Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1851-06-05
The following is an sbs,rsc, Of the spiri, stir /


ring speech of the gallant Crittenden, President
Fillmore's Attorney General, at the dinner given
to the distinguished visitors, at Rochester, N. Y.
on their return towards Washington last Tues
day. Nobody can make such speeches better
than John J. Crittenden.
Three cheers were then given for Old Ken
tuck, amidst calls for Crittcnden.
Mr.. CRIrrENDEs responded. lie said
This seems to me TO be real old fashioned
scene Q.aughter) thank you for this rrmeni-
brance of old Kentucky the bye, not quite as
old as myself | am unwilling TO pour drop OF
politics in the champagne now flowing, but who
can look around this table and say that there are
dsunionists among the people Of the United
States about such a thing as fugitive slave law.
There seems TO be n meanness in clubbing about
such thing as that tCheers.) Our President
said one or two things to day, that wish to CON
tradict. now that he has gone. lie told you that
he was indebted to his Cabinet there Is no such
thing as that at all. He is man that does his
own business, and refer further to the truth OF
the fact to my friend on my left. that is Alr Ora
ham. If anything is done well, you may rely
upon it he deserves all the credit, for he does
the whole thing himself II any thing should
turn out unhappily, for that. too, he must take the
dscrcdit We ure his auxIaries, and are deter
mined TO maintain the union of these States,
come veal, come woe. la other countries the
bayonct is the greatest magstrato-the dumb, i'll
sensible but sharp magistrate. Where the laws
depend upon the people, the people make the
laws--who dares to break them? He who sets
himself up against the people. If an aristocracy
made the laws there might be virtue in resist
ance but hen the people make them, who is sd
bold as to rcsst' If there are any who can sue
cessfully resist they must be an aristocracy.
appeal to the young men of the country. The
present state Of things Will do well enough ioi
me but | appeal to- YOU. who will WELD a scep-
ire more powerful thanof the great julius Cwsar,
or any Roman Emperor that ever lived If you
do not fail in puerillties about points Of CON
science, and try to make your neighbors do what
you do a course that would break up the might
lest empire in the world-you viii rule the world
if true to yourselves. Gird up your lous for
your mighty destinies. If You are not alive TO
them yon are as low as the earth you tread, and
dull as the weed on Lethe's shores. Shall we
dash TO pieces as a potshord the glorious vessel
Of the constitution, formed by the blood Of our
fathers, which flowed IN a common stream We
are bound by the articles signed by our fathers.
Shall we now turn round and find fault! The
constitution was good enough for the great
Washington and our fathers, but we are grow
ing SO mighty good that we wish to tear up the
tree which they have planted by the roots.--
(Cheers) But it will not be so. We are a free
people, and Providence only asks us not to mar
the blessings VIC already possess. Ii any man
North or South, rise against the Union, we must
resist him, and vindlcate the Constitution. | am
plain spoken Kentucky man, and say what |
think hope this will not be regarded as poll
tics. 1t is only the Union and the Constitution.
Great laughter.) lie concluded by giving "Our
Country. our whole country the Union now and
forever"
The toast was warmly received.
Mr.. Crittcndcn don't think much of forcing
other people to adopt his notions of forcing
other peoples consciences. Good; he is not "a
Testator.