Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1851-05-29

M Websters Speech a, BuAalo.- Buffalo
May 23d.-At the public dinner given to Mr.
Webster, yesterday, in this city, he made long
and eloquent speech, Of which we give brief
synopsis.
The speech was delivered in the open air !:
and Notwithstanding It raIned steadily during the
whole tlme an immense audience was present
including not less than one hundred ladies' upon
the platform.
Aitera few complimentary words to the cltiz-
ems, and a felictous allusion to the President.
MIR. Webster proceeded to say IN substance
/ Gentemen-There is but one great leading
question IN this country, and that is--Can we SO
preserve this Union, by the administration of the
Constitution, as to give consent and satisfaction
to all secuons2 That is the question Now
how did this question arise? The question is
forever mlsstated. We all know that every man
IN the State of New York is attached to the u
Mon but that is not the point. The real aues-
ton is, whether You, and the rest of the people
of New York, will so administer the Constitu-
ton as to permit your brethren to remain IN the
/ Union.
Now, gentlemen, speak of no concessions
III the South wish any concession from me, they
wont get it-not hairs breadth of it If they
come to my house for it, they wont find il; /
shall concede nothing; but | will maintain for
them, and for you, TO the utmost of my power,
and in the face of all danger, their and your
rights under the Constitution and God forsake
me and my children, If ever | be found to fater
IN one or the other. We all know that the or
igin of the agltations of the country is slavery
but we must meet IT, and deal with il earnestly
honestly and justly. At the time of the forma-
ton of the Constitution, slavery existed in the
Southern States, entailed on them by British
laws. Ii was obnox Gus TO the middle Stntes
and disllked by the Southern States themselves.
Now, how did our fathers deal with it? They
framed Constitution which your ancestors adj
opted, IN which was an express provision for re-
storing the fugitive slave 10 his muster That
had been the history of the country from its first
settlement Ii wac matter Of common practice
to return fugitiyes before the Constitution was
framed. Now here is the Constitution, and
have taken pains TO transcrlbe these words.
! Mr.. w. here read the clause relating to fu
gitve slaves
Is there any mistake about that? Is il no,
imperative Now, Gentlemen, that is the Con-
stltuton. DO we, or do we not mean TO execute
hs There is not a man who holds or can hold
an Office under this government, or under any
State government who does not become bound.
by a solemn oath before God, to support the Con-
sututlon. Is he to tamper with that Is he to
falter? Gentlemen, have always commended
that any measure calculated to bring slave terrific
ny INTO the United States, was against It's proyi-
sions. That has always been my opinion-and
Il remains unchanged. never would consent
that there should be one foot of slave territory,
beyond what the cid i3 States had, at the forma-
ton OF the Union never never
MIR. Webster then passed to the Texan Reso-
luton. lie ioresaw and foretod the result of
that resolution but he was denounced for il he
went into Congress before the consummation of
the annexation Of Texas, and then held up both
hands, and protested with voice stronger than
It now Is, against the whole of it but the peo-
pie wllled 1t. New York, without whose con-
seI't Texas could not have been admitted into the
Union, voted for il, and the deed was DONE
Don't blame me for II, said he let them answer