Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-03-20


posal the following Speeches, made at the Congress
sional Banquet held in this city on the 2lst ultimo
In honor OF the Birthday of WASHINGTON we take
pleasure in laying them before our readers.
OPENING REMARKS OF SENATOR STOCKTON.
FRIENDS AMERIcASs In calling TO preside over
this festive commemoraon of the Birthday of Washing
ton, great honor has been conferred me- for which
my best thanks are due. As Republic grows she
enlarges her sphere the multiplying millions difuse
themselves this continent federal relations
win probably become complicated and diversified
and the blessings of the Constitution and the Union may
be severely tried by mistaken construction reck
less violation or insidous corruption The remembrance
of the past the momenous questions of the present day.
and the solemn mysteries of the future should teach
to appreciate the nestmabe that is
ted in the pure character and holy patriotism of him who
first in war; first in peace and first in the hearts of
his countrymen," cheers and to admonish of the i'm
porance OF keeping fresh in the minds of all this
mighty people the memory of beloved Washington
Renewed cheers. That is talisman whose virtue is
more precious than oceans of liquid gold solid noun
tains Of silver Nobeness of sentiment heroism of
duct and love of liberty have astonished and delighted
mankind In every country and in every age costly sacr
hces have been made by patriots and actions of almost
incredible prowess have been performed by mighty men
of old But in those exhibitions of vaor and greatness
there has almost always been less Of personal
ambition or criminal atrocity 1t left for the age of
our revolution TO produce true hero and patricia
whose fame is obnoxious to such reproach chris
tan hero, he indeed soldier and conqueror
but without crime His eyes glisened with the dew
drops Of pity when the unsheathed sword reeked
with the blood of the fallen foe statesman and legis
ator neither intrigue discrimination nor injustice marred
his character The first Of the age his great desire
was TO occupy private station In every vocation IN
which he called act he excelled the most usrous
OF all preceding ages and he differed from the greatest
among them by being untarnshed by those imperfecons
which they exhibited But l will not attempt the vain
effort Of magnifyng his fame His virtues are the legacy
of the greatest value which he has bequeathed We have
assembled to remembrance of those virtues
and not to offer incense of praise to his great This
being eur only object this occasion, say in the lam
guage Of Holy Writ 1t is good for to be here Let
us erect tabernacle in every heart and dedicate to
Washington and the Constitution. Applause.
Gentlemen, we shall be true to country the Ameri
can people win be true to their country and its cons
tuition, just so long as we all true to the memory of
Washington Through all time the virtue of people
will be gagged by the intensity of their veneraton for his
Precepts Of WISDOM by the gor of their appreciation for
his character and by the respect which they cherish and
manifest for his virtues. If the time shall when
unhoy ambition the lust for power and foreign conquest
or the glory of expensive war shall animate public
men, and their fierce passions and dangerous designs
not be checked by the remembrance Of the probty of
Washington and his policy, then indeed the golden age Of
this republic will be forgotten Applause If sectional
injustice and animosities almost knde the fires of civil
war illegal power regardless of the reserved rights Of
the States and the people shall trampe under the cto
ous march Of party spirit the constitutonthen if an
with which Washington interpreted that sacred instru-
ment shall be in vain then, indeed, small hope will
main nvgorate the efforts Of the patriots bring back
the Government TO the purity Of Washington and Jefferson
If the time shall come, when, under the influence Of gen
eroas, hospitable emotions considered Partially,
people shall rashly seek involve the Republic in
the stormy and wretched vortex Of European politics. and
abandoning the ground Washington seek place them
selves that of foreign Powersorgetfu that their first
and chief duty is to take of their countryen
the farewell warnings of the Father of his Country
fIaI ,,.saC of,
rotism nothing but those calamities which entanging
alliances and the long and fearful train Of evils which
float in the wake Of pernicious will reveal the delu
sion, the folly, and the of their degenerate age
[Great and prolonged applause If the time shall
when corruption shall invade the walls Of proud
Capitol and yenal crime shall stalk unbushing through
its precincts and progae extrayagance and perfdous
peculaton abound at the other end Of the then,
if the remembrance Of the frugaty the purity the sim
picity of Washingtons Administration cannot
shall have foundered upon those rocks which all
other republics have broken to pieces Applause. When
corruption reigns here, Washington viii be forgotten
tGreat applause.
Friends and feor-ctzens Following in the footsteps
Of the immortal Washington let cherish his memory
and profit by his preceps and his wisdom Members Of
both Houses Of Congress let keep this Government
within its prescribed constitutional limits Applause
preserve ii frugal and economical Government renew
ed applause drawing from the people than is
absolutely necessary for the purposes Of an honest admin
istraton Of the constitution Applause Let no temp
taton however urgent or magnificent induce us TO yo-
late its spirit its letter Let forbearance and conci-
laon towards all the different sections Of country
and their diverse interests distinguish councils
cherish peace avoid war, when essential for praet-
cable purposes for the defence Of national interests
and national honor Then shall bid defiance to the
remorseless appetite for power shall erect irwin
chile barrier to corruption shall thus battle dema
gogues at home and check eventually the march Of des
potism abroad. Loud applause. By dsregardng the
maxms and forgetting the virtues Of Washington, We
might sooner perhaps reach the pinnacle Of greatness
but would be at the expense Of the longevity of the
public Let ne adhere to them for they viii conduct
quite enough to the topmost round Of the ladder
national aspiration and while thus adhering TO his
ample and emulatng his patriotic devotion to the cons
tuition let us look high enough to and open hearts
WIDE enough to embrace all the varied interests Of this
wideyextended country If have patriotism enough
10 stand up at all times and under all emergencies for
country, our whole country and nothing but country
we may some OF US be victims the little arts Of little
politicians; but even in death our country-grea glo-
rous united, and prosperousw be our monument at
testing our fidelity and honorng our memories TGreat
and prolonged cheering
REMARKS OF Mr.. CRlTTENDEN
Mr.. president: regret that in this company where
there are many others capable should have
been selected and called upon respond to the toast an
nouncing the Father Of his Country its mighty theme
You met, sir, to the anniversary Of hi,
birth The occasion and the associations by which ",
surrounded-here, in the city which he founded a