The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-02-26
Extern poraMeOus Addition to MIR. Webster's
Address.

Referring TO the discourse delivered by WEE
| sTER before the New York Historical Society, the
| Commercial Adoertisr states that when the last
page OF this learned, eloquent, and ielictous ad-
! dres fell from his hand, MIR. Webster stood silent
| for u moment, as If hesitatng whether he should
say more. There were evident expressions of de-
sire and expectation that he would go on, and he
| continued
But, gentlemen, will not take my leave Of you
| in a tone oil dependency. We may trust that
| Heaven will not iorsakc long as we do not
| iorsake ourselves. We must strengthen ourselves
and grid up our loins with resolution we
| must counsel each other, and, vowing to sustain
ench other in the support Of the Constitution pre-
| pare to meet manfuy and unitedly whatever fate
| may have in store for Are we Of this genera-
| ton SO dercict? Have We so little of the blood
OF our revolutionary fathers courslng through our
| veins that cannot preserve what our ancestors
achieved? The world will cry out "sHAME" upon
Us II we show Ourselves unworthy to be the de-
scendants OF those great and inuslrious who
fought for their liberty, and secured il their pos
terty by the Constitution.
Now, gentlemen, exigencies will arise in the his
tory OF nations, when competition and rivalry, dis
putes and contentious, are powerful Exigencies
arise in which great men and good men of all par
ties, and all shades OF political sentiment, are
called upon to reconsider their opinions, to re-
adjust their positions, and to bring themselves to-
gether, II they can, in the spirit Of harmony
Such stnte Of things, in my opinion, has hap.
pened in our day. An exigency has arisen. We
have a great and wise Constitution. We have
grown, hourished, and prospered under it with a
degree OF rapidity snequaed in the history of the
world. Founded on the basis Of equal civil rights
Its provisions secure perfect equality and freedom
to all; oil who live under it are equaIall enjoying
the same privileges In like ours il is TO he
presumed that all the wise and good men of the
nation have the same end in vew--tbough they
may wish TO take different to obtain that
end the preservation and protec ton of the Con-
| sttution and Government
IT, them they have the same object in view thew
must pursue conciliating course, and each be viii
ling 10 surrender somewhat to each other to secure
the harmony Of the whole This general object
them being the preservation of the Constitution,
the only efficient means 10 accomplish this end il
the union Of all its friends. (Appauso.l The Con-
stitution has enemies, secret and proiessed. but
they cannot disguise the fact that it secures us
many benefits These enemies unlike in cha
racter; but they all have some fault to find Some
OF them are enthusiasts, hotheaded self sufficient
and headstrong. They fancy that they can make
out for themselves a better path than tn It laid down
for them. Pheon, the son of Apollo, thought he
could lind better the heavens for the
"Thus Ph;eton once amidst the ethereal plains.
Leaped on his fathers car and seized the reins;
Far from his course impelled the glowing SUM-
I'LL natures laws to wild disorder rum
Other enemies there are, more cool, and with
more calculation. These have deeper and more
raitorous purpose; they have spoken of forcbe re-
sstance to the provisions of the Constitution; thew
now speak of secession! Let me say, gentlemen
secession from us is accession elsewhere He who
renounces the protection of the stars and strinea
shelters himself under the shadow of another fag
you may rest assured OF that. [Sensation and an
plausc.l These malcontents find it easy to nfaIne
mems passions; they lay all misfortunes of indiyid-
ual men OF individual States, Of sections and COM
muniies-all want of prosperity to the Union
The co operation of what are now called antapo-
mist principles is made serviceabe in the endeayors
to overthrow the Constitution Extremes meet and
concert together. Some there are who, in their
own words, profess tomato the institution because
it olerates IN the Soutaern States the institutions
existing there; some because il does more ener-
gctcally sustain the ''pecu liar institution
Both parties are willing to overthrow the Consti-
tuition, and concert their measures accordingly TO
accomplish their ends. Now, to counteract the
efforts OF these malconens, the friends of the Con-
sututon must rally-ALL its friends, OF whatever
section, whatever their sectional opinions NAV be-
must unite for its preservation. They must forget
the things which are behind, and act like band
OF brothers. They must forget the past the little
chickering's and trihing disagreements which have
hitherto separated them. They must look forward
only to the future, and unite their efforts TO pre-
serve the boon bequeathed to the world by those
great men, their ancestors; they must grid up their
loins to the work. give my confidence nv coun-
tenance, my influence heart and hand, to all those
good and wise men who willing to stand by fhe
Constitution, and to acquiesce the means peoes-
sary TO maintain Its priceless provisions, without
reference TO the past or pledge for the future
VIII quarrel with no man about past differ
ences will object TO the co-opertion Of no man
basis and let act in that spirit OF union which
actusted our ancestors when they framed the in
stitutlons we must concentrate efforts to pre-
serve. But do not carry my liberation 30 far as
to Justify IN the slightest degree any detection
from the principles OF the Union. The great. point
at stake is its preservation. ! cannot hesitate a
moment on tins question, nor act well and har-
moniOusly with those who do. Other Questions
questions of policy-are subordinate; this is para
mount. Every man who is attached to Abe Union
should come out boldly and say SO, without con-
dltions and hypothcses, aud lis, and ands, and
buts Laughter What says Cicero: "Denioue
inscrpum cit, patres conscrpti, in fronte cuiusque
civic, quOd de hnc sentiat." Let every man bear
inscribed on his forehead what he is, and W hat he
means To do in that matter.
There are persons weak enough foolish enough
TO think, to believe, and 20 say, that ii the Consi-
tuition which holds these States together should be
broken up, there would be found other new and
better chains TO bind them. This ia rash This il
rash no more believe, looking at the ;hirty-one
States which compose this Union, covering so vast
country, embracing 30 many climates, go many
mountains, so many rivcrs-I no more believe Il
this MON is dissolyed-hed together az il now is
by the ConstitatiOn-that IL can be ever re- formed
on any basis, than believe TINT H. by the fiat OF
Almighty power, the law of grayitation should be
abolished, and tho orbs which compose the uni
verso should rush into illimitsble space iostlinp
against each other that they could be brought
back and rcadjustcd into harmony by a new pfin-
ciple Of attraction. lApplauscl
Gentlemen, hardly know II IL would be an sg-
HraVation or an alienation Of fate. We can die no
lingering death we cannot fall victims 10 war,
pestilencc, or famine earthquake alone can
throw down the pillars OF our State, and bury W.
IN eternal political ruin and the darkness of ever
lasting night. SOch may be tho fate OF this coun-
try, but may never live 10 see the day May I
not survive to hear any apocaypuc angel cry
ing through the heavens, Epesen, ,pessn Amsriks
he msgais kai egeneio kafoikeier,on daiaonfon kai
phtliots p1nfos prBetinofos okditayfou. Gentlemen
most suspicious omen salutcs and cheors us this
day. This day ia the anniversary of the birth OF
Washington.
Washington's birthday is celebrated from one
end OF this land 10 the other. The whole atmo-
sphere OF the country 10 this day redolent of h,s
prnciples-tho hills, the rocks, the groves tho
wales, and the rivcrs, shout their praises and re-
sound with hs fame. All the good, whether learned
or unlcarncd high or low rich poor feel this day
that there IL one treasure common TO them ALL and
that Is the fame Of Washington. They all recount
his DECIDE, ponder over his principles and teach
ings, and resolye to be more and more guided by
them in the future. To the old and the young, 60
all born in this land, and TO all whose preferences
have led them 20 make IL the home Of their adop-
hon, Washington h. an celebrating theme. Anne
ricans IRE proud Of his character all eyiles from
foreign shores arc eager TO participate in admirs
ton OF him and II IL true that he IL this day here
everywhere, all over the world, more an object of