North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1852, 1851-06-04
SPEECH a0E MIR. WEBSTER,


ia not the first time feow-citzens, that have been
in Buffalo and have always come to 1t with pleas
ure. Il is a great distance from my own nome
am thankful that circumstances have enabled me 10
nrived me of the pleasure of being here when your
distinguished iellow-citizen, the President OF the
United States, came among you, and received from
YOU, as he deserved, not only respectful but cor
dial welcome. The President OF the United states
has been resident among you for more tan nall MS
life He has represented you in your State and ma
tonal councils You know him In all his relations,
both public and private and 1t would be bad taste
for me to say anything of him, except that wish to
saw, with some degree of emphasis, that since my
connexon with him in the administration of the gov
eminent of the United States, have fully concnrred
with him in all his great ald leading measures, from
the fact that have been one of his council. But
do wish to let it rest that presumption. wish
to declare that the principles of the President, de-
cared in his annual message, his letters, and all doc
uments and opinions which have proceeded from him
been issued by his authority in regard to the grea!
question of the times-that all these principles are
my principles, and if he is wrong in them am, ana
always will be. IApplause1 Gentlemen, u mas
been suggested that it would be pleasant and asreea-
BILE to the citizens of Buffalo and their nelghoors III
the county of Erie, that should state 10 you my
opinions, such they are, on the present
OF the country, its prospects, lis hoPes' anu ~;
gers and felow-citizens, hope to DO that tnis Gay
and this hour, as far as my strength VIII permit
Gentlemen, believe me, know where ah'
know to whom am speaking-I know Tor whon
ain speaking know | am here In TINS TINS s'ngnlat'y
nrosperous and powerful part of the United States-
western New York-and l know the character OF
the men who constitute western New York. know
they are Of liberty. one and all that they sucked
in liberty with their mothers milk; inherited II WIN
their blood that it is their daily contemplation and
watchful thought. They men of a very singular
quality and condition for million and hall oil peo-
pIe There are men around us, and here before us,
who till their own soils with their own hands; ana
others who earn their own livelihood by thelr own
labor with no means beyond their own industry and
their own independence, and their own willingness
to labor. These are the men who constitute to so
great an extent the people OF western New Y orK.
But the school-houses know are among them-edu-
cation is among them. They read, and write, and
think. And here are the fair seX-educated, refined,
and intelligent; and here men who know the his
tory of their country and the laws of their country,
and the Institutions of their country and men, In my
opinion lovers of liberty and they yet lovers of
liberty under the constitution of the country, and who
mean to maintain that constitution with all their
strength, so help them God. Great applause. L
hope these observations will satisfy you that know
where am, under what responsibility speak, and
before whom appear and have no desire that any
word shall say this day shall be withholden from
you your children, or your neighbors, or the whole
world. Because speak so before you and before my
country and if it Is not too solemn to say so, before
God HIMSELF the great Author of Justice. Gentle
men, there is but question In this country now
or if there be Others the others but secondary,
so subordinate that they all absorbed in that great
and leading question; and that is neither more nor
less than this we preserve the Union OF the
States-not by coercion-not by military Power-noi
by angry controveTsies-6ut can we Of this genera
ton-you and /, your friends and my friends-can we
So preserve the Union of the United States by the
administration Of the powers of the constitution as
shall give content and satisfaction to all who live
der it, and draw together, not by military power
but by the silken cords of mutual, raterna, patriotic
Affections That is the question, and other.
Gentlemen, believe in party distinctions. am a
party man. There are questions belonging to party
in which am concerned and there are opinions en-
terained by other parties which repudiate but what
of that! If house be divided against ITSELF it will
fall and crush everybody in it. We must see that We
maintain the government over US. We must see that
we uphold the constitution, and>we must do so with
out regard to party. The question is forever miss
tated. dare say, if you know much of me, or oil
my course of public conduct for the last fourteen
months, you have heard OF my attending Union meet
ings, and of my fervent demonstrations at Union
meetings. Well, what was the object of that! What
was the purpose of that? The object and purposes
were designedly or though tessly misrepresented.
had an invitation to 60 10 a Union meeting in the
county of Westchester; could'not co. but wrote
letter. Well, some wise man of the East said he
did not think 1t necessary to hold Union meetings
He did not think there were many disunionists abou
Tarrytown. And so here, in every part ofNew ORR
there is total misaPprehension OF the purpose and
object of these Union meetings. Every one knows
there is not county, or city, hamlet in the
State of New York that is ready to 90 out of the
Union. There is no man insane in the whole
State. outside of a lunatic asylum, as to wish it.
But that is not it. We all know that every man and
every neighborhood, and all corporations, in the State
oil New York, attached to the Union, and have
no idea of Withdrawing from it, But that is not the
point-that is not the point. The question, fellow
ctzens-and put it 10 you the real question
the question is, whether you and the resi- OF the
people of the great State of New York, and of all
the States, will so adhere TO the constitutions will Sc
enact and maintain laws to preserve that instrument
as that you will not only remain in the Union YOUR
selves but permit your brethren TO remain in it, ant
carry it on! That is the question. Will YOU con
cur in measures necessary to maintain the Union Of
Will you oppose such measures? That is the whole
point of the case. You have thirty or forty members
OF Congress from New York-you have your pro
portion in the United States Senate. We have many
members OF Congress from New England. Well
Will they maintain the laws that are passed for the aG
OF the constitution, and respect the ights
OF the South, so that the Union may be held toget
er; and not only that we may not 90 out of it our
selves, which we not inclined TO do bat that by
ascertanng and maintaining the rights of Others thew
may also remain in the Union
81. Now, gentlemen, permit me to say that speak OF
no concessions. If the South wish any concession
from me, they wont get it-no hairs breadth of it.
II they come to my house for it, they will not find
1t II they do. l concede nothing. But saw that
will maintain for them, as will maintain for Won Ia
.he utmost OF my power and in the face of all dan
ger, their rights under the constitution, and your
rights under the constitution. Cries of God! goods
&C. And God forsake me and my children, if
ever De FOUND TO falter IN one or the other. fire
mendous applause. 1t is obvious to every one. and
we all know it, that the origin of the great distub
anee which agitates the country is the existence of
slavery in some of the States but we must meet it
we must consider 1t; We must deal with it, earnest
~, honestly, and justly. From the month of s,
1onn TO the confines of Florida there existed in the
yeal OF grace seventeen hundred and seventy-fve,