Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1851-05-17
Speech Of Mr., Webster
In front of The Revere House, Boston, .8W'I
%, 1851.

take me by surprise this morning-but u is
a very agreeable surprise to me. am grent.
ly pleased TO see your cheerful aud satisfied
faces. as much so as to see the cheerful face
of that luminary which shines now in the
heavens above US. IL you are half as GLAD
TO see me as am to meet you, there IS q
great quantity of human happiness and good
feeling at this moment in Bowdoin Square.
Gentlemen,-a long and violent convul-
sion of the elements has Just passed away,
and the heavens, the skies, again smile upon
us. There is often an analogy between oc-
currences in the natural and political world
Sometimes political agitations pass away
bringing after them sunshine, JOY and glad
ness. MAY it be so now! ! greet You ns
citizens of Boston, welcome you-l offer
you my heart and hand. ] present TO you
my warmest gratitude for wh0t you aud your
fathers have done for me from the days OF
nv early manhood, when ! came from the
North TO dwell among you and to partnke Of
your fortunes, for good or for evil, TO the end
of my life.
am not vain enough TO suppose that
have rendered any very essential services to
my country in my day and generation. But
if may suppose that / have rendered any
service-however little or however much,-
owe it mainly to the constant, warm and
unwavering friendship and support OF the
people of Boston.
shall, ere long, follow your fathers and
my fathers to mans last home. But while
live and brealhe,-while have language or
thought.-while my heart beats or my tongue
moves, | shall feel aud speak of .Boston as
my home-as the cherished object OF my
public and private, my political and friendly
regard.
Gentlemen,-You do not expect TO hear
any discourse from me. ] come TO see you
and you come to see me. 1t is not an occa-
sion for the discussion of any public topic
You do not expect me TO deliver any opn-
ions of my own, or TO state the ground OF
any political transactions.
Let me congratulate you, and ask you to
congratulate me, that the events of the last
year or two haye placed us under better aus
pices. We see clearer and breathe freer.--
We feel new assurance that the rich blessings
we have inherited from our fathers will en-
dure, will he perpctual-wil be immortal, II
any institution OF mnn or of earth eau hc ni,-
mortal. The youngest ofyour children--ihe
youngest of your grand childrcn-will grow
up to manhood with the proud feeling that
they were bOrn to, and they will inherit i'm
North America, and in this ancient, beloved,
and, under all circumstances, by inc venera-
ted, Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Why,
ielow.citizcns, we need not he vain we need
not be too much sel-satisiied, after all but
who among you is there, who would eX-
change his own political and social condition
for that which Details the inhabitants or-rosi-
dents of any other country under the wide
scope of the canopy over us? Where is the
foreign country that would satisfy you? No
where You stay at home satisfied. The
institutions of your own country are satislac-
tory TO you. You enjoy political power uni
versally disseminated under n republican
government framed upon popular principles.
Every citizen feels that he is man. IL he
is governed, he is also one of the governors.
lie has voice in every great transaction OF
public policy aud national concern. Let
others prefer government more royal, more
despotic, or more democratic. For myself,
and believe for you, ] may say, we are sat
isfied with our condition as people of the
United States and citizens of Massachusetts;
our free, popular, and glorious representative
government makes us known reputably all
over the world.
Gentemen,-Let us despair of nothing
country. We shall see it 90 on in contln-
Iols prosperity. We see the returning sense
of the communicable love of Liberty, aud
let me add, with all the emphasis which !
can pour ont from my brenst--THr LOVE OF
UNroN. That will keep US together. II
had ten thousand voces-if | could reach
the shores of the Puciic-if could gather
the whole vast nation within the reach ofmy
xln, W. a r
UNION, UNION, UNION, NOW AND FOREVER
What are all these petty dstnciions-thcse
cavls, these questions, these sectional quar-
rels? They ure as dust in the balance =
They are not fit to nhabit the heart Of true
American; for the heart of true American
embraces the whole country if it is not
big enough for that, he had better tear it out
and throw it from him.
What little have done,-I repeat it's
mainly attributable to the support you and
your fathers have given me- | am not I'M
mindful of it,-not ungratciiIl for it. | find
you as have found you in the past, and as
am sure | shall still continue to find you for
what remains TO me of life. Let me say TO
you, let me entreat you TO deliver to your
children what say as Boston found me
thirty years ago, SHE finds me to-day, without
variation or the shadow of change. shall
go to my grave full of the gratitude which ]
shall cherish for her, and for her support
of me.
Gentlemen,-I bid you adieu,-an aflec-
tionate adieu. BY the blessing of God,
shall see you again, under circumstances, it
may be, which will enable me TO ~eXpress
at large my opinions on the as
pect ofpublic affairs. All this is in the hands
of the Providence that is over us-to Him ]
commend myself | commend you, com.
mend the interests of our dear, our beloved
Gentlemen, farewell
A slave has been sentenced TO be hanged