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

Z
4 When the last page Of this learned,
eloquent and fclicitous address fell from
his hand, Mr.. Webster stood silent for
a moment, as if hesiiaiing whether he
should say more. There were evident
expressions OF desire and expectation
that he would go on, and he conlin;
ued -
Il But, gentlemen, will not take my
leave Of you in a tone OF dependency
We may trust that heaven will not for
sake us SO long as we do not fOrsakc
curse Ives. We must strengthen our.
selves and glrd up our loins with new
resolution We must counsel each other,
and vowing 10 sustain each other in the
support Of the constitution, prepare 10
meet manfully and unitedly whatever
fate may have in store Er us. Are we
OF this generation so direlect2 Have
we SO little Of the blood Of our revolu-
tionary fathers coursing through our
veins, that we cannot preserve what our
ancestors achieved The world will
cry out "sBAME" upon US if we show
ourselves unworthy to be the descend
ants of those great and illustrious men
who fought for their liberty. and secured
il 10 their pofteri,y by the constitution.
H Now, gentlemen, exigences will arise
in the history Of nations. when competi'
lion and rivalry, disputes and contentious
are powerful. Exigencies arise IN
which great men and good men of all
parties, and al shades Of political senti-
ment, are called upon to reconsider their
opinions-to read Just their positions,
and to bring themselves together, il
they can, in the spirit Of harmony
Such a state OF things, in my opinion,
has happened in our day. An exigency
has arisen. We have great and wise
constitution. We have grown, -four
ished. and prospered under it with a
degree of rapidity unequalled in the
history OF the world. Founded on the
basis Of equal civil rights, its provisions
secure perfect equality and freedom to
all all Who live under il are equal, all
enjoying the same privileges. In a
case like ours, II is TO be presumed, that
all the wise and good men Of the nation
/ have the same end in view-though
they may wish TO take different means
II to obtain that end-the preservation and
II protection Of the constitution and Gov
Il ernment.
/ If, then, they have the same object IN
view, they must pursue a concIlating
course, and each be willing to surrender
somewhat to each to secure the harmo-
| ny Of The whole! This general object
then being the preservation Of the con-
\ siitution, the only efficient means TO ac-
Oh al ., ~ "a
/ friends. (Applause.) The constitution
has enemies, secret and professed but
they cannot disguise the fact, that it Sc
cures us many benefits. These enemies
are unlike in character, but they all
have some fault to find. Some Of them
are enthusiasts, hot-headed, sclf-sufTi.
cicnt and heaJstrong. They fancy
that they can make out for themselves a
better path than that laid down for
them. Pheton the son Of Apollo, thought
he could find better course across the
I, heavens for the sun.
Thus Pheton once, amidst the ethereal plains
Leaped on his fathers car and seized the reins;
Far from his course impeed the glowing sun
| Till natures laws to wild disorder run
Other enemies there are, more cool,
and with more calculation. These have
| a deeper, and more traitorous purpose;
they have spoken Of iorciblc resistance
| 10 the provisions Of the constitutions; they
now speak Of secession! Let me say,
gentlemen, secession from us is accession
elsewhere. He who renounces the pro-
lection OF the stars and strip pes, shelters
himself under the shadow Of another
flag, you may rest assured of that. (Scn-
sation and applause.) These malcon-
tents find it easy 10 infame mems pas
sions; they lay all misiortunes OF indi-
vidnal men Of individual states, Of sec
tions and communities - all want of pros
peri,y to the Union. The cooperation
of what are now called antagonist prin-
cplcs 10 made serviceable in the endeav-
i ors to overthrow the constitution. Ex-
| tremes meet and concert together
/ Some there are, who in their own
words, profess to hate the constitution
because il tolerates in the Southern
states, the institution existing there
some because il does not more enerGeti-
cally sustain the peculiar intuition"
II Both parties are willing to overthrow
the constitution, and concert their meas
ures accordingly TO accomplish their
ends. Now 10 counteract the efforts of
these malcontonts, the friends Of the
constitution must rally-ALL its friends,
OF whatever section, whatever their Sec
tional opinions may be, must unite for
its preservation. They must forget the
II things which are behind, and act like a
band Of brothers. They must forget the
pas, the little chickering's and trifing
Il disagreements which have Hitherto sep
arated them. They must look forward
only to the future, and unite their efforts
to preserve the boon bequeathed to the
world by those great men, their ances.
tors they must grid up their loins to
the work. give my confidence, my
countenance, my influence, heart and
hand, TO all those good and wise men
who are willing to stand by the constitu-
ton and acquiesce in the means neces-
sary to maintain it's priceless provisions,
without reference to the past, or pledge
for the future.
will quarrel with no man about past
diferences-I will object to the cooper
alton Of no man. We stand here now
upon broad constitutional bass, and
let us act in that spirit OF union which
actuated our ancestors when they franz
ed the institutions we must concentrate
our efforts TO preserve. But do not
carry my federation so lar as to justify
in the slightest degree any detection
from the principles Of the Union. The
great point at stake is its preservation
l cannot hesitate moment on this ques-
ton nor act well and harmoniously with
those who do. Other questions-ques-
tions Of policy-are subordinate, this is