The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-05-16
THE REPUBLIC.

| citizens, aud he would take this opportunity to
speak with frankness and candor 70 them. There
could be no Wing party, he went on to say unless
the Wings of the North and the South understood
each other; and, if they did not understand eac b
other all attempts would be vain to keen them to-
gether. The President, New Yorker, had been
called 10 the administration OF the Government in
| period of most unexamped danger to the Union.
| The southern Wings knew what were his opinions,
and all they asked of him, expected OF him. was
| that he would be true to the Constitution The
| Constitution asked man to approve OF the in
| stitution of slavery, and expected no such ap-
proval of any man; but the Constitution recog-
missed certain obligations to that institution, and
these obligations every true Wing everywhere ex-
pected every President to carry out. When the
Constitution was framed, every State surrendered
portion OF Its sovereignty and, in order 70 form
that Constitution, the South had made some sacri-
fees az well the North They were for the bene-
fit. however, of the whole. and thus for the benefit
OF all the parts. Among those obligations was
to surrender fugitives from slavery. The South
would never have agreed to live under the same
government with the North, ifthe North was to be-
come the refuge ground of their runaway slaves.
In separation, either by commercial restrictions
by arms, IL would have maintained its rights, that
no neighboring powers should disturb its peace and
its property. The Constitution happily guaranteed
to the South what by the comfy OF nations, it had
| a right to demand-that aneighboring State should
not be tempting of its people from their homes,
throwing in frebrands among that people by
tempting their servants with imPunity to run
away. To that Constitution the Wings Of the
South expected the Wings of the North to live, to
abide by it in good faith and to execute its provi-
| sions. II was matter Of conscience, therefore,
| Tor every northern man who took an oath to sup
port the Constitution, and such an oath was taken
by every man who held office, from the highest
officer down to the constable; and he knew con-
science party that could SO well enforce the duties Of
conscience az in enforcing an obedience to an oath,
| and to the supreme constitution Of the State.
| One Of the Compromise measures which il had
become the duty Of the Administration to act upon
was this surrender Of fugtives All the rest Of
but comparatively little importance TO the South;
and this was only made of the gravest importance
by enabling the country to see whether the Consti.
tuition could be put down or not If this article of
| the Constitution could be nullifed, directly or in
directly, there was no telling where notification
was to stop. If the Constitution was good for any
thing, it was good a whole, and it could not be
broken in parts. Nobody expected the whole Sc
anybody, item by item. Some of the bills were
very, very Objectionable TO large parties Of his
| southern countrymen-as objectionable az this Fu-
| gitive bill is in the North; but as a whole,
| system, and as final system of adjustment, the
Wings of the South acquicsced in them all, and
meant to maintain them, and they expected a like
| acquiescence on the part Of their northern Wing
brethren in good faith. II there was to be no such
| acquescence-if northern Wings we're to wage
war against southern Whgs-there could be no
Wing party. The Democratic party had their dif-
fculties perhaps more serious than ours, and 1t
was doubtful whether they couldSever again as
|
Wings could act together efficiently ever, if
they only planted themselves upon the platform
laid down in the Presidents message. [Great
| cheering.
Mr. Graham concluded by remarkng that he
bad spoken with freedom and candor, as among
frends and be heartily thanked the people for the
reception they bad given the President and the
members of his Administration.
His remarks, OF which the above is only sketch,
were received with numerous, loud, and prolonged
cheers, particularly those parts which enforced the
unity of the Wing party.
| The Postmaster General, Mr. Hall, was next
called forth; butt after expressing satisfaction for
the glowing reception they had all received, hc
apologized, in consequence of fatigue and utter
WEAKNESS, for not saying more.
Mr. Price then annsunced that Mr.. Webster had
been waited upon, (the Wing committee intending
to address hm,) but that he had retired to bed.
| A sERENADE.
| As an appropriate finale to the exciting ceremo-
MES of the day and evening, at midnight last night
| the Young Guard Henry Clay Association, accC m
panied by Dodworth's inimitable band serenaded
| the President at the Irving House. Notwithstand
ing the intention of the sercnaders had been kept
as close possible, still it leaked out by some
means, and large crowd was gathered in front of
the hotel while all the guests Of the house were at
| the windows and in the balconies. The music was
delightful, OF course, and the performance OF the
Dodworths was warmly applauded. The same
parties serenaded Mrs Fillmore on Monday night.
MR.. WEBSTER AT THE AsToR HOUSE.
After the procession the Secretary of State re-
paired to his quarters at the Aston House, where he
dined. Among the gentlemen composing the party
were the Hon. Rufus Choate, Hon. George Ash
surer of Massachusetts,, Fletcher Webster, Sur
veyor of Boston, p Harvey, esq., of Boston, Gene
raj Lyman, of New York, Hon. Edward Curtis, and
several others.
The suite of rooms appropriated to Mr.. Webster,
at the Astor House, was very splendid. 1t consist
ed of three apartments on the second floor, and the
whole were elegantly furnished
| Colonel Stebbins, of the twelfth regiment, and
his staff, with several military gentlemen and
civilians, dined at the Aston and had ga very good
| time generally"
At nine O'Clock rockets were let off from the roo
| of the house, and continued at intervals for
over an hour. Several superb pieces of fireworks
were also displayed. and the whole tel minated with
brilliant piece, illuminating magnificent trans
parency which disclosed the motto-"Honor to
| Daniel Vebster."
| The Secretary of State waited upon by seve-
raj of our citizens during the evening, whom he
| ccived with his accustomed suavity and courtesy.
! deputation from the Legislature of Connecticut
waited him, and, to very earnest expression Of
wish their part that he would visit them during
| their session, he said that he would comply with
it if it should be found consistent with the arrange
msnts of the Executive party MIR. Dcming,
chairman of the committee, addressed him in very
eloquent and happy terms, and Mr.. Webster re-
spondcd in his best manner, referring 10 Connec-
tcut as one OF the pioneer STATES IN inc establish
ment Of the Union, and as one of those whose sub
sequent history had been most firmly consistent
with its original position.
large crowd assembled in the large square be-
fore the Astor House during the fireworks, and
greeted each successive display with great enthu-
siasm. When that exhibiting his name was shown,
the applause was loud, long, and unanimous, and
ssthree cheers for Daniel Webster ~ the cry,
repeated again and again, from the crowd.
OPENING EXCURSION ON THE ERIE RAILROAD.
| The President and Secretaries, with the
| President and Directors of the Erie Railroad
Company, and the invited guests, numbering
nearly five hundred left the pier, foot of Duane
street, this morning, little after six O'Clock.
An immense crowd collected on the piers, and
amid the firing Of cannon and continual cheer
ing the boat left for Piermont. All along the
river guns were fired, flags displayed, and
every token Of rejoicing exhibited. All the
steamboats, on the river displayed their colors
and fired saluteS.