The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-05-22
MIR. webster. speech at Dunkirk.

Herald we learn that MIR. WEBsrER's son
having so far recovered on the 10th instant as
to permit the veteran statesman to be absent
from him, and several influential men in the
village having requested him to address the
citizens of Dunkirk, he consented to do so, and
made speech to crowded audience, in the
large dining room of the Loder House, at seven
O'Clock in the afternoon, at which large num-
Der of ladies were present.
Mr.. WEBSTER, on making his appearance,
was loudly and enthusiastically cheered. When
the applause subsidized, he said
"LApIEs AND GENTLEMEN: An unexpected and
painful occasion--the illness of my son-has been
the cause Of my being detained for day or two
here The detention itself has been, in other re-
specs, of gratifying nature, for has enabled me
to the advantages of the situation of this village
lake harbor. have been always an advocate
for the improvement of rivers and harbors out Of
the funds of the national treasury. have heard
some strpplings in Congress assert that, though
lighthouse might be built the Atlantic seaboard,
and the harbors on that coast be otherwise improved
without violating any principle of the Constitution,
yet that Congress had power to do the same
the lakes That is to say, though Congress might
expend countless sums money upon harbors where
the water is SALT and there is tide, they could not
cxpend cent where the water is fresh and there is
no tide [Laughter.] have also heard it argued
with about much reason that because the lakes
had not the natural advantages possessed by the
ports the Atlantic, that, therefore, nothing must
be done to improve them as to afford protection
to the shipping, security to the lives of mariners
or advancement to the trade and commerce of the
country. Such was the absurd and narrow ground
taken by the opponents of internal improvements.
II would be just rational to argue that, because
we come into tho world in helpless condition,
without food raiment, that, therefore, infants
| ought to be left in state of nudity and starved
/ to death. [Great laughter
"But must not imagine that am making a
speech in Congress, If it necessary to con-
vince you of the constitutonality of the improve
ment of inland barbors and rivera. and of the uni
versal benefits that flow from such works. Your
own harbor is sufficient to convince you. confess
was taken by surprise at the remarkable natural
advantages it possesses. But how would these ad-
vantages be improved for the general good by the
| expenditure of an adequate sum of money
The next thing have TO confess is, that was
not at all aware Of the great beauty and magnifi-
| cent scenery that meet the eye along the western
coast of this State. had heard much of it before
/ but | confess my views were not sufficiently ex-
/ tensive.
"What have seen for the last few days has as
tonished me, and freely admit, in the fret place
that had no Just appreciation, and in the second
place. no just knowledge of the value of the great
highway that was in progress Of construction be-
tween New York and your beautiful village. But
l the work is now done, and all who have passed
over the line must have and felt its vast i'm
portance. There is no set of men, in any country
/ wh IN ye achie cd a If h.. g
greater utility than this, who deserve better the
unqualified appreciation and praise Of those who are
benefited by it, All who reside along the line, as
well as those who live at this, its western ter
mination, will derive the greatest advants ges
| from 1t. The value OF their property and yours
Will be raised. Men and merchandise will leave
| New York in the morning, and be here at night
| You want TO sell the produce of your soil-the
hsh OF your lake-the game of your Forest or what
ever else rich and beautiful country Yields for
| the sustenancc Of man; New York, the best Of
| markets, is here. [CheersJ If you want any
| thing for the establishment of your houses--any
| thing for comfort or ornament, New York ia at
| your doors. This railroad spreads the Empire
| city from Manhattan Island to Lake Erie II lie
among the wonders of the remarkable age in which
| we live-an age almost miraculous in the applica-
ton of the productions of nature to the uses of life
and as agents in extending trade and commerce.
civilization and religion, from pole to pole One
OF these agents is steam, and you have witnessed
its wonders in connexion with this railroad accom-
plishlng what, few years ago, would not have
| been believed. But there il another agent; and
the youngest or the oldest Of you could have
| dreamt of thing miraculous az that intelli.
gence can be transmitted with the rapidity of the
lightnings wing, that the first branch of the pa
| ragraph am now uttering may be in New York
oeforeI come to period, perhaps before come to
| a semicolon Laughter and cheers.]
"Let US, then, thank Heaven that we live in an
| age in which such wonderful developments
Of the great principles of nature which were hid
| from the eyes of our ancestors They call upon us
to thank the Divine Beneficencc for giving such
advantages in this period of history and in the
| country in which were born. II is your country
and mine, with it's liberal principles and free nsti
| tutions-its educated men and women, its public
| schools, with instruction dropping on all like the
| dew OF Hermon. These arc the things which
| ought to make thankful. With the first rays
of the rising sum- and it's last beams it sinks to
| rest in the western horizon, ought to render
our grateful homage TO the Divine Being for the
great indulgence He has given in the boundless
physical resources Of our country, and in the
| lighenmcnt and freedom of its institutions-a
country where intolerance bears down upon
| non-conformity or dissent-wherc every
restrained -worshps his God according to the die
tatcs Of his conscience, and where every man has
a part in the work of legislation, and may act an
important part, if he is capable, in the higher de-
partmcnts of the Government of thirty millions of
people,
"My friends, the performance Of our duties must
be equal TO the duties themselves We must live
up TO obligations. This is all that is asked
from good citizens. II we fail to discharge
those obligations and to perform those duties, and
if the moral ties that bind us to each other
vered and broken, will not cay that We may not
drag along in some way, and that we shall nos
find food and rament but will say that shall
ose all that grandeur of sentiment and noble feel
ing which make us feel proud MS peoPle--for in
tie union Of these States it is that their greatness
and strength one nation consist--and make us
ask if iher 81 ha.te< AL< Gaca