The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-02-25
b" ns the record says, "freely signed except

the men OF my own birthplace, confess graf
ihed 10 find who were the signers and who were
the dissentients. Among the former was be from
whom am Immediately descended, with all his
brothers. and his whole kith and kin. This is suf-
hcieht embiazonry for my arms, enough OF herald
ry for me"
In one OF the townships of New York, we find
long list oil hose who arc called True Wings, and
then comes what Ia called the list of Tories and
That list mere was one name.
Are there young men before who wish TO
learn and to Initiate the spirit of their ancestors,
who wish to live and breathe in that spirit who de-
sire that every pulsaun of their hearts and every
aspiration Of their ambition shall be American and
nothing but American? Let them master the con
tents Of the immortal papers of the fret Congress-
and fully Undue themselves with their sentiments
The great Lord Chatham spoke of this assembly
in terms which have caused my heart to thrill and
my eyes to be mostened, whenever recollect them,
from my first reading of them to this present hour:
"When your lordshps look at the papers trans
United us from America; when you consider their
decency, hrmness, and wisdom. you cannot but re-
spect their Cause and wish to make it your own.
For myself, must declare and nvow, that in all
my reading and observation, and it has been my
hvorite study, have read Thucy dides. and have
studied and admired the states OF the world
that for soidity of reasoning, force OF sagacity,
and wisdom OF conclusion, under such complica-
ton OF difficult circumstances, nation body
OF men can stand in preference to the General Con-
gress at Philadelphia. trust ii is obvious to your
lordshlps, that all attempts to impose servitudc
upon such men, 10 establish desposm over such
mighty continental nation, must be vain, must be
fatal We shall be forced ultimately to retract let
US retract while we can, not when must"
This first Congress, for the ability which il mani
Tested, the principles which it proclaimed and the
characters OF those who composed it, makes
lllustrlous chapter in our American history. Its
members should be regarded not only individually,
but as III group; they should be viewed as living
pictures exhibiting young America it then was
and when the seeds OF its public destiny were be-
ginning TO start INTO life, well described by our
early motto as being full of energy and prospered
by Heaven
''Non sine Dis
Annosus Infans."
Some of the members of this Congress have lived
to my time and have had the honor ofseeing and
knowing them; and there are those in this assem-
bly,, doubtless, who have beheld the stately form of
Washington, and looked upon the mild and intel
lgent face and heard the voice Of John Jay.
For myself, ! love TO travel back in ina ginaton
to place myself In the midst of this assembly, this
union of greatness and patriotism, and to contem-
plate, as II had witnessed, its profound delibera
tons and its maserh exhibitions both of the rights
and of the wrongs of the country.
lmay net dwell longer this animating and
enchanting picture. Another grand picture sue
ceeds it, and that is the convention which framed
the Constitution, the spirited debates the States
by the abast men OF those States, upon its adoption
and finally, the organization of the first Conpress
hlied 10y the gray haired men of the Revolution,
and younger and vigorous patriots, and lovers of
liberty, and Washington himself in the principal
chair Of State surrounded by his heads of Depart
ment, selected from those who enjoyed the greatest
portion OF his own regard, and stood highest in tts
esteem of their country.
Neither Xcnophon nor Thuoy ddss neither Sal
lust nor Lvy present any picture of IN assembly
OF public men, or any scene of history which, in
It's proper grandeur, or its large and lasting in
huence upon the happiness OF mankind equals this
lis Importance, indeed, did not, at the moment,
strike the mlncs OF ordinary men. But Burke
1t with an intuition clear as the light of heaven.
Charles Fox saw it, and sagacious and deep think
ing minds over all Europe beheld it..
England, England, how would thy destnes have
altered advice OF Chatham he md
Fox had been followed
Shall say altered for the better? certainly not;
not for the better for England herself; probably
sho ls stronger and richer at this moment than II
she had listened to the UNDECIDED words of her great
statesmen. Neither nations nor individuals always
ioresce that which their own interest and happiness
require.
Our greatest blessings often arise from the dis
appointment of our most anxious hopes, and our
nlost fervent wishes.
--"Iet know.
Our indiscreton sometimes serves us well,
When our deep plots do fail; and that ehould
teach US,
There's divinity that shapes our ends
Roogh-he them how will"
Instead of subject colonies, England now bcholds
a mighty rival, rich, powerful, intelligent like
per5eiT And may these countries be forever
hiendiy rivols May their power and greatness,
sustaining Themselves, be always directed t. the
promotion OF the peace, the prosperity, the en-
lightenmcnt and tic liberty of mankind; and lift
be their united destiny, in the course uf human
of humanity, and in the cause of freedom, 10 stand
against world in arms, they are Of race, and of
blood, 10 meet that crisis without shrinking from
danger, and without quailing in the presence OF
earthly power.
Gcntlcmen, must bring these dosultory re-
narks 70 close. terminate them, where per
hapa ought to have begun namely, with few
words on the present state and condition Of our
country, and the prospects which are before her.
Unborn ages aud Visions of glory crowd upon
my soul; the realization of ali these, however, is in
tho hands md good pleasure Of Almighty God.
But under HE Divine blessing il will be dependent
on the character and the virtues OF ourselves, and
Of our posierity,
If classical history has been found TO be, il now,
md shall continue 10 be, the concomiisnt Of free
Institutions and OF popular coqucDce, what field is
opening 10 Ua for another Thucydidcs, aud auothrr
Ivy! And let nc say, gentlemen, that u we aud
our po5tcrity shall be true to the Christian religion
II we aud they shall live always In the fear OF God
and shall respect His commandments; II VIC and
thcy shall maintain just, moral sentiments, and
such contentious convictions OF duty as shall
control the heart ard life, may have the
highest hopes Of tho future fortunes OF our coun-
try; and II we maintain those Institutions OF Gov.
eminent and that political Union, exceeding all
praise ne much as it exceeds all former example,
Of political associations, VIC may be sure Of one
thing, that while our country furnishes materials
10 thousand masters Of tho historic art, il will
afford no topic for Gibb1n IL will have no De.
cline and Fall. II will 20 on prozperinr and 20
prosper. But II We and postority reject rci
Rious instruction and authority, violate the rul,s
~ clcfnal Jusucc, TITLE with the inluuritOn8 81
raliiy, aud rccklcssly destroy the political Consu-
tuition which holds us together, no man can tell
how suddenly catastrophe may overwhoim us
that shall bury all our glory in profound obscuf.
" II that catastrophe shall happen let il have no
history Let the horrible narrative never be writ
ten; let its fate be like that Of the oAt books Of
Iivy, which no human eye shall ever read, or
the missing Pleiad, Of which no man can ever
know more than that IL is lost, and lost forever.
The signcrs IN Salisbury Now Hampshire, were
the following:
Ebcnozcr Johnson, Nathaniel Msrrton,
Samuel Scribncr, Robert Smith,
John Collins, Andrew Peitingill,
Reuben Creole, William Caef,
william Mutton, Leonard Judkins,
Benjamin Bean, Jonathan Fifcld,
Job Heath, Edward Eastman,
Phincas Bean, Shubael Creole.
John Jameson, Benjamin Huntoon,
John Sanborn, Jonathan Cram.
Jacob True, David Pottingill,
John Gale, Joseph Bartlett,
Moses hlkins, John Rove,
Rev. Jonathan Soaflc William Webster
bbenczor Webster, jacob Garland,
John FIfield, William Eastman.
William Sc1ric, Joseph Narston
A1.fl H..