Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1849-1856, 1852-03-04

ness and wisdom, you cannon nut re-
spect their cause, and wish TO make II
your own. For myself, must declare
and avow, that in all my reading and
observation, and il has been my iavorltc
study, ( have read Thucydides, and
hasc studied and admired the master
states of the world.) that fol solidiiy OF
reasoning, force OF sagaciIy, wisdom oil
conclusion, under such a complication
Of difficult circumstances, no nation or
body of men, can stand in preference to
the general Congress at Philadelphia
| trust il is obvious TO your lordships,
that all attempts TO impose servitudc
upon such men, TO establish despoiism
over such a mighty continental nation,
must be vain, must be fatal. We shall
be forced ultimately 10 Tefrdct; let us
re,ract while we can, not when We
must" .......F
This first Congress, for the ability
which il manifested, the principles
which il proclaimed, and the characters
Of those who composed il, makes an H.
lustrious chapter in our American histo-
ry. Its hiembers should be regarded
not only individually. but as IN group I;
they should be viewed as living pic
lures exhibiting young America, as it
then was, and when the seeds OF its pub.
lic destiay were beginning 10 start into
lie, well desc rlbed by our early motto
az being full of energy and prospered by
heaven.
"Non sine Dis. animosus infans."
Some of the members Of this Con-
gress have lived to my time, and have
had the honor Of seeing and knowing
them and there are those in this as
sembly, doubtless, who have beheld the
stately form Of Washington, and looked
upon the mild and intelligent face, and
heard the voice of John Jay.
For myself, love TO travel lack in
Imagination, TO place myselfin the midst
Of this assembly, this union OF greatness
and patriotism, and TO contemplate, as If
| had Witnessed, its profound delibera-
tons and its mastery exhibitions, both
Of the rights and Of the wrongs OF the
country.
may not dwell longer on this ami
mating and enchanting picture. Another
grand picture succeeds il, and that is,
the convention which framed the con-
stitution, the spirited debates in the
states, by the abest men Of those states,
upon its adoption, and, finally, the or
ganization OF the first Congress, filled
by The gray haired men Of the revolu-
ton, and younger and vigorous patriots,
and lovers Of liberty, and Washington
himself in the principal chair Of state,
surrounded by his heads Of departments,
hn hA
greatest portion OF his own regard, and
stood highest in the esteem oftheir coun-
try.
Neither XenspAon nor Thucydides,
neither Sallust nor Livy presents any
picture of un assembly Of public men,
or any scene of history, which, in its
proper grandeur, or its large and lasting
influence upon the happiness Of man.
kind, equals ii,is.
lis importance, indeed, did not, at thu
moment, strike the minds Of ordinary
men. But Burke saw it with an intui-
ton clear as the light oiheaven. Charles
Fox saw it, and sagacious snd deep
thinking minds over all Europe beheld
it.
England, England how would thy
dcstinies have been altered it the advice
OF Catham, Burke, and Fox had been
followed
Shall say altered for the better ?
Certainly not, not for the better for Eng
land herself probably she is stronger
aud richer, at this moment, than it she
had listened to the unhecded words Of
her great statesmen. Neither nations
nor individuals always foresee that,
which their own interest and happiness
require.
Our greatest blessings often arise from
the disappointment, Of our most anxious
hopes, aud our most lcrvent wishes.
--" Let us know,
Our indscret,on sometimes serves us well,
When our deep potr do tail and that should
There's divinity that shapes our ends,
Rough hew them how we will"
Instead OF subject colonies England now
behods mighty rival, rich, powerful,
intelligent like herself. And may these
countries be forever friendly rivals. May
their power and greatness, sustaining
themselves, be always directed TO the
promotion Of The peace, the prosperity,
the enlightenment and the liberty OF
mankind and # il be their united des
tiny in the course Of human events,
that they shall be called upon. in the
cause of humanity, End in the cause OF
freedom, TO stand against a world in
arms, they are Of n race, and Of blood
to meet that crisis without shrinking
from danger, and without qualling in
the presence Of earthly power.
Gentlemen, must bring these de-
suit ry remarks to close. ] terminate
them where perhaps | ought to have
begun-namely. with few words on
the present state and condition of our
couutry and the prospects which are
before her.
Unborn ages and visions Of glory
crowd upon my soul, the realization Of
all these, however, is in the hands and
good pleasure Of Almighty God. But
under His Divine blessing, it will be de-
pendent on the character and virtues Of
ourselves, and Of our posterity.
II classical history has been found to
be, is now, and shall continue TO be, the
popular eloquence, what field is open
ing to us for another Heroditus, another
ThucydIdes, (only may his theme not
be Peloponnesian war; and another
Livy and let me say, gentlemen, that
il we, and our posterity, shall be true to
the Christian religion, if we and they
shall live always in the fear Of God, and
shall respect his commandments; il we
and they shall maintain just, moral SEN
timenis, and such conscientious convic-
tions Of duty as shall control the heart
and lie, we may have the highest hopes
Of the future fortunes OF our country
and if we maintain those institutions Of
government and that political union,
exceeding all praise AS much as il ex-
ceeds all former examples OF political