The southern press., 1851-04-04

p.tooihS 'loit WHICH, IL - my H'PP''s"' W "'''~
been able to pay you. Let me say TO you thai
nothing could be more just and true than what
his exceenty the governor has said respecting
the general, national, broad and comprehensive
political character Of the Commonwealth OF Pen
nsylvania. She has been called, and not with
out strong claims to the title, the Keystone OF
the Arch of the Union. She is vast IN extent,
and abundant ia wealth and resources and re-
marked for the industry and intelligence OF her
citizens Her rivers on the east connect Win
the Atlantic her rivers on the west connect her
with the Mississippi and the Gulf OF Mexico
Above all, or equal to all, she has vast resources
in point OF mineral wealth beneath her SOIL that
enttle her to position beyond that Of any OF
her sister States She has improved her advan-
tages with diligent industry; and, while seek
ing to promote virtue and TO render herself wor-
thy before the nation, and TO fulfill her part IN
the great mission of the country, she has been
governed by local prejudices, local attachments,
and narrow feelings, less than any other State IN
the Union. She is central IN her position She
Is on the line which divides the two portions OF
the country, and which are separted by local ~
terests one from the other. But she is disposed
always 10 do her duty 10 both. admire Penn
sylvania. admire her for the moderation and
,irmness, the good sense of patriotism which
Obligations, and in view of questions well cal
eulated TO disturb the general political harmony
Your excellent Executive has done me more
than lus,ice iu what he has said of my public
services Il is long time since entered pub
lie ia, quite tee long for myself and perhaps
for my family; bat assert for myself one merit
onlv--and of that | may be proud, that il at
taches me te the State OF Pennsylyana-and it
| is the merit ot embracing the country, and the
whole country, by what have said or done in
one public station or another in my general po-
| litical career in the dispositions of Providence.
! PENNSYLVANIA indeed, could not have been an
| insignificant State under any circumstances. If
she had remained great in her resources, in her
soil. and in her people, what, after all, would the
| State of Pennsylvania have been, il detached and
isolated from the other States of the Union? |?
Compared with your Pennsylvania as you now
behold her, lcheers what would she have been
with all her mineral treasures, with no power to
develop them--wthopt any general protection
from the national flag that carries them in pride
and triumph to the ends of the earth Cheers.
! 1t is that comprehensive course OF policy
which rejects local ideas, and narrow view Of
political principles which enables this whole
people to speak of the whole country as their
country, and has made the State of Pennsylvania
|
continue to be, as before said, the Keystone
of the Arch Of the Union.
! If | had happened to have been before this
assemblage, in this place, one year ago to-day
on the first of April of last year, should have
met you with far less gladstone heart than |
now do; for it is not to be denied that occur
rences Of great import have taken place within
| the last year-that measures have been adopted,
| BY the general concurrence Of men of all parties,
calculated to adjust local differences, and settle
the agitatng questions Of the country 1t is
time that we should feel kindly one towards an
other-that we should feel that we are one peo-
| pe-that we have one interest, one character,
one liberty, and one destiny.
| bore an humble but earnest part in the pro-
curement Of that adjustment established by the
last Congress If not everything that all could
wish, it is as much as the rational could hope
! for ] trust to your own perception to see the
great degree of cheeriulness prevailing in So
ciety around you, and the general progress of
all interests under the influence Of the industry
of your people and | ask You whether | do
not meet you under the better auspices for you
and for me, for united liberty for established
| fraternization among governments of the same
republican faith than | would have met you a
year since.
/
weary you by discussing any political question
This is an age of discussion, and we are peo-
| pie of discussion and all know has been said
so often that ! am afraid to repeat it. But
have come here to present in person, and to re-
peat what had endeavored TO express by letter,
my profound acknowledgements TO the legisla-
ture Of your State, for the kind mannerin which
they were pleased to take notice of a recent act
of my official life. 1t is n compliment, the re-
membrance Of which | shall carry with me to
the gr-ve.
! 1t has appeared, and does appear, that the
time has come in the progress of affairs, in view
of the growth of the country its vastly increased
population, and highly elevated character in nts
scale Of improvement, when we, the dcscendathe
d those who achieved the independence and es-
tablished the Constitution of this country, are
bound to speak out to the whole world of man.
kind, and bear testimony to the cause of pop
ular republican government. Tremendous APP
plause.
Let other governments do as they WILL it is
not our duty to traverse the earth and make
proselytes. Our business is to make proselytes
by our example. Prolonged applause By
this we can do more than by thousand ennis
sares-more than ten thousand Peter the Her.
mits. We will place in the political armament
aSuil VI hiiu NhNtilup, tbt Wulu-
ing influences of which all shall feel and know.
Our destiny is great and any man falling
short of its full comprehension is not fully com
petent to conduct the affairs of government.
Our situation is peculiar. We are remote from
other countries; and, if we were not, we have
power, thank God, to defend ourselves. Cheers.
And while enjoying the benefits and seeing and
knowing the glorious results of our political
svstem are we afraid TO compare il with any
other in the world Afraid to compare the Sc
curity of life, property, industry and reputation,
as witnessed in the United States and the sew
eral States, with t9eir preservation under any
other government of the earth. Revolutions
cannot shock us. We have no dynasties to over
turn, we have none to erect in their stead.
But the great broad general current of useful
ness flows by us, like your noble river, until il
mingles with the mighty ocean.
But look no further. ! do not contemplate
what might happen to Pennsylvania when sep
arated from her neghbors. She may stand
alone; nor viii it be forced upon me, except by
49, \ L.. L..