The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-03-28

"iui, """ never VIII uutu the emo OF Time be-
cause, gentlemen, that great and glorious work
still remaining, will ever uphold his precepts
his exhortstions, and his example-the import
ance and the value of this Union of the States
| Applause. In that respect he works now, and
will work ever so long as his memory shall not
be etfaced from the records Of mankind. think
| hear him say to-day, in the language which he
expressed when he sent the present Constitution
of the United States to Congress- sour great
concern has been so TO arrange all our delibera-
TONS and come to such result, as shall strength
en- that Union which makes us one people"
hear him say that to-day, and hear him say to-
day, in the words of his farewell address, g Be
cautious Of all those who, under any pretence
| whatever, admonish you that you can be happy
under dissolution of the Union" Every ex-
hortation, every admonition, every sentiment
that proceeded from him, rings in these times
constantly in my ears Nay, | think hear him
say now in the abodes Of the blessed, that if it
were permitted to him, he would revisit the
EARTH and would be re-cl0thed with the bones
and the flesh which are Wondering at Mount
Vernon. And he would appear to his country
at the head Of their armies, or as he appeared
to his country in the course of his most gori-
GUS administration Of the government, and con-
jure, and adjure them, by every consideration
that ought to have weight with men, hold on
fast by that Constitution which is the only secu-
rty for the liberty which cost me and my asso-
ciates seven years war of fire and blood
[Applause.]
Gentlemen, forgive me. When think in
| these times that there are so many that are APP
parently disposed to undervalue the maxims and
| the character and exhortations of Washington,
| | confess | find myself borne away, often be-
| 10 of ca inf I &C.
| times beyond the limits of propriety. Our coun-
try consists in its liberty; our country next con-
sists in its institutions of constitutional law
and, blessed be God, our country (America) con-
sists next in the great example of those who
have gone before us, and have left that example
| We are not Americans if we resist the exam
pies of our predecessors any more than if we
| trample upon the Constitution-the work OF
their hands. If we have real American hearts
in our bosoms, everything they said, everything
they did to honor and enoble their country, i'm.
presses us with sentiments of profound respect
AMI regard
! Gentlemen, will you allow me to interrupt
the course of the few remarks which / had to
make tonight, by proposing to you, out of the
fulness of my heart,
The glorious and immortal memory Of George
Washington!
This toast was drunk standing.
Mr.. Webster resumed. Mr.. President and
gentlemen in the lapse Of years, and in the ris-
ing of one genaration after another, it may very
possibly happen, and we are sure that it does
happen, and has happened, that the exact princi-
Piles of the Union of these States are not al
ways properly conceived 1t may not be amiss,
therefore, though do not purpose to entertain
tbs company by discussing upon comm places
it may not be amiss to recur now to what
conceive to be the original principles upon which
these colonies were united, the objects for which
they were united, and the Limitation upon those
objects
These thirteen colonies, all Of English origin,
were settled on this continent at different times
and under different circumstances. They had
differences of religious opinions. They had es-
tablished differences of local law and administra-
ton. They were, some of them, quite remote
from one another, but they all subject to the
crown of England. And when, in the course of
events, they all thought, and thought truly, they
had just cause of complaint against the tyranny
of England, their object was to unite in COM
mon cause against common enemy. How
unite For what purposes unite For what ends
unite? Why, it never entered into their concep-
tons Fat they were to consolidate themselves
into one government; that they were to cease
to be Maryland and Massachusetts, and Carolina
Not at all. But they were to unite for those
great purposes which should enable them to
! make stand against that tyranny Of the Eng
| fish government. They were TO come to an
agreement upon things necessary for that pur-
pose, and nothing else. The objects ofcommon
defence and the general welfare, and afterwards
the objects connected with commerce and re-
venue, which were important to all, were all
they adopted as principles and objects of union
and ssociation--nothing beyond that. AS |
have said, they had differences of religious OPT
mons. Maryland-your Maryland-was settled
as Catholic country, always tolerant-always
| liberal-persecuting nobody Virginia was
rather inclined to the religious notions Of the
| Episcopal Church of England My country, at
the North, were not only Protestant, but Dis
senters They were of the school of Cromwell
and Sir Henry Vane.
But what of that When all these colonies
came together for the general purpose of defence
against common enemy what did they do i?
Did they seek to mergs and compound and con-
soldate all these States into one great commu-
nifty? No such thing They meant to unite
upon those objects which were necessary for the
common defence; and they meant to leave
every thing in the control of the States, to do
just as they thought proper. That was day
of liberality and justice. 1t was day in which
religious opinions produced no effect upon the
general sentiments of the country in regard to
the association of oil the States for general de-
fence. Why, sir, did anybody at the North, did
any Protestant descendant of Cromwell or any
descendant of Henry Vane, whoever he was, feel
any less confidence in the integrity, virtue, and
patriotism of Charles Carroll, because he was a
Catholic! Not at all. Nor did Maryland hest
tate to accord the need of patriotism wherever
it was due; to the Adamses, to Alexander Ham
! ilton, to Mr.. King, or to whoever else belonged
to the North, because they were of different sem
timents in religion Their associations was POI
itical It was founded upon general policy--a
union, sort Of confederacy at that time, to re-
sist the common enemy, and do whatsoever was
necessary for the common good. Gentlemen, |
hope, for one, never to this original idea de-
parted from.
/ Then we come to other propositions. There
are differences of laws. The Southern States
without their own fault, by course of events
for which they were not responsible, had slavery
esta hlished omonu them Did not all the States