The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-06-03

ton of that Constitution; and in short, if have
learned any thing, or know any thing-and agree
it is very little-what do know and what do I'M
derstand, SO far as ] understand any thing, is the
Constitution Of the United States, the history Of its
formation, and the history of its administration
under General Washington, and from that. time
down to this
| sometimes, gentlemen, draw around me a sort
Of presenment Of characters and persons who
posed the first administration OF Washington
like TO look back like to go back to those original
fountains, and draw in their pure waters. There
is nothing that strikes my imagination and con-
| temptation stronger than to go back to New York
| in April, SO.
| General Washington had been elected President.
| So uncertain was IL then what would be the sue
cess of the new Government, that the fourth of
| March went by six weeks before there was quo
rum OF either branch of Congress? And have
seen several original letters addressed to members
| OF Congress, urging them to come on to form
Government. II may be uncertain but here is
General Washington ready to be sworn in.
All the choice spirits and all the eminent men
that he had known through the period of the Revo-
luton /; staunch, good, strong men disciplined,
schooed in the great school OF adversely, were
| there. There was Hamilton, a MARVEL perfect
| marvel young, a man almost self educated,
| man OF intuitve powers; for nobody knows when
or where he obtained the powers which distinguish
ed him.
| General Washington saw he was fit to be placed
| at the head Of the finances of the Goverment-a
great post, which was to decide whether the Gov
| eminent should gro on or not, because the country
Was poor anu inc Conpres5 vi tue country was uH
tried.
AT that time there general hag-no law
regulating commerce; aud the question was,
whether any revenue could be derived from it.
And then there was Knox, placed at the head OF
the War Departments good soldier. In the course
OF few years Washington placed John Jay at the
head of the Judiciary-that gave confidence to the
courts of the United States No man assembled
the bench of justice with purer and higher char
| acter than John Jay. Afterwards he placed in
that station Ellsworth, of Connecticut. In short, if
one might draw before him now the scene as it ex-
listed when Washington was inaugurated, and see
| his sedate and serene maDner--a manner which to
some, perhaps, seemed austere-and if we could
have him before us this day, and look at him as he
sat in his first cabinet, it would make one of the
most striking historical pictures that could be COM
mitted to canvas. But go further back, to
'7474 is the great era in our history the time OF
the meeting of the first Congress in Philadelphia.
| And those remarkable papers that distinguished
| that Congress, and especially that capital paper
addressed to England by John Jay. There-we see
the great basis OF that popular system which our
fathers maintained through the Revolution and
which constitutes the basis of the present Constitu
tion OF the United States.
Well, they fought through the Revolution; they
came out conquerors, and peace takes place in 49,
But allow me TO say that there is more interest
ing period in our history than that which ensued
between the peace Of '53 and the establishment Of
| this Government.
any commerce. There was the debt Of the Reyo
luton approximations upon millions-and the
Government then existing could not lay any tax,
| and could not collect any duties.
OF all periods of our history--if you, young men,
will study it, if those who hope W be distinguished
| IN the history OF our country hereafter will study
itthat portion OF our history from the peace Of 1913
to the establishment OF this Government, ia fullest
| OF instruction OF all others.
Then it was that the ceaseless activity of Hamil
ton and Madison exhibited themselves. They were
the two great motive powers the North the other
South. Hamilton was ten years the younger, but
he the elder in every thing, and Madison fol-
! lowed him in every thing.
II, gentlemen, you should have occasion to recur
to the reports of Congress in 'S3, upon the neces
sity Of such a government as could lay uniform du-
ties and make a uniform commerce, and establish
a uniform government so that there should be one
commerce OF Massachusetts ard one commerce Of
| Virginia. one government OF Massachusetts and
one government OF Virginia; there you will see all
| the elements laid down.
| 1t is i'll these pursuits and the study Of these
questions, that have, perhaps devoted more OF my
time than more strict regard to myself and my
| family would justify. But / must confess they
have been the pursuits of my life.
Then arrive at the assembly Of gentlemen
from several of the States. in SO. There were
! Madison and Hamilton, and a few others, twelve
in all, whose object was to bring the States to the
same conclusion, that goods imported should pay
| an uniform duty.
After u session of two weeks they concluded to
recommend the calling of a convention to make a
constitution of government for the whole.
That recommendation was sent to the old Con- |
gress, and by them semitic the old States. And
IN May, 1857, the convention that formed the pres
ent Constitution met in Philadelphia.
So the formation Of the Constitution went on by. |
slow degrees and they came to the conclusion that
these States could not be prosperous without Gen.
eral Government, and that Government founded |
upon the principle Of Union in things common |
and general to all, and the States power and au- |
thority reserved wherever the general Union, and |
the purposes Of it. did not require interference
These things all historical. II is in the ma
ture of things that go from step to step,
n N he pYiO pf 10 ~ Nheu fpun1
Union was necessary-a common commercial |
system necessary-and all these things were pro-
yided for in the Constitution under which we live |
IL we look at it, we shall see 1t is matter OF
promise and agreement from first to last The |
northern States we're commercial. and what had |
they to GAIN They had to gain protected COM
merce abroad, and an exclusive night OF the |
coasting trade, and of the domestic trade of
the country, as against foreign influences. The |
South yielded all that. They agreed to place in
Congress the entire control over the commerce of
the country, both domestic and foreign. And, |
therefore, we all know the first Congress that
assembled placed the entire coasting trade of the |
country in American hands. British ships could
not after that trade between Boston and Virginia.
And at that day the commerce was mostly New
England commerce, and SO it has remained to this |
day. And now it employs vast tonnage and |
Thousands OF ships; and all OF it--from Maine to
Caiforna--s confined to American vessels. No |
foreigner interferes. They could carry much |
cheaper, and be more useful to southern consul
mers, For it is fact that the vessels of MOI thern
Europe, of Sweden, and the Hanse Towns, navigate |
the seas cheaper than we can, because they not |
pay 30 much wages to their hands we do, nor |
feed them SO well.
All this is preserved, and preserved under this |
Constitution, to the commercial interest of the |
North. Well, this is the great boon which my /
country of New England has received from the |
Government. She has carried her flag all over the |
world.
Then the Constitution went on to declare other |
things.
In the first place, it placed the foreign relations
Of the country in right position. In the next |
place, it regulated uniform duties, and that was
OF the utmost importance. Whyi There was the |
little State of Delaware, that had a good port of |
entry, and Rhode Island, which had an admirable |
port of entry The State OF Rhode Island had the |
power of assessing duties high low las she fit;
and, by undertaking the State Of New York, could
support her government, and educate all the chill
drcn in the State BESIDES from her revenues While
Rhode Island was out of the General Government,
the State could rcpiafc the dnfica of irnnorfa