Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-03-27

nation has risen its present unparalleled greatness
have serious attempts induce the United States
depart from his great principles Of peace and neutrality
OF avoiding all entangng alliances with foreign Powers
and Of combining ourselves to the growth improvement
and prosperity Of country and in place of them
to plunge ourselves by pelous proceedings and nseas
BILE degrees in the wars OF Europe Under such circun
stances, il is right and proper and useful to repair
the great fountain Of Washngons patriotism and drink
ing deep to return refreshed and nvgorated by tn
draught @ en @
hope gentlemen that your proposed celebration vii
add to the of love and gratitude for his
mory and admiration for the purity wisdom,
patriotism Of his whole life.
have the honor to be, with great respect, your ODE
: sdient servant, d. CLAY.
s From the Secretary Of State.
WASHINGTON FEBRUARY 10, 1852.
GENrLEMEN: have received the invitation which you
have honor of addressing to me- to be guest
the Congressional Banquet in this city on Saturday,
the 21st instant for the purpose Of celebrating the ami
versary Of Washington and evncing becoming respect
to his high character and ustrous services and affirm
ing reasserng the principles forth by him in his
Farewell Address TO the American People.
regret that engagement, entered into months
SINCE be in New York the day of your celebration
will deprive of the satisfaction of being with you
this occasion sympathize deeply in the purposes and
objects Of your meeting and think there is peculiar
appropriateness in this celebration the present time
when his opinions of what should be national policy
appear TO have been somewhat misunderstood. AS
his public career drawing to close he left to his
country his last best gift that Farewell Address to
which you refer and which contains summary Of his po
itica principles and also his and affection
ate exhortations TO his counrymen And in letter adj
dressed his friend and companion arms Gen Lafay
ete in the last of his e in which he alluded to his
vaedctoy address, he takes occasion say that his ideas
of politics plain and simple ~ think" says he,
every nation has right to establish that form of gov
under which it considers 1t may live most happy,
provided it nfracts right, and is not dangerous to
others and that Government Ought to interfere with
the internal Of another except for the security
of what is due TO themselves"
remarked in this city, some twenty years ago. at an
anniversary Ike the you now propose 10 celebrate
that hardly knew how greater service of the kind could
be done to the community than by renewed and wide
diffusion Of that admirable paper and an earnest invita-
ton every in the country to read and consider it.
It's political maxms invauable its exhortations to
love of country and broherly affection among citizens
touching and the soemnity with which it urges the OBJ
Of moral duties and mpresses the power of
gous obligation gives TO it the highest character Of truly
dsnterested sincere parental and Christian advice His
pure morals and his deep Of religious duty form, in
> deed, the GROWING glory Of his character.
remain, gentlemen, with unfeigned regard yours, sc.
DAN WEBSTER.
From, Mr. Winthrop, late United States Senate,
from, Massachusetts,
Bosros, FEBRUARY l6, 1852.
GENTLEMEN I greatly obliged and honored by your
communication Of the 29th ultimo inviting my attendance
at Congressional Banquet to be given the 2lst in
! slant, in honor of the birthday Of Washington.
1t would afford the highest satisfaction unite with
you in eyncng becoming respect TO the high charac
ter and ustrous services of the Father of his Country
and Affirming and reasserng the principles set forth
by him in his Farewell Address to the American People
That address bears date Of the day Of the year
with the Constitution of the United States The Consti-
tuton signed by its trainers the 18th day of Sep
tember 1887. The Farewell Address signed by its
author on the 18th day Of September, 1896 The same
stars presided their origin the spirit breathed
throughout their composition and it hardly too much
10 say that their destnes are indissoluby associated
The Constitution repose in safety other princi-
Piles than those of the Farewell Address.
1t nobly said by Lord Brougham, some years ago,
tha4 In
jngton win be test, until time shall be more, Of the
progress which has made in wisdom and virtue
And the historian Of Europe has said Of the Fare
well Address that there is composition Of unnspired
wisdom which can bear q comparison with it.
Let us hope that the New World viii be slow to under
value character and composition which have chaleng
cd such appreciation from the Old and let us all be-
Of attempting to lay any other foundation for oul
political fabric than that which has been laid by the sword
and the pen Of Washington
regret sincerely. gentlemen, that my engagement:
win not allow join you this interesting occasion
and remain with very true regard your obliged fellow
citizen and obedient servant, RoB'T C. WINTHROP.
From The Secretary Of tae Nary.
wasHisGToE, FEBRUARY 81, 1852
GESTLENEs: beg you 70 be assured that nothing but
prudent regard for my health recently somewhat i'm
paired should deprive me Of the pleasure OF being
at the Congressional Banquet this evening in accoranc,
with your kind invitation.
To unite with the representatives Of the people IN cele
bratng the birthday Of the Father Of his Country for the
purpose of affirming and reasserng the political principle.
enjoned in his Farewell Address would be 10 me mos
agreeable entertainment That address but embodes and
illustrates in the form Of precept and injunction tbos,
governing maxims which made his life glorious and o;d
led his administration Of public affairs Fortunately 70
1.-The country and the Of human liberty he had pre-
sided the Constitution at its birth recommended IL
adoption by the people of the States in an aectonat
letter of advice the Chief Magistrate Of each bee
called by the unanimous voice Of his countrymen to OF
ganze the Government according its provisions
administered Government for eight years. in the
fancy Of its existence, and at most important period
the history Of the world.
II the fortune Of his Administration TO encount
difficulties pertaining both to foreign relations
domestic affairs, greater IN numbers and in magntut
than have fallen 10 the lot Of any Of his Blu
with practical wisdom surpassed, they m
and overcome without any compromise Of national RICH
dignity, without usurpaton abuse Of authority, wit
out weakening but the contrary celnenng the bon
of Union. Viewed now by the calm light Of histor
these very difficulties seem 10 have been but Providence
designed to supply US with precedents in after times
long the example Of Washington and the disnteres
and seeing counse OF his yaedicory address shall
ort their proper influence upon the minds and hearts
his countrymen, may hope that the aspery Of par
will mitigatod sectional hostility repulsed the nation
honor maintained, and our liberties and Union co-exist
harmony
With profound obligations for your courtesy am pe
tlemen, your obesient servant, WILL. A. GRAHAM
From the Chicf Justice Of nc Supreme Court
wasnisoFoa, FEsRuAnY 9, 1852
GEsrLExEs: very much regret that the state Of n