The southern press., 1851-07-04


timent 1'he oratov Of old, when asked chat
quality was most essential to the exercise Of his
art. replied action" and when asked again
what was The next quality, again and again an
swered, q action;;" by which he did not mean the
waving of the hand here, or the lifting of the
arm there, but that earnestness which Is the
expression of true feeling. Gentlemen, the
modern Demosthenes who is this day amongst
you, when asked ag in and again what is most
essential ut this moment to the welfaie ot his
country, has said, with that earnestness which
his predecessor described again and again.
Union" Great applause Gentlemen, am
the citizen Of All extensive empire, the subject OF
a sovereign whose doniinions stretch out far and
wide over the surface Of the globe, and can
well comprehend and synpathize with the states
man who, proud of the authority and majesty OF
this vast republic, shrinks ith horror from
the thought of it's being split up into petty
c0mmon wealtEs, comparatively Insignificant In
power and small in extent.
do not, however, agree with some preced-
ding speakers, that it is altogether unnatural or
uncommon to find in great States men who
speak with Indifference of the ,ssibiity of those
great States becoming small ones. Sensation.
There are such men in my country, and ! am
not ustonished at it. Ii you want to know the
value Of health you must not expect to ascer-
tain il from inquiry Of the strong md robust. II
is the invalid who will tell it to you Z; and thus
it is with nations. If you wish to learn the
value Of national power and national greatness,
you must ask the question Of the Pole the We.
netian, tn Genese-of the people who, owing
to their divisions and their weakness, have lost
\ national existence; or you must direct your
Inquiry to the people OF those small States in
Europe or America, which still exist, but while
they enjoy the name Of independence, are alter
nately under the dictatorship Of domestic fac
tons or foreign force. Applause. Honor,
then, tn the man who collects from the aggre-
gate wisdom Of great community sufficient
moral power to assuage local passions and keep
within appropriate limits party discontents.
(Applause) But, gentlemen, if it be great
and noble task thus to unite and keep united the
various elements which constitute the character
and the greatness of one nation, it is surely a
task as noble and as great to unite together and
keep united two mighty nations, who, by their
Joint authority as the representatives of that ad-
mrable combination of liberty and order which
is every where the sign and symbol Of the An
glo-Saxon race, may exercise benefcent and
universal influence over the happiness and desti-
MES of mankind cloud and long applause.)
Gentlemen, with this idea now present to my
thoughts, |, as an Englishman, say to you as
Americans, "union, union, union." Applause.
Aye, let there not only be peace between US, let
there be union also. Continued applause. Il
The word resounds through these halls appro-
priatcy let it reach the OF MIR. Richards
Is he not, gentlemen. himself the type of union
For has he not united all the charms Of scenery
and ofsociety, Of water and Of wine. OF health
and amusement, in this lovely spot! Applause.
I n .,..l 4 cf.,c
looks and admiring eyes to my left, and the
gentle chances and graceful smiles of the fairer
portion Of my audience to my right, can | be
wrong in conjecturing that there is favorable
disposition on all sides of me towards united
State! Much laughter and applause For my
own part, gentlemen. whether rs regards the
union between the different State of this federal
republic, or whether as regards the union be-
tween us Englishmen and you Americans, or
whether as regards the union between woodland
and waterfall. aud good cheer and good company,
or whether as regards the best and closest Of all
possible unions viz that between warm hearts
and willing hands, much laughter and applause,
| declare my elf professedly and emphatically
union man, renewed laughter and applause.
and as such have enjoyed your festivity, paraken
of your sentiments, and now beg to leave amongst
you my kindes thanks and most hearty good
wishes.
The honorable gentleman sat down amidst
loud and prolonged cheering, to which followed
three cheers for BuIwer.
Mr.. N. Bruce of Winchester, being loudly
called for, expressed himself delighted to hear
the sentiments expressed by Mr.. Webster, and
declared that, although he had differed from
that gentleman long and on nearly every ques-
ton Of public policy, he extended TO him, most
sincerely. his need Of appreciation. After some
remarks upon the value Of the Union, &c, Mr.. |
B. concluded with tho following sentiment -
The Fugitive slave law.-Upon its faithful
execution depends the perpetutity ofthe Union.
Mr.. Webster said-I am glad to hear these
sentiments of devotion to the Union expressed
ly Mr.. Bruce, who, us understand has differed
from me upon many subjects, as many other
respectable and worthy men have done. But
Whatever may have been the differences of
opinion which have existed between ms hereto
fore, on other subj ects, they are now forgotten.
and the only question that is now asked of any
man is, are you n Union man? (Great cheer
ng) The question at this time, is the Union,
and how to preserve its blessings for the
present, and for all time to come. To preserve
that Union we must observe, in good faith, the
Constitution and MI its parts. IF that Constitu
lion be not obser' ed and its provisions act aside
the whole Of il ceases to be binding. 1t would
be absurd to suppose that either the North or
The South has the power or the right TO violate
my part of that Constitutions and the claim from
The other observance to, its provisions. Gap
plause)
If the South were to violate any part Of the
Constitution would the North be any longer
bound by it! and ift North were deliberately
% violate any part Of it, would the South be
bound any longer to observe its obligations
How absurd j. would be 20 suppose. when diff
erent parties enter into compact for certain
purposes, that either can disregard any one pro-
'ison. and expect the other to observe it {! ]
intend to observe, and maintain, and carry out,
% its fullest extent, the Constitution OF the
United States, which have sworn to support.
Cheers) II is written in the Constitution that
PERSONS bound to labor or service in one State,
scapng into another, shall not be discharged
rom such labor or service because Of the laws
# the State into which they may escape. That