Weekly national intelligencer., 1851-08-23
A SPEECH FOR THE UNION.

Strange as it may appear, in view of the present
position of the Hon. r. B. RHETT of deadly hos
tiliy to the Union the authenticity Of the following
extract from an able Speech delivered by him in
the House of Representatives of the United States,
in the year 1912, is not questioned AS true as it
was then, it is now. He cannot u,asay it:
But to make the will of all the law-by constitutional
arrangements protect the weak and enable the weak
well the strong rule themselves and thus to secure the
blessings Of liberty and free government to athat is the
mighty problem which has puzzled the statesmen and patriots
Of all ages and which has at last been wonderfully solved
in our Constitution This Constitution was the result Of
long train Of events of peculiar times and circumstances
and wisdom and virtue quickened by the ntense thought
and maured by the sernest trials Gentlemen may succeed
in overthrowng or there no blessing not capable
Of despisng and abusngbu let them not indulge the vain
hope that when overhrown, they reesabsh it. Gen.
uries rolled before the birth OF this Constitution and
it may take many to find people either capable of
apprecating administering such Constitution Once
en like the cities of the old world standing amidst
ruins and deserts will be fallen forever. If the Union
be dissolved to morrow, it could not be reunited
Aware Of the difficulty Of establishing the Constitution and
its completeness when honestly adminsered TO accomplish
the great objects for which it created the people the
United States have owned upon all attempts alter
abolish any of its essential features. Whenever any party
has fairly developed designs hostile to its integrity, they have
been ovehrown To what but this Constitution we
attribute the glorious distinction possess the happest
and eest people in the world aud what all troubea
and contentious with each other but povdsnl rebukes for
departing from its wise and just provisions
Sir, 60 for the Constitution as it 10. want change
in its provisions; but if there is to be any change
those changes be in favor Of popular liberty Instead Of
strengthening the legislative powerom which all usurpa-
tions the Constitution have originated, and which
threaten overthrow et the legislative power be still
further restrained, by limitations clearly defined; let
the veto principle which the Constitution ID built be
laged in order that great maoesan increased number
Of wIsmay be required to make laws for the people and
thus approach may be made to the naked theory of
free democratic Govenment-that every shall rule
himself detest the dominion Of king. de-
test the dominion Of many, because hearess and
irresponsible but above ALL fear and oa,he, and despse
than fear, the dark, fathess remoeess tyranny Of
maority6rst the tools, and then the victims of
the bloody despoism Of bold bad man. who the
high aspirations Of the people for liberty 10 overthrow the
Constitution of his country, and M himself its ruins
Sir, republics provebially shorlived. They aim at
higher standard of equity in government and require, there
fore higher standard Of virtue to administer them and
being open the aspirations and ambition of ALL they must
necessarily be liable frequent and desperate contests
for power and darker conspiraces against their integrity
and let forget the sad lesson all history teaches that
free Government the has shone upon has been
overthrown in the of liberty and the people,"