The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-12-01
speech Of General walibridge
Al he ate Jubilee IN Nsw York, upon the result Of the

General Wabridge stepped forward, and said there
were many oher eminent gentlemen present who were
eApeesd 10 address the meellDg and he would therefore
give place TO Senator Foster The General, however,
was no permitted to retire, and the cries for Wabridge
said
FELLOW, CITIZENS: As stand here tonight before this
vast assenoage OF the citizens OF the city OF New York,
rus, shall not forget that owing to The generosity and
Rnuness OF many that see before me. have the dstn
sushed hono together with most able aud accomplished
coleagues TO in part represent them in The Congress Of
ne United States Nor shall forget that when and
uIsunoh saiked abroad, threatening the liberties OF the
people ana struggling for the supremacy OF The government
rom ths great commercial metropolis alone petition Of
loy uousand names went TO the representatives al
.he eueiai capital demanding the speedy adlustmentof all
le quesois OF difference between the different sections
OF the Uiuon nor that, in the very midst of that be-
oved Constituency, whose honor is dearer than
NE, was hrs congregaled that mighty gathering OF The
hauanal democracy which first aroused the country 10
~ M lenang disaster, and unphanly bore the present
CHER Maesiraie into the presidency upon the sureng
wave OF hose national and Union principles which rolled
win such resislless tide over States OF pe
American nioI--[cheers]a constituency identified by
tnelr trade and commerce with every section of the con
fy and in whose midst is located that free and pend
ent press which contributed largely to success
the struggle OF 1852
Toa Just and true there are no obligations more
sacred and imposing than those which result from The
dses alton OF political power in representative capacity
II is the highest exhlbion OF confidence in civilized
Sales Nor Is any man qualified TO become the repos-
Tory OF the public regard who is not willing TO act
promptly and decsiyely in great OF public exgen-
cy disegarding all sordd and Personal considerations
,he proper discharge OF Official duty [Applause /
have. therefore, Gene here 10 night preerrng TO court
The responsibilities OF this hour rather than by silence or
implication not give uiterance to my convictions at
lhls Iuneture OF our national affairs lAppause. Let
us all remember advance that political liberty is The
dominant sentiment Of the age aud 10 the American peo-
pie has been conded the high responsibility of guiding
mat sentiment as II convulses the of human pas
SION abroad Let us also remember that 10 the honor
and ~ The glory. and in the renown OF country
can all share, and in the lasting disgrace that shall mark
IT'S overthrow we must all participate. little more
than year ago the American people called upon 10
discharge tue highest duty that devove upon the c-
zen--lhe section OF their Chief Magistrate II not
strange tt at such decision, involving the highest
sequences and affecting the country for good for evil
should hs We convulsed society to lis rmes From
indlvdua Is eminent for their virtues and their position
The stIe clion was to be made but those individuals
were tn be chosen from their known deniihcaons with
certain political principles which made them the expo
nents CT the popular will. [Appause
a distinguished soldier, who had borne the military
glory of his country to the highest summit of martial
TenOSn, was opposed by no less eminent fellow Citizen
the present distinguished Chief Magistrate OF the United
States. That contest was marked by one of the most
triumphant victories recorded in political annals in
avor oi General franklin Pierce His long and thorough
Aaenhca,on with The great principles OF the democratic
pariy-hs strict construction OF the conslitution-the
manner In which he had always guarded the rights OF
Ehe Slaeshis acknow edged patriotism. above ALL that
nobles oil human yfuts-hs tried fidelity, and the lofty
and devoted course that marked his department from the
Bomnaon 10 The election, were guarantees for the fu-
uIe, and his triumph was hailed with acclamaons of
pfass, and dused life and Joy and gadness throughout
% ns boundaries Of 'he epuse Applause On The 81
ot the national democracy stood before the world the
happies and most exalted OF men, invested by great
and magnanimous people with their confidence and pow
er, Nor had he reached that commanding emtnence by
any unworthy arts. He had through lie preferred the
quiet OF bis domestic hreside, and shrunk from public
nonors and only suffered his TO be employed when
could heal our dlssensons, unite the democracy
against the common foe. But solemn and mysterious are
the ways OF Providence. II was no, designed by Heaven
m Ghn hnnid ptrata. IN he
much OF happiness and power.
:, nations cherished hopes rested upon franklin
Pierce-hls hopes were centred in his While the
distant hills were reverberang with notes of gadness
al The democratic triumph and his success hbells OF
Concord were solemRly iolling the domestic beeave
men, that rested upon hi. home His hear, was broken
and hrs boy was dead Melancholy, indeed, must have
been The emotions under which the President proceeded
to ashngton 10 meet the peoples and
NIL the exalted office which he bad never sought No
sooner had his administration been formed than that
inent citizen, who had the floor OF The Senate
The proud distinction oil the American Caio-the Vice
Presldent-while the oath OF Office still fresh upon
his lipf-was also summoned 10 the reality OF the
seen world; and the President elect stood alone, the
only officer invested with the popular suffrage 10
else the functions OF the chief magsiracy Thus afflicted
bere OF his son, deprived of the counsel OF the wise and
palriolic Vice President the Chief Magistrate centred
bis affections and extended his confidence disun-
gulshl,d senator from his native State. But he, TOO, has
been summoned by that messenger that sooner or later
conse ms wbaeveris Is human 10 the tombs. Truly, the
hand Of the Almighty has rested heavily upon the brow
allied TOO deeply The Affections and embarasspenls that
have thus lar surrounded the President express
The confident behef he will administer the government
10 meet the wishes OF that national democracy who
bore him tfiumph1ntiy into power. As OF your
representatives, shall not forget that when the trainers
Of the constitution came 10 organize present govern
men adapted TO the condition OF things that result
ed fiom the exercise of much greater freedom by The
people Than under the early republics, they distributed
the oil the organization inio different depart
mens each having It's appropriate duties, aud the sta
biiy OF the whole depending upon the manner in which
each performed its constitutional functions. That the
legislative department has it's high and solemn duties TO
perform nu less than the executive, and that. OF
your representatives. atrused BY your confidence, shall
stand ready TO resist any encroachmens BY the general
government on the rights OF the States or the rights OF
the people.
Tue experience OF all the republics that have preceded
in early tunes, demonstrates that political power al
ways gradually tends TO The central government; and 10
40 construct our new system, on written constitution
and The representative principle, as to preserve nrlosie
the rights oil the Staies and the independent
ton OF the federal government, was The great object 10
which the trainers OF the constitution directed their
ergies and attention with such unbounded success
Three quarters OF century have lransped since this
achievement and with all our improvements IN almost
every department OF life, ii is questionable VI any sug
gestlons can now be made that would facilitate the
working OF federatve system, unless making more
of our federal officers elective IGreai cheering II the
equilibrium between the federal and State governments
shall once be destroyed, all the evils anticipated by that
llusirous statesman Patrick Henry, must ensue, and
dcspolsm destructive TO the rights and liberties OF the
people. Applause The doctrine of State-rIahts s
vital principle of the democratic parythe right OF every
State to carry out it's own will 10 lls Stale elections,
free from all interference OF the central power. II
shall not hesitate this enoroachmeD upon our
fhu ntar