The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1851-06-14
MIR. Webster's Second Speech,
AT SYRACUSE, MAY a6, 1851.

ana us aDest defender.
Mr.Webster arose, amid great applause, to reply.
am happy to meet you, and to enjoy this quiet,
social and agreeable dinner with you. Mr.. Noxon
has done me too much honor, to allude to me in the
terms which he has chosen, in connecting my SER |
vices with the Constitution of the country and the
Union.
1t has so happened that all the public services |
which have rendered in the world, in my day and |
generation, have been connected with the General
Government think ought to make excep-
ton. was ten days member of the Massachu-
sets Legislature [laughterl and | turned my
thoughts to the search of some good object in |
which ] could be useful in that poston-and after
much reflection, introduced bill which, with the
general consent of both houses of the Massachu
sets Legislature, passed into a aw-and is now a
law oil the State-whch enacts that no man in the
State shall catch trout in any other manner than
with the ordinary hook and line. Great laughter.]
With that exception, never connected for an
hour with any State Government in my life. |
never held any office, high or low under any State
Government. Perhaps that was my misfortune.
AT the age of thirty | in New Hampshire,
practising law-and had some clients.
The Governor of the State, John Taylor Gill
man, thought that youth and young man, as |
was, | might be fit to be an attorney general Of
the State Of New Hampshire, and he nominated
me to the Council, and the Council taking it into
their deep consideration, and not happening to be
OF the same politics of the Governor and myself,
voted three out OF five that was not competent
tLaughter.l
So you see, gentlemen, | never gained promo.
ton in any State Government.
Gentlemen, to be serious, my life has been a
lie OF severe labor in my profession, and all the
portion | could spare of that labor. from the sup
port OF my family and myself, has been devoted to
the consideration OF subjects connected with the gen.
eal history OF the country, the Constitution of the
country, the confederation out OF which the Con-
sttuon arose. all the history OF all the Congresses
which have assembled before and since the iorma-
ton o that Constitution and in Short if have
learned any thing, or know any thing, and | agree
1t is very little, what do know and what | do un-
derstand so FAR as | understand any thing, is the
Constitution of the United States, the history of
It's formation, and the history OF its administration
under General Washington, and from that time
down to this.
sometimes, gentlemen draw around me sort
oi presentment OF characters and PERSONS who
composed the first administration of Washingto ton
Ike to look back-llke to go back those origi-
nal fountains, aud draw their pure waters.
There is nothing that strikes my Imagination and
contemplation stronger than to go back to New
York, in April SO.
General Washington had been elected President
so uncertain was 1t then, what would be the sue
cess ot the new Government, that the 4th of
March went by six weeks before there quo
rum of either branch of Congress. And | have
seen several orig nal letters, addressed to members
OF '"psF"ss Is'"s 'hs'n to come on to fo m a
General Washing ton ready to be sworn in.
All the choice spirits, and all the eminent men
that he had known through the period of the revo-
luton-staunch, good, strong men, disephneo'
schooled in the great school OF adversely, were
there There was Hamilton, MARVEL a perfect
marvel--young, man almost eli.educa.ed man
of intuitve powers, for nobody knows when OF
where he obtained the powers which distinguished
him.
General Washington saw he fit to be placed
at head of the finances of the Government, great
post which was to decide whether the Govern
ment should go on or not, because the country was
poor, and the Congress OF the country was untried
At that time, there was no general hag-no law
regulating commerce, and the question was
whether any revenue could be derived from it.
And, then, there was Knox, placed at the heat
Of the War Department. good soldier. Wash
ington placed John Jay at the head OF the judi
ciary, at the beginning of Government; that gave
confidence to the Courts of the United States
No man assembled the Bench Of Justice with
purer and higher character than John Jay. Alter
wards he placed in station Ellsworth, of Conn
In short, if one might draw before him now, thu
scene as it existed when Washington was naugu
rated, aud see his sedate and serene manner,
which to some, perhaps, seemed austere
and if we could have him before us this day, ant
look at him as he sat in his first cabinet it wou
make one of the most striking historical picture
that could be committed to canvas. But e
further back, to '74'74 is the great era in our his
tory-the time Of the meeting OF the first Congress
in Phiiadel phia.
hnu lfOss rSmdIktDle papers tiidL uIstlDSu ushe'
- that Congress, and especially that capital pape
addressed to England, by John Jay There we Sc
the great basis Of that popular system which ou
fathers maintained through The revolution, an
which constitutes the basis of the present Const
tuition OF the United States.
WE'LL they fought through the revolution the
came out conquerors, ana peace takes place In u
But allow ms say, that there is no more lnteres
ing period in our history, than that which ensue
between the peace of 'S3, and the establishment
this Government
The States were all separate, all poor--none ha
any commerce. There was debt of the revol,
ton unpaid-millions upon millions-and the Coy
eminent then existing could not lay any tax, ar
could not collect any duties.
OF all periods of our hlstory-if you, young me
will study it, if those who hope to be dslingushe
in the history of our country hereafter will study
that portion of our history from the peace of {
to the establishment of this Government, Is fue
of instruction of all others.
Then it was that the ceaseless activity of Ham
ton and Madison exhibited themselves. They we
the two great motive powers, the one North, Il
Other South. Hamilton was ten years the younge
but he elder in every thing, and Madison IL
lowed him in every thing.
If, gentlemen, you should have occasion to rec
10 the reports of Congress in 'S3 upon the necess
of such Government as could lay uniform duti
and make uniform commerce, and establish
uniform Government so that there should be o
commerce of Massachusetts, and one commerce
Virginia one government of Massachusetts, a
one government of Virginia there you will see
the elements laid down.
II is in these pursuits, and in the study of tn,
questions, that have, perhaps, devoted more
my time, than more strict regard to myself a
my family would justify. But must confess II
have been the pursuits of my life
Then we arrive at the assembly of gentlem
from the veral States, in 'S6. There were
olson and Hamilton, and few others, twelve
all, whose object to bring the States to
same conclusion, that goods imported should p
an uniform duty.
After a session Of two weeks they concluded
recommend the calling Of a Convention to max
Constitution of Government for the whole.
That recommendation was sent to the old
press, and by them sent to the old States. And
NAV, 1887, The Convention that formed the pres
Constitution met in Philadelphia.
So The formation of the Constitution went on
slow degrees, and they came to the conclus
that these States could not be prosperous with
general Government, and that Governm
founded upon the princiDe Of Union in thi
common and general TO ALL and the States po
and authority reserved, wherever the gem
Union and the purposes of it, did not require an
reference.
These things are all historical. 1t is in the
ture OF things that men 60 from step to s
according to the exigency of the case. L
found U Mon necessary-a common conn
ciai system necessary-and all these things v
provided for in the Constitution under which
live. If we look at it we shall see it is matte
compromise and agreement from first to last.
Northern States were commercial and what
they to gain They had to gain protected 9