Weekly national intelligencer., 1851-07-12


principle Of popular representation prevailing either IN all ne
branches Of Govenmen in Of them. has existed
these States almost from the days Of the settlements
and Pymo borrowed, no donb from the example
or the popular branch Of, British Legislature. The repre-
senaiion Of the people IN the British House o. Commons
was indeed, originally very unequal and yet not equal
Indeed, doubted whether the appearances q knights
and Bugesses assembling the summons Of the Crown,
was not intended fst asancs and support to tAs
Royal prerogave in matters of and taxation, raner
than as mode Of ascertaning popular opinion Neverne
less representation had popular 0rgin and sav0red more
and more Of the character Of that origin il acquired y
slow degrees and greater strength, IN the actual gov
eminent Of the country. In fact, the constitution oI me
House Of Commons form Of representation however
unequal numbers counted, and msorites prevailed
and when our ancestors acting upon this example, intro
duced equality OF representation, the dea assumed
more rational and distinct shape At any rate this manner
Of exercising popular was familiar 70 our atnes Wnen
they settled this continent They adopted H. and gene-
ration has risen up after generaon all acknowledging H. and
becoming acquainted with its practice and its FORMS
And the next Fundamental principle in our sysiem h that
the will Of the majority fairly expressed through ne
evdfn that country without Thrones or Arstocacies
privileged classes there can be no other
for law to stand upon
And as the result OF this the third elemens that
the law the supreme rule for the government of all Inc
great sentiment Of Acsus beautifully presented to us BY
Sir William Jones' is absolutely indispensable to the con-
strucion and maintenance Of our political systems
What constitutes State a,ss 4 s r.
&
Thick wall or moated gate;
Not cities proud, with spires and turrets crown'd
Not bays and broad arm'd ports,
Where, laughing at the storm, rich navies ride;
Not starr'i and spangled courts
Where low-browd baseness watts perfume to PRIDE
No-MES, high-minded MEN,
With powers i. tar above dull brutes endued
In forest, brake, or den
As beasts excel cold rock and brambies rude
Men who their duties know, ~@.a&
But know their rights, and, knowing, dare maintains
And ernsh ths tvrant while they reud the chain:
These constitute q State .,
And SovERE1eN Law, that States collected walls
O'er thrones and globes elate s..
Sits empress, browning good, repressing Ill
And finally another most important part Of the great
fabric Of American liberty is that there shall % wen coz
euions founded the immediate authority OF INC PeoPe
themselves and regulating and restraining all the powers
conferred upon Government, whether legislative executive
4 q ludlciaL IL i I. ~, .uu,,n,,y Of
American principles and have on this occasion so1gns
to express them in the plsinest and The ews words The
summary may not be entirely exsct but hope may DC
sufficiently make manifest 70 the rising generation among
ourselves and to those elsewhere who may choose @ inquire
into the nature Of political institutions the general tneory
upon which they founded And now proceed % add
the strong and deepseed conviction Of all intelligent
persons amongst that n order 10 support useful and
wise Government upon these popular principles the general
education Of the people, and the wide diffusion Of mo-
ray and religion Indispensable Individual virtue
part Of public virtue. Il is difficult TO conceive how there
can remain morality in the Government when shall cease
TO exist ing people how the aggregate OF the po
cal institutions, all the organs Of which consist only OF
men, should be wse and bene6cen and competent to IN
spe confidence the opposite qualities belong to the nd
vduas who constitute those organs, and make up na as
lgregate. .,f
And now citizens take leave Of this part Of the
duty which proposed to perform, and once more feictang
you and myself that eyes have seen the light o. tns
blessed morning, and that ears have heard tne snou
with which joyous thousands welcome lis return and joining
with you the hope that every revolving year shall renew
these recngs the end Of tGe proceed 70 address YOU
shortly upon the particular occasion Of our assembling mere
/ to-day. g.@
Felo~-cizens, by the oct Of Congress Of 3O.h sepem
ber 1850 provision made for the Extension Of the CaP
o according to such plan might be approved BY the Pro-
sdent Of the United States and the Necessary suns ps
expended under his direction BY such architect as ne might
appoint. This mPeatvely demanded Iof sne
use Of the Legislative and Judiciary departments ns Puoic
libraries the occasional accommodation the Cniet Execu
tive Magistrate, and for other objects No ac OF Congress
ncurrnp large expenditure has received more general ap
Urobs,on from the people The President has proceeded to
this law He has approved plan be has sppont-
ed an architect and oil things are now ready ior Inc COM
The Anniversary Of National Independence appeared to
afford an suspcous occasion for laying the foundation stone
Of the additional building. That ceremony has now been
performed by the President himself in the presence and
view Of this multitude He has thought that the day and the
occasion made united and imperative call for short
address TO the people here assembled and il is at his reque
that have appeared before you 70 perform that part OF the
| duty which deemed incumbent on Us.
Beneath the stone is deposited, among other things lst
of which will be published the following brief Of
tie proceedings Of this day, in my handwriting
On the morning Of the s day Of the Seventy sixth
the Of thu United States Of America in the
City Of Washington, being the 4h day Of July 1851 this
stone designed the Of the extension OF the
Csp.to according plan approved by the President in
pursuance OF an Of Congress, laid by MILLARD
FLLMoRB President Of the United States, assisted by the
Grand Master Of the Masonic Lodges in the presence OF
many members OF Congress- Of officers Of the Executive
sand Judiciary Departments, National, State aud Dsc,
of oes of the army and navy, the Corporate authorities
of this and neghborng cities, many caton civil and
military and masonic officers OF the Smiths Jnisn Institution
and National Institute, professors Of colleges and teachers OF
schools Of the District with their students and pupils anu
"a Of people from places near and remote IN
ing Of the Of the Capitol BY Pfesiden' asn
ngon the eighteenth day Of September seventeen nun
dred and ninety three. - ,,
ss therefore, il shall be hereafter the "ii Oh uou na
this structure shall fall from its base thai It's %
and this deposte brought to the eyes OF mem oe
then known iha, on this day the Union OF 'ne uhea
of Amerc, .t,nds rm that their Constitution sul exists
un;ns;,ea AMI with all its original usefulness and glory
evry dsy stronger and stronger 10 the affections OF
the ges, bov OF the American people, and attracting more
and more The admiration OF the world And oil here as
.smb,e3 whether belonging to public life OF to Pvae e,
.;,n hearts deyory thankful TO Almighty God Tor the
preservation of the liberty and happiness Of the country,
nnie in sincere and erven prayers that this drpose and
be walls and arches the domes and towers the columns
AMI enablaiures BE- erected il may endure
forever ! ta.@r Ha#
| Con sAvR rns UsIrRp SrATIs or AxEaIcA.
| aDANIEL WEBSTER
| "Seeretary Of State IF the United States
Il