Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1851-07-16
MIR. wEBsrER's GRAFTON


the whole of the great Grafton delivered by
Mr.. WEBSTER at Washington on the 4th'
on the occasion of laying the cornerstone
of the enlargement of the Capitol, the con-
clusion of which we give below, but clrcum-
stances have prevented. When we learned
that Mr.. WEBSTER was to deliver the ora
ton, we wondered what he could say alter
his late numerous speeches. which certainly
were enough to exhaust less fertile intel
lect than his. But he comes forth with
new splendour, and his last effort is ranked
by good judges among his best. WASHING
TON laid the cornerstone of the first Capt.
tol in 1893, and Mr.. WEBSTER alludes to
the circumstance
FELLOW citizens, what CONCENTRATIONS are awaK-
ened in our minds as we assemble here 10 re enact
scene like that performed by Washington Me-
thinks see his venerable form now before me, as
presented in the glorious statue by Houdon, now In
the capitol of Virginia He is dignihed and
grave but concern and anxiety seem 10 soften Inc
Ineamentsof his countenance.
The Government over which he presdes is YET
in the crisis ofexperiment. Not free from troubles
at home, he sees the world in commotion and In
arms all around him. He sees that imposing Tor
egn powers are half disposed 10 try the strength OF
the recently Established American Government.
| We perceive that mighty thoughts, mingled WIN
fears as well as with hnpes, are struggling wthlh
| him. He heads short procession over these theh
naked fields he crosses yonder stream on faiIen
/ a - ,n,,en
tree he ascends 10 The top of this emlnence, whose
original oaks of The forest stand as thick around
him as if The spot had been devoted to Drnidical
worship, and here he performs the appointed duty
of the day.
And now, fellow citizens, if this vision were
reality, if w ashinglon actually were now amongst
us, and if he could draw around him the shades OF
the great public men of his own days, patriots and
| warriors. orators and statesmen, and were to ad
dress US in their presence, would he not say TO us,
''Ye men of this generation rejoice and thank God
for being able 10 see that our labors and tolls and
sacrifices were not in vain. You are prosperous
you are happy, you are grateful the fire of liberty
burns brightly and steadily in your hearts; while
div and the law restrain il from bursting forth in
wild and destructive confagration. Cherish lioer-
ty as you love it; cherish lis securities as you
wish to preserve it, Maintain the Constitution
which we labored so painfully 10 establish. and
which has been to you such source oflnestlmaoe
blessings Preserve the union OF the States, ce
mented as it was by our prayers, our tears, our
blood. Be true to God, olyour country, and TO
your duty. So shall the whole Eastern World fol-
low the morning sun TO contemplate you as ma
ton SO shall all succeeding generations honor you,
as they honor us, and so shall that Almighty Pow
sr, which SO graciously protected us, and which
now protects you, shower lis everlasting blessings
upon you and your poserty." Great father OF
your country, we heed your words; we ieel lheir
force as if you uttered them with lie OF llesh
and blood. Your example teaches us your attec-
tionaie address teaches u.s. your public lie teaches
us your sense of the value Of The blessings OF the
Union. Those blessings our fathers have tasted,
and we have tasted, and still taste. Nor do we In
tend that those who come after us shall be denied
the same high fruition. Our honor as well as our
happiness is concerned. We cannot, we dare not,
we will not beiray our sacred trust. We Will not
fitch from posieriiy the treasure placed in our hands
10 be Transmitted to other generations. The DOW
that gilds the clouds in the heavens; the pillars
that uphold the armament, may disappear and Tall
away in the hour appointed by the will of God
but until that day comes, or So long as our llves
NAV last, no ruthless hand shall undermine that
bright arch of Union and Liberty which spans the
continent from Washington TO California.
Fellow citizens, we must sometimes be tolerant
to folly, and patient at the sight OF the extreme
waywardness of men but confess that when re-
fleet the renown OF our past history, on our pre-
sen, prosperity and greatness, and on what Inc III
ure hath vel to unfold; and when see that there
are men who can find in all this nothing good, no
thing valuable, nothing truly glorious, feel that
all their reason has fled away from them, and lett
The entire control over their udgmen, and their &C
ell a., iniet md Urn
ALL fellow citizens if the purposes of fanatics and
disunionists should be accomplished, the patriotic
and intelligent of our generation would seek to hide
themselves from the scorn Of the world, and 60 a.
bou. to find dshonorab.e graves.
Fellow citizens, take courage-be OF good cheer
We shall come TO no such ignobe end. We shall
live and not die. During the period allotted TO our
several lives we shall continue TO rejoice In the re-
turn of this Anniversary. The i'll omened sounds
of fanacism will he hushed The CHASTITY speclres
of Secession and DisuniOn will disappear, and the
enemies OF united constitutional liberty, If their ma
tired cannot be appeased, may prepare to sere 'helr
eyeba!ls as they behold The steady flight oil Inc "A
rnerican Eagle, on his FURNISHED wings, for years
and years TO come.
President Fillmore, il is your singularly good
fortune to perform an act such as that which the
earliest of your predecessors performed fifty eight
wears ago. You stand where he stood you lay
your hand on the cornerstone Of building design
ed greatly to extend that whose corner stone he
laid. Changed, changed is every thing around.
The same sun, indeed, shune upon his head
which now shines upon yours. The same broad
river rolled at his feet, and bathes his last resting
place, that now rolls at yours But the site OF this
civ was then mainly an open field. Streets and
avenues have since been laid out and completed,
SQUARES and public grounds enclosed and ornamen
led. until the city which bears his name, although
comparatively inconsderabe in numbers and
wealth. has become quite fit TO be the seat OF Gov
ernmen. of great and united people.
Sir, NAV the consequences OF the duty, which
you perform so auspicionsly to-day, equal those
which flowed from his act Nor this only; may
the principles OF your administration, and The wis
dom of YOUR political conduct be such as that the
world Of the present day, and all history hereafter,
may be at no loss to perceive what ample you
have made your study.
Fellow citizens, nUw bring this address to
close by expressing TO you. in the words OF the
great Roman orator, the deepest wishes fmy heart,
and which know deply penetraies the hearts OF
all who hear me: "Duo modo haec OPTIC unum, ut
moriens popuum Romanum liberum relnqnam
hoe mihi majus dis immortallbus dari nlhl po-
test; aIterum, nj tia cuque eyenlat, Ut de repuoca
uusque mereaur."
And now, fslow-cilizens with hearts void OF
hatred, envy, and malice towards our own country
men, or acy of them or towards tho subjects or cit
;zens of other governments. or towards any member
Of the great family of man but exultlng, neverthe-
less, in our own peace, society, and happiness, IN
The grateful recollection of the past, and the glorl
-. honoS nc tho f.nro lat ne return To orr hGneS,