The republic., 1851-07-08

the organs of which consist only Of men, should be
W sc, and beneicent, and competent to inspire con
hdence, if the opposite qualities belong TO the nd-
svlduals who constitute those organs, and make up
And now fellow-citifens, take leave OF tbis part
ol the duty which proposed 10 perform, AID once
more ielicitating you and mysef that our nave
De. ngnt Derse, ...s. ----. e--N
ears have heard the shouts with which Joyous thou-
sands welcome its return, and joining with you IN
the hope that every revolving year shall renew
these rejocings to the end Of time, proceed TO ad
dress you shortly, upon the particular occasion oil
our assembling here to-day.
Fellow citizens, by the act OF Congress OF SOth
September, 1850, provision was made for the eAten-
sion of the Capitol according to such plan might
be approved by the President Of the United States,
and tho necessary suIfls TO be expended under his
direction, by such architect as lle might appoint.
This measure was imperatitely demanded for the
use of the Legislative and Judiciary departments,
the public Libraries, the occasional accommodation
of the Chief Executive Magistrate and for other OBJ
jects. No act of Congress incurring large ex-
penditure has received more general appreciation
from the people. The President has proceeded to
execute this law. He has approved plan; he has
appointed architect; and all tbingsare ready
for the commencement Of the work.
The Anniver sary OF National Independence ap-
poared TO afford auspicious occasion Tor laying
the fohndatioa.etone OF the addiaonal building.
That ceremony mas now been performed, by the
President himself, in the presence and view OF this
multitude. He has thought that the day and the
occasion made united and an imperative call Tor
some short address to the people here assembled
and it is at his request that have appeared before
you to perform that part OF the duty which was
deemed incumbent on US.
Beneath the stone ID deposited, among other
things list of which will be published-the fol-
lowing brief account of the proceedings of this
day, in my hand writing:
"On the morning of the first day of the Seventy
sixth year of the Independence of the United
States Of America, in the City Of Washington,
being the 4th day of July, 1851, this stone design
ed as the cornerstone of the extension Of the
Capitol, according TO a plan approved by the
President in pursuance OF an act OF Congress, was
laid by MILLARD FILLMORE, President of the Uni
ted States, assisted by the Grand Master Of the
Masonic Lodges, in the presence of ihany mem
bers OF Congress, of officers OF the Executive and
Judiciary Departments, National, State, and Dis
trict, OF officers OF the army and navy, the Cor
porate authorities Of this and neghboring cities,
many associations civil and military and mason
ic, officers of the Smithsonian Institution and Ma
tonal Institute, professors of colleges and teach
of schools of the District, with their students
and pupils, and vast concourse of people from
places near and remote, including few surviv-
ing gentlemen who witnessed the laying OF the
"a corner stone of the Capitol by President Wash
ington, on the eighteenth day OF September, sew
enteen hundred and ninety three.
''If, therefore, it shall be hereafter the will OF
God that this structure shall fall from its base,
that its foundations be upturned, and this deposite
brought TO the eyes of men, be it then known
that this day the Union of the United States
of America stands firm, that their Constitution
still exists unimpared, and with all its original
usefulness and glory; growing every day stronger
and stronger in the affections of the great body
of the American people, and attracting more and
more the admiration of the world. And all here
assembled, whether belonging to publicifc or to
private life, with hearts devoutly thankful to Al
mighty God for the preservation of the liberty
and happiness of the country, unite in sincere
and fervent prayers that this deposite, and the
walls and arches, the domes and towers, the col
umn5 and entablaiures now TO be erected over II
may endure forever!
"Gop SAVE THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
s'DANIEL WEBSTER,
'secretary Of STATE of the United STATES,
'f(in his otor hand tCTitng."
Fellow citizens, fifty EIGHT years ago Washing
ton stood on this spot TO execute duty like that
which has now been performed He then laid the
stone Of the original Capitol He was al
the head of the Government, at that time weak in
resources burdened with debt, just struggling into
political existence and respectability, and agitated
by the heavng which overturnng Eu
ropean thrones But even then, in many impor-
tant respects, the Government was strong. II was
strong in Washington's great character; ii
strong in the wisdom and patriotism OF other
eminent public men, his political associates and
fellow aborcrs; and it was strong in the affections
of the people.
Since that time astonishing changes have been
wrought in the condition and prospects of the
American people and degree of progress wit
nessed with which the world furnish par
allel. As review the course of that progress
wonder and amazement arrest our attention at every
step. The present occasion, although allowing o
heightened remarks, may yet perhaps admit o.
short comparative statement between important
subjects of national interest they existed at tha
day and as they now exist have adopted for this
purpose the tabular form of statement as being the
most brief and the most accurate.
COMPARATIVE TABLE.