Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1851-06-14
PLA4UEWHNE:
Z SATURDAY, JUNE Ii, 1851.
n1r. webster's Speech at Buffalo.

Was lnviedto make, this afternoon, in the Park
| in the midst Of 4 rain storm, which drenched
| every person who was in attendance, ladies and
all, OF whom there were, at least, one hundred
on the platform. 1t poured in torrents during
the whole time, but nothing daunted, Mr. W.
continued till he had said al! he wanted to saw,
He spoke rs follows -
Felow-citizens Of the city Of Buffalo, am
very glad TO see you-I meet you with pleasure.
1t is not the first time, fellow citizens, that
have been in Buffalo and have always come
tolt with pleasure. It is q great distance from
my own home. / am Thankful! that crcumstan-
ces hare enabled me to be here again. and re-
gret that untoward events deprived me of the
pleasure of being here when your distinguish
ed fellow citizen, the President of The United
States, came among you, and received from you,
as NE deserved, not only respectful, but a cor
dial welcome. The President of the United
States has been a resident among you for
more than half his life. He has represented
You in your State and national councils You
Know him and all his relations, both public and
private; and it would be bad taste for me to
say anything of him. except that wish to say,
with some degree of emphasis, that since my
connection with him in the administration Of the
government of the United States, have fully
concurred with him in all his great and leading
measures, from the fact that have been one
of his council But do not wish to let trest
on that presumption; IWish to declare that the
principles of the President are, as declared in
his annual message, his letters, and all docu-
ments and opinions which have proceeded from
him or been issued by his, authority, in regard
to the great question Of the tines that all !,
these principles are my principles; and if he
is wrong in them, am, (applause,) and always
will be. Applause
Z entlemen, it has been suggested that it
would bepleasant and agreeable to. the citizens
Of Buffalo, and their neighbors in the country
Of Erie, that Iwould state to you my opinions,
such as they are, on the present condition of
the country, its prospects, its hopes, and its
dangers; and, fellow-citizens, hope to do that
this day and this hour, as far as my strength
will permit. z Z g
Gentleman, believe me, know where l am.
! know to whom am speaking. know that
| am here in this singularIy prosperous and
powerful part Of the United States Western
New York--and know the character of the
men who constitute Western New York, u /
know they are sons of liberty, one and all that
they sucked in liberty with their mothers milk !;
nheritedH with their blood that it IS their
daily contemplation and watchful thought.
They are men. Of q very singular quality OF con-
ditionfor million and a half of people. There
sre men around us, and here before us, who
till theirsown livelihood by their own labor,
with no means beyond their own industry, and
heir own independence, and their own willing
ness to labor. These are the men who consti-
ute, to so great an extent, the people Of Wes-l
ern New Y York. But the schoolhouses, know,
ire among them. They read, and write, and
hink. And here are the fair sex--educated,l
'efned, and intelligent: and here are emenwhosI
Snow The history of their country and men, i'm
ny opfhfon, lovers Of liberty, md they are yet.
overs.of liberty, under the constitution of the
country, and who meanto maintain that con-
titution with All their strength, so help them
Tod. Great appisuse.) hope these obser-l
ations will satisfy ypu that I know where L
IN, under what responsibility ] speak, and be-
ore whom | appear : and | have no de-
ire that any word u shall say this day.
hall be withholden from you or your chill
ren, or your neighbors, or the whole world. Fl
Because | speak so before you and before my
ountry, and if it is not too lemn to say, so
efore God himself, the great author of justice.
Gentlemen, there is bur one questonin this
ountry now, or if there be others, the Others
re but secondary, or so subordinate, that they 4
re all absorbed in that great and leading ques-
on and that is neither lhore nor less than this
hat we can preserve the Union of the States, |
OF by coercion-not by military power-not \.
y angry controversies. But can we Of this
eneration, you and l. your friends and my
tends, can we preserve the union Of the Uni
ID States by the administration of the pow 3
RS of the Constitution as shall give content |
nd satisfaction to all who live under it, and |;
raw US together, not by military power, but {
y the silken cords of mutual, fraterna, patri- I,
tic affection! That is the question, and no {
ther. Gentlemen, | believe in party distinc- t
ons. lam aparty man. There are questions
elonging to party in which am concerned, s
nd there are opinions entertained by other ,
arties which repudiate; but what Of that! 4
house be divided against itself, it will fall, |
nd crush everybody in it. We must see that
'e maintain the government over us. We l
rust see that we uphold the Constitution, and
,e must do so without regard to party. Now, |