The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-02-26

the papers VI tuAt City.
It is a very elaborate and learned effort, and
viewed as literary production, does justice 10
his reputation as scholar and critic. but u"
its political bearing il has deeper significance
than anything that has yet emanated IRON 'ne
same source 1t is the most adrolt as wen as
the most effective move yet made by Mr. WEB
srER and his friends, with Wow to his promo
ton to the Presidency,
Tho whole affair was admirably managed by
the orator and his friends. lie went to New
York, not on political IN ssion, but by invita-
ton of literary society, to deliver their annu-
al address That address, carefully prepared,
and which he read from printed copy, was IN
strict keeping with the occasion. 1t was an his
torcal address emphatically, and for two hours
he enchanted the attention of the audience with
IT, He concluded the address, and doubtless
many of that audience marvelled at the selfab-
negation of the orator on that occasion, and his
abstinence from the topics out of which politl-
cal capital could be made. But they reckoned
without their host. The occasion was to be
liUprOVbu LuOSb ohuluhys AiN WY ""P'N P'''"N
peroration, yet in embryo,to give point and mean
ing to the movement, and platform on which
he could stand That platform is the Union
platform, which Mr.. WEBSTER seems still to be-
leye may be built up for his benefit, though
failure has hitherto followed every attempt OF
that kind, even when the pretext carried more
probability with it.
We do not believe that the annals of popular
oratory, ancient or modern, afford a more strlk-
ing illustration of oratorical effect, than the
mode in which Mr. WEBSTER produced and de-
livered this peroration, every word of which had
evidently been weighed and considered before
hand--eyery expression of which has its mean
ing.
Mr.. WEBsrER's address was apparently con
cIuded. His printed copy contained nothing
further. lie ceased and then we leave the
in which the orator fulfilled the object of his
missions
When the last page of this learned, eloquent
and felicitous address fell from his hand, Mr.
Webster stood silent for moment, as if hesitat
ing whether he should say more There were
evident expressions of desire and expectation
that he would go on, and he continued
But, gentlemen, will not take my leave o
you in tone of dependency We may trus
that heaven will not forsake us 80 long rs we DE-
not forsake ourselves. We must strengthen
ourselves and grid up our loins with new reso
luton; we must counsel each other, and vow
ing to sustain each other in the support of the
10 pf,,lI u,rr
untedy whatever fate may have in store for us
Are we of this generation 30 derect! Have VIZ
40 little of the blood of our revolutionary faith
ers coursing through our veins, that We canno
preserve what our ancestors achieved! The
world will cry out 'sHAME" upon us if we show
ourselves unworthy to be the descendants o
those great and illustrous men who fought 70
their liberty, aud secured it to their postefity b,
the Constitution.
Now, gentlemen, exigences will arise in tn.
history of nations, when competition and rival
nv, disputes and contentious are powerful. xxi
gencies arise in which great men and good mer
of all parties, and all shades of political sent-
nent are called upon to reconsider their opinions
to re-adjust their positions, and to bring them
selves together, if they can, in the spirit of har
mony. 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, fourished, and prospered under
it with 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
it are equa1,-all enjoying the same privileges
In case like ours it 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 to obtain that end-the
preservation and protection of the Constitution
and government
IT, then, they have the same object in view
they must pursue conciliating course, and each
will be willing to surrender somewhat to each
other, to secure the harmony of the whole
This general object, then, being the preservation
Of the Constitution, the only efficient means to
accomplish this end, is the union of all its
friends. Applause.l The Constitution has
enemies, secret and professed; but they cannot
disguise the fact, that it secures us many bene
fits. These enemies are unlike in character but
they all have some fault to find. Some of them
are enthusiasts, hot-headed, sefsuflicient, and
headstrong. They fancy that they can make
out for themselves a better path than that lait
down for them. Phmton, the son of Apollo
thought he could find better course across tn,
heavens for the sun.
Thus PhctOn 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 wit
more calculation. These have a deeper, an
more traitorous purpose; they have spoken {
forcible resistance to the provisions of the Cor
stitution; they now speak of secession Lit
me say, gentlemen, secession from us is accessio
elsewhere He who renounces the protectio
of the stars and stripes, shelters himself unde
the shadow of another flag, you may rest a.
sured Of that. Sensation and applause
Those malconten;s find it easy to inname men
passions; they lay all misfortunes of indivdu
men, Of individual States of sections and con
munities--all want Of prosperity, to che Unto
The co operation Of what are now called anita.
onist principles is made serviceable in the Ell
deavors to overthrow the Constitution. f.,
tremes meet and concert together Some the
are, who in their own words, profess TO hate tt
Constitution, because it tolerates, in the Soutl
ern States, the institutions existing there; som
because it does not more energeticaly susfai