The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-01-15

alude TO the circumstance that here, in the
District Of Columbia | have not been honor
ed by such an attention as | was in other
places and cities of the United States You
have been pleased to attribute this circum-
stance TO certain influences Of certain men
Now, l. indeed, have the opinion that it is not
that influence. ! cannot believe skilful as
! Russian diplomacy may be-whch, indeed, il
! very skilful-that il has such influence. Let
me- for instance, take as an example Moldo-
varica, whore all the different representatives
of Russian diplomacy have received orders
| from their Government TO court the favor OF
Moldovarican ladies and to marry them
! Laughter. Every step-even the marriage
Of Russian diplomatist-is always a diplo-
matte movement. Laughter. | have men,
toned this in respect to Moldovarica; but, in
deed, cannot believe that however great that
skill may be. it could have any influence, in
whatever part Of the United States, upon the
public spirit of freemen, as you are. Applause.
| | believe, rather that there is another reason
for this rcumstance-though, indeed | be-
leve that there are steps taken even to honor
me here. The reason, is believe, that, 80 far
as | know, your Constitution-the Constitution
of the United States-beng a system of checks
and balances the principle was considered TO
| be a wise one-and l. in my conviction, also
take it to be wise-that it is not good that a
corporation in the midst of which the highest
authorities of the State have residence-the
Executive and Legislative power-when the
district or city has a very much developed
public life, which now and then could influ-
ence by pressure from without, the proceed
ings of its constituted authorities-should take
any very active steps in popular proceedings.
This was indeed the fact in several places in
Europe-where we have seen the streets ruled
in the councils of the land The trainers of
your Constitution were willing to avoid such
an influence as this which of course concen-
trates that power which only the whole people
has concentrates it practically, now and
then-in single street and in single city. |
as it was often in Paris. The consequence OF
this was, that the inhabitants of the District of
Columbia are placed somewhat in an excep- |
tional condition in comparison with other parts. |
They have no selfgovernment of their own, |
and exercise not the right of voting, if | am |
rightly informed Now this position (which | |
consider to be a very wise one, and in much |
harmony with the principle of checks and |
,.:,a 20" course have had the infiu- |
ence that tfie public life is pot and cannot be |
leveloDed so much here in this Dictrict as |
elsewhere. That is the only explanation |
which | take But this however, was no
impcdiment for me to have received the honor
and benefit of private expressions of very kind
feelings and sentiments of the inhabitants Of |
this Dstrict-from different parts of it. but
chiefly from the city of Washington From
the first to the last moment, | have met gen.
erous and kind sympathy from the inhabitants
of this District. Now, you will excuse me for
having what believe to be full motive in
differing with you in explanation of that fact