The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-06-03
From the New York commsro,., Aavsn,..s.


Congress Hail. and having seated himself cheers long
and loud. were given by the assembled multitude The
Hon. c. Spencer. standing the piazza Of the hotel
behind the Staging erected for the speaker
announced that, at the request OF the inhabitants Of this
city, the Hon Daniel Webster had consented TO address
them on the present condition OF the country and public
affairs He knew he would receive patient and cheer
iul attention This announcement was recevsd with re-
newed cheering Mr. Webster then rose, and said:
FELLOW CITIZENS; owe the honor of this OCCASION
and esteem II uncommon and extraordinary honor
to the young men OF this city Of Albany and il my
hrs daty 70 sxp,sss 70 those Young men my grateful
neutrality-suspicious. young OF Albany do
not mistake you or your object or your purposes am
proud to take to myself whatever may properly belong
10 token OF personal and political regard from you
10 me. But know, young men OF Albany, it is not ],
but the causet is not but your own generous attach
ments 70 your countTy is not l. but the constitution of
the Union. which has bound together your ancestors and
mine, and all OF us, for more than half century- il
this that has brought you here to-day TO testify your
gard toward who, to the best OF his humble ability
has sustained that cause before the country Cheers
Go on, young of Albany! Go on young men of the
United States Early manhood the chief prop and sup
lie liberty and the institutions OF the land Early manhood
IL Ingenious generous just II looks forward to long
life Of honor or dishonor and means. BY the blessing
OF God that it shall be life OF honor, of usefulness
and success in all the professions and pursuits of fe and
that il shall close-when close il mus-with some claim
TO the gratitude OF the country. Go on. henuphold the
w,
fearless, bold. You fear nothing but TO do wrong
dread nothing but to be found recreant to patriotism and
to your country.
Gentlemen, certainly had no expectation OF appearing
IN such an assemblage this to-day Ii is moi proba
BILE, for much time to comefor long time to comethat
may again address any large assemblage of my fellow
citizens. II should not, and if this were the last to
be among the last, of all the occasions in which
appear before any great number OF the people of the
country shall not regret that that appearance here
find myself IN the political capacity Of the greatest
most commercial, most powerful State OF the Union.
md myself invited here by OF the highest respect
ability, without distinction OF party consider the
who now listen to there such of the wsest
The best the most patriotic and the most experienced pub
lie and private in the State of New York Here
governors and ex-governors; here judges and
Judges OF high character and high stations and here
persons from all the walks of professional and private
NE distinguished for talent and virtue and emnence
teiow-ctzens, before such assembage, and on such
an invitation, feel bound to guard every opinion and
every expession-to speak with precision such sent
ments as advance, and to be careful in all that say,
that may not be m,apprehended or msrepresented.
am requested, fellow citizens, by those who invited
hi,her without distinction Of party to signify my sent
ments the state Of public affairs in this country and
the interesting questions which are before u.s.
This proves, gentlemen, that the opinion of those who
invited me here, there questions sometimes arising
considerations, and interests of party proves moret
proves that IN their judgment al whose request now stand
before you this is time in which public affairs do rise
IN importance above the range OF party and draw to them
interest paramount 10 all party considerations II that
be not So am here without object and you listening
to me Tor no purpose whatever Then, gentlemen what
is the condition OF public affairs which makes it necessary
and proper Tor TO meet and confer togehef the
state OF the country! What the questions which
overriding subdung, and overwhelming party--uniting
honest wemeaning persons to lay par ~ asdeo meet
and confer for the general public veal SHALL of courses
eliow-eitizens, not enter al length into many OF these
questions nor into any heightened discussion OF the state
OF public afars but shall endeavor to state what that
condition u.s. what these questions are and 10 pronounce
conscientious judgment of my own upon the whole.
The las, Congress. fellow citizens, passed laws called
adjustment measures, settlement measures-laws in
tended to put an end to certain internal and domestic
uoveTsies which existed in the country, and of
them for long time. These laws were passed by the
constitutional malorites Of both houses OF Congress
They received the constitutional appreciation OF the Pres
ident They the laws Of the land. To some, or all
OF ihemindeed TO all Of them-at the time Of their pas
OF them passed without heated discussion Government
was established in each Of the Territories of New Mex
Of Texs. vas 10 b. nv Win Ss Ss
but not without determined and violent opposition These
laws all passed. and as they have become, from the
should detan you by discussing their merits and de-
merits Nevertheless, gentlemen, desire this and on
all public occasions in the most emphatic and clear
ner to declare. that hold OF these aws-and
peciay that which provided for the adjustment OF the
controversy with Texas-to have been essential TO the
preservation OF the public peace.
| will not now argue that point nor lay before you at
large the circumstances which existed at that nmethe
peculiar situation OF things in many OF the southern
States the fact that many of those States had adopted
measures Tor the separation OF the Union the fact that
Texas was preparing 10 assert her rights 10 territory
which New Mexico thought hers by right, and that
hundreds and thousands OF tired of the ordinary par
suits Of private life ready and unite in any
enterprise that might open itself TO them, at the risk
OF direct conflict with the authority OF this government
say, therefore, without going into the argument with
any details that in March OF 1850, when foand II my
duty TO address Congress these important topics,
my conscientious bsleisl unshaken ever since con-
hrmed-tha II the controversy with Texas had not been
amicsby adjusted there have been civil and
civil boodshed and the contemplation OF such pros
peel was OF little consequence which standard VIC
tory should perch, although in such contest took il
for granted that opposition could arise to the authority
oil the United States that would not be- suppressed But
what OF thsti not anxious about the military
state OF things and their resuts, and inquired what
would be- the condition oil the country H. in this agaled
state OF hngsif In this vastly xtended though not
generally pervading feeling at the Souih-war should
break out and boodshed should that extreme Of
the Union That enough for to inquire and
gard and the chances had been hut IN thousand
that such would have been the result should still have
felt that that ,housandth chance should be guarded
against BY any reasonable sacrifice because gentlemen,
uins ~ for the future prosperity OF the country
strongly ~ believe now, after what has passed. and
pecialy after hose measures to which have referred,
that Is likely TO hold oeethef vet believe firmly that
this Union. once broken. ~ uiiary incapable. according
original chsrac,eoi being reconstructed by any ches
try, or art. effort. skill Of Then, gentlemen.
lei paaa iron thoss which accom-
plshed and seiiIed CaornIs 10 In the Unioe. and
MOI be got out the Texas boundary IL settled and cannot
be disturbed Utah and New Mexico Territories I'M
der ovis'on OF lsw according 70 accustomed asase In
former and hese hinss may he regarded ~ set
led Nat han auk nHit