, soon to have
an opportunity Of witnessing the truth of that
statement Applause admire, too, your noun
tain scenery; admire it for it's sublimity and
| grandeur; though, perhaps, these mountains are