The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-03-28

We give to-day Mr.. KErcHUM's speech, de-
livered at the dinner in New York, in honor OF
Washington's Birthday.
TIRsr HEauLAR TOAST.
The Day sus Cslsbrate.--It gave birth 70 the man
first in war, first in peace and frst In the hca1's
of his countrymen
HiRAM KETcBuM, esq, responded, and spoke a.
follows:
Mr.. President and Gentlemen: Before respond
70 the sentiment proposed, allow me 70 express my
own grateful acknowledgements, and those OF every
mon Council Of this city, for having recommended
and made provision for celebrating this day in a
manner worthy Of the city Of New York. II il q
dav which ought TO be celebrated throughout the
land. from the Atlantic to the Pacific, and in all
coming time. To contemplate and study the char
acter Of washington his habits and course Of life
his principles, and, above all. his parting advice to
his countrymen, not fail TO make the patriotism
of every American grow warmer, TO increase his
love OF public and private virtue, and to strengthen
his attachment to the united Government Of his
country And. gentlemen. was mere ever a.. .m s
Americans should refresh themselves al the origi-
nal fountains of patriotism!
Washington was mainly instrumental in accom-
plishing change. of government by a revolution
requiring the employment of military force. That
change could be authorized BY no principle except
the we'll considered purpose Of improving the con-
spect of success If he had failed after the fret
battle or the second, or third, it would have been
better that the fret blow at revolution had never
been struck. Even after peace was declared. and
the mother country had acknowledged the indie
pendence Of the colonies, If we had not succeeded
in establishing government which would have
secured the blessings Of liberty and order, the Re-
yolutiou would have been failurc-t would have
been worse than failure, because the sacrifices
that the war occasioned, and the blood that had
been split, would have made il . public calamity.
mind Of Wsshin gton. Here permit me to remark,
incidentaily ON one point in the character Of
Washington. He had determined, upon grave
consideration, to resist the government under
time, to render his allegiance to the revolutionary
government. This government was new !; II could
Claim nothing on the score. Of antiquity. Yet
Washington yielded his allegiance TO j., and
ciples, in this respect, are beautifully expressed
by himself: In speaking Of government, and
the duty Of the citizen to it, be says, respect
for its authority, compliance with it, law, acqui
escence in its measures, duties enj0ined by
the fundamental maxims of true liberty" Zap
plause.
in order to carry out the carry it out
to its ultimate eud-there must be government
established to secure liberty. You have heard to-
day in the eloquent address delivered to you, his
views on this subject. ! will not recur TO his
preston, but he was impressed with the idea that
the Revolution would be utterly valueless unless
moro perfect Union was established.
Now, let W turn for moment to the first steps
taken towards the establishment Of that Union.
The fret meeting held ON the subject was meet
ing of delegates from few States held in Annapo-
lis. But few States were represented in that con-
vention; it was convention to protect and advance
the interests of trade and commerce. Here lot me
say, az shall have occasion to show more fully
hereafter that the interests Of trade and commerce
first suggested the idea Of moro perfect Union,
and these interests are the greatest conservative
principles of the Union. (Applausc. r
These delegates met in Annapolis in September,
l7s6. New York was represented by two dele
ritv md hov VyarQ 10y nder
Hamilton and Egbert Benson. After session of
few days, finding their numbers not sufficiently
large, and their powers not sufficiently extensive.
Stale which sent them and to Congress. A report
was drawn up with great ability, which was the
foundation Of all subsequent proceedings, BY Alex
ander Hamilton. Of the city OF New York.
sembled at Philadelphia. The several States
represented. shall not now 60 over it's proceed
ings-but you know that General Washington was
from May to September, when they produced
draft of Constitution, which was adopted by the
American people, and under which we now live
[Applausc.1 As you, no doubt, know, il was not
The habit then for the speeches Of members to be
reported and laid before the public, 10 now DONE
The convention sat in secret; the arguments in
support of the various provisions OF the proposed
Constitution were not made known to the country,
and therefore it became necessary that it should be
explained to the people to whom it was to be sub
mitted for their adoption. To do this in an efec-
They found in the day of trial, and they were
Alexander Hamilton, James Madison and John
Jay two Of them residents of the city Of New York
IApplause.
think, gentlemen, / am authorized to say. that
without the aid furnished by the city New York,
we should never have had our present Constitution
or Union. lApplause.
tuition to the several States for their adoption:
Among them it was presented to New York; and
here let me state little Of our domestic history.
A~l ~
convention by three delegates, two from the inte-
rior and one from the city. Before the convention
had terminated its proceedings, the two delegates
from tne interior seceoed, or, IN mqdern pnraseoo
Of the city of New York, signed the Constitution.
(Continued applause.
1t became necessary that the State of New York
should adopt the Constitution. convention was
assembled at Poughkeepsie, and the great majority
of the members were opposed to the new Constitu.
ton. But Alexander Hamilton, from the city OF
New York, was there, and by his influence, and
ability and patriotism, exercised outside well
inside the convention, he brought that majority to
vote for the Constitution, and the State of New
York adopted it as it was proposed. Gentlemen, If
the only way to testify gratitude to public bcnefac
tors was by erecting monuments to their memories,
the city Of New York ought to erect monument
10 Alexander Hamilton which should pierce the
skies, and every State in the Union should crave
the honor to assist In erecting that monument.
[Great applause.1
Thus, thcn, we see how the Constitution was pro-
mulgated at its origin, and how it was adopted.
sec before me gentleman whose appearance here
this evening viii not allow to pass over an an
ecdote which am sure will interest you. have
in my eye gentleman honored by his State, and
honored by his country, who, though ayoung man,
was present at theconvention in Poughkeepsie with
his father, member of that body. His father went
there opposed to the Constitution, but he saw rea-
son to change his ground. He was told by his col
league that If he voted for the Constitution he would
nevsr be returned by the people again to any posi-
ton under the Government; and his answer WAS
that no was in tho habit of thinking before he de-
cided to act, and when he had made up his mind
tor disregard of consequences. He voted for the
Constitution. This was Samuel Jones, Of Queens
county. IGrcat applause He went home; no
explained the matter to his constituents; and, in
stead of disapproying the course he pursued, they
approved every thing he had done. tCheers.l
Now, have seen how the Constitution
adopted, and by what means. Time has since
rolled on Some sixty years have passed away,
during which the Constitution and the Union have