The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-07-03

higher law ranges further than an eagles flight
above the highest peaks Of the Allegheny. Laugh
| teri No common vision can discern il; no con-
| science not transcendental and ecstatie can feel
il; the hearing of common men never learns its
high behests and therefore one should think it is
not safe law to be acted ON in matters of the high
est practical moment II is the code, however, of
the fanatcal and facous abolitionists Of the North
The secessionists of the South take different
| course of remark. They are learned and eloquent
they animated and full of spirit; they are high
minded and chivalrous; they state their supposed
injuries and of complaint in elegant phrases
and exalted tones of speech. But these complaints
are all vague and general. confess to you, gen
tlemen, that know no bydrostatic pressure strong
enough to bring them into any solid form, in
which they could be seen or felt. Laughter and
applause They think otherwise doubtless But,
for one lean discern nothing real we'll grounded
in their complaints. If may be allowed to be q
little professional would say that all their COM
plants and alleged grievances are like very in
sufficient plea in the law they bad on general
demurrer for want of substance. Loud laughter. /
But am not disposed to reproach these gentle
men, to speak ofthem with diarespect prefer to
leave them to their own reflections. make no ar
guments against resolutions, conventions, ssces
sion speeches or procla nations. Let these things
go The whole matter, it is to be hoped, will
blow over and men will return to a sounder mode
Of thinking. But thing, gentlemen, be as
sured of-tfe first step taken in the programme of
secession, which shall be actual infringement of
the Constitution the laws, will be promptly met.
[Great applausel And / would not remain an
hour in any administration that should not imme-
diately meet any such violation of the Constitution
and the law effectually, and at once. Prolonged
applausc.l And can assure you, gentlemen, that
oil with whom am at present associated in the Co
vernment entertain the same decided purpose.
lRenewcd applause, with cheers,]
And now, gentlemen, let me advert to cheer
ing and gratifying occurrence. Let me do honor
to your great and ancient Commonwealth OF Vir-
GINA. Let me say that in my opinion the resolu-
tons passed by her Legislature at the last session,
in which some gentlemen now present bore part,
have effectually suppressed, and suppressed for
ever, hope, the notion of separate Governments
and new Confederacies. [Great applausel All
hopes of dsunion founded upon the probable course
of Virginia are diaspated into thin air. [Cheers.l
An eminent gentleman in the Nashville Conven-
ton CALCULATED, .'Oh that Virginia with US
If Virginia would but take the lead in going out of
the Union, other southern States would cheerfully
follow her lead" All, but that ''if'' was great
obstacle! [Laughter.l 1t was pregnant with inn
lead" But who that looked for any consistency
in Virginia expected to see Virginia leading States
out of the Union, since she took such great pains,
under the counses of her ablcst and wisest men
to lead them into it? [Applausel Her late
lutions have put decided negative upon that off,,
and the country cordially thanks her for it,
Fellow citizens, must bring these remarks to a
close Other gentlemen are present to whom you
expect to have the pleasure of listening. [Cries of
go on! go onl My concluding sentiment is
"THE UNION STATES May those ancient
friends-Virgnia and Massac husetts-continue to
uphold it long the of the Atlantic shall
beat on the shores OF the one, or the Alleghanies
remain firm on their bases in the territories of the
other!'
This sentiment was received with enthusi-
astic demonstrations of applause. The room
resounded with the plaudits of the immense
crowd, and the cheers followed each other in
such quick succession that it appeared as if they
would lift the roof and it was noticed that one
venerable man went up and actually put his
arms around Mr.. WEBSTER, while seated in his
chair, and exclaimed, "God bless you, for you
are the greatest and best man in the world"
1t is proper to remark that Mr. WEBSTER
was called upon to deliver a second speech on
the evening of the aforementioned dinner,
which contained some important features. Our
correspondent, however, has not yet forwarded
it to us, but we shall lay it before our readers
at the earliest moment we receive an author
lied copy of it; for, from what we hear, it
ought to be considered as continuation Of the
foregoing.
MR.. BULwER's SPEECH.
The CHAIR having given the following regu-
lar toast:
''our distinguished guest. the learned and ac-
complished Minister from the Court of st. James,
who upholds the dignity of his eminent station
guards the interests of his own people, and wins
the good will of ours:'
Sir HENRY l.. BULwER rose and delivered
the following speech, which was highly and
continuously applauded:
Ma. PRKsIDENr AND GENrLEMEN: Allow me to
say that the honor you have conferred upon me,
and indeed that the whole of this scene, takes me
completely by surprise. When a man undertakes
a Jaunt or journey, he generally in some degree
anticipates the business or the amusement he ex-
poets to meet with; and can assure you that when
came into the mountains of Virginia, though
might have had some faint idea of angling for a
trout or hunting after rattesnalxe, had not the
renotest conception of the probability possibili-
ty of being present at public dinner, or of max
ing speech. Laughter and applausel l am
sure, therefore, that you will not expect from me
80 learned a disquistion that of my honorable
friend from Baltimore (Mr. Barney upon the in
stitutons and celebrities of the State of Virginia;
nor that should describe to you the origin and
progress of government and society from those
early times 'when Adam deved and Eve span,"
down to the moment when are here assembled
at the Mountain House, with the logical severity and
eloquent and poetical fancy of my honorable friend
from Pennsylvania, (Mr. Levin.) Applause. ]
But this can truly and simply say, that with your
kind and generous expressions still present to my
memory, and with the honest and hearty looking
countonances of those from whom these express
sions proceeded before my eyes, and with the
knowledge that you, the gentlemen and yoemen
OF Virginia, have here at moments notice as
sembled to do honor my illustrious friend whose
voice ia an eloquent that of nature herself in
these romantic solitudes-the pleasure experience
is, following the ordinary rule the moro lively
from being altogether unexpected. Much APP
plnuse.l With your political parties and discus
sions, gentlemen, have nothing TO do-to them |
am and wish to be, an entire stranger; but, indie
pendenty of all such parties and discussions, can
understand and admire great political sentiment.
The orator of old, when asked what quality was
most essential to the exercise of his art replied
"acton;" and when asked again what was the
next quality, again and again answered, &" ac-
tion;' by which he did not mean the waving of the