Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1858-02-26

plause These, my couutrymen, understand 10 have
been tho bets OF Is great Ot Virginia. and they
'Ters indeed the greatest nen in their days. Are
these g:ea: principles worth pr-seryingi Are t,i.y
ephenera, and have they died with the occasion the,
brought them Iorth2 Are they 70 bs preserved and
transmitted TO the latest period OF TIME! My coun-
rymen, these are questions that you ard aud all CT
US are TO answer. We ara 10 declare whe!h her they
are worth preserving aud il they to be preserved
Ii needs no warning voice to tell you trust, that j.
they are TO be preserveG-f these principles of re-.
publican liberty proclaimed by thess ncn ars to be
preserved. they must be defended from all assaults
abroad aud al hore Applsuse.)
We live under government confedaraed under O
common bond oi union. II was my fortune during
the les: SUMMER, when was the honoreG guest oi
Stale. graced here by i very distinguished and
honored gentleman MIR. Egereif)-lt TGs my COCO
oriane Iast summer on an occasion very sni;iar to
u when y as Ev''gd to witness The inaugurGiiur
;. lne S:aue OF the immortal Warren At Bunker
Hill, (applausej-it ""a my fortune Gud privileges to
assu:e our iei!ow counlrymen OF Massachusetts al
Bunker Hi! that We iu Virginia beieve the confe
deration wa5 founded in honor s:. good faith; and
long as honor aud good t.i,h pre.c:-. -, X.
Un:on would be preserved E: inls:-, tsppIause. j.
And now, fellow Citizens. hhv ng een honored u.ore
than once by the voice OF Virginia her representa-
tive Ia ths federal councils ut Washington, allow me
to cay ihatf know the public men who represen:
the South in the councils at Washington, their seu
ments Gre 10 preserve tue Union. (Applause.)
know there arc men who have been denounced as
dsuLionists, HI men WHO adv Ucuted and desired
paTh:ioI aud heir t";i"w and c0mpatriot unde,
this dsnTIci5'ion, aud know the purpose Of these
men was to preserve the Union Us Opg as We vert
SLOWED TO do sn; ard | will say here TO you all
hat that spirit anmaies than now. Virginia vas tn.
irst TO suggest IT, Virginia made the largest sacrf
ces TO preserve il md 10 cenent it, and Virginia viii
never desert 1t as long as worth preserving. Zap
p!nase, long and uud.) Bat my countrymsD. thr
uGion that We l:iend ~ preserve, il We allowed
10 10 so is uuion under the Constitution, and no 9th
er. LApp!ause.) Sir should be rscreunt in respond
ing to the great p: i"cpes that Virginia promuged
II hcld uny other language; aud i'll utiering il, an
ort speaking the sentiments OF my own heart. ZAP
plause) We have, assembled at this festive board
| representatives from other States. whom it was my
good fortune To have met in tCrmer ines, and au
glad ss you will bs, thai ihs opportunity has been
afforded them of t" when they return 70 their die
tAnt homes, what was thought OF The great principles
OF virgins. and how they were eIpounded at the csp
! tai OF Virginia
Fellow. .c,zsns, thank you for your kind indu
gence. will now yield to others whom AM SURF
you will be pleased to hear.
The PKEsIDEST announced the next toest es fol
lows:
The Union-Like full blown flower, each Leaf
contributes TO is beauty and perfection
The Hon. WM. G. RIVE, having been loudly called
srosa, and afier briet introduction, said Iu an az
senbly like this, composed perhaps of fellCw.ciii.
zeus OF every State in the Union, csed together by
sentiment Of common interest in the fame and
memory Of that great and gopd man, whom it was
the good fortune of Virginia 10 have given 20 the
service Of the whole country-in AL assembly like
this. cannot suppose that the Union requires any
Gc"ocaie; aud II II did, not feeble an advocate ss
| | am. But gentlemen, OF ons thing have long been
| convincsd-and tine spectacle which have wit
messed this day has confirmed me more and more
deeply in that oouviciion-th8t whatever temporary
alienation may from time to time occur to produce
GOODNESS, and controversy, ana excitement between
the sister States OF this Union, there is one Go.
nent strong enough to hold it together under all cir.
cu:ns;aDces, and that cement. gentlemen, is n com
Iniy
part OF the country for The character AMI the servces
and the principles OF WAsHISGroS. lApplause
Yes, gentlemen, Il the issue shall be spriouoIy pre-.
ssDted 10 the consideration Of any portion of this
country. venture TIN prediction Low, that no Stats
of this Union. in any combination Of circumstance
which can bs reasonably fnr2seen az key 10 occur
in the tide Of time, will be found regGrdlea r her
oSn name and her own honor, and her G'"n "terest,
"a oy any act oi separation t1 deprive h of her
equal ana lawful portion Of the fame If George
WAsHINGToS. tApplausel
II Is moi my ,purpos, 10 give you speech. for
wh'ch the qae' haos oi my life have entirely die
quallted inei and when ouk round and see 20 many
gentlemen here more competent tn address you than
s:n, feel even wero | compe.sn, to 20 so, that ii
would be improper n traspass further upon you
tcries OF .'go on''l viii, therefore, conclude with
q sentiment:
THE sister States Of the American Union: Co.
psTceGers in the fame of Washi2gton-hey will ever
prefer the joint and undivided possession 10 part
lion OF the inheritance" (appl.uss)
! TIE nert toast was read IA follows
The S'as-lrees il the garden Of Eden; "aach
yielding fruit after i's kind and God that il wGs
good"
AsnREwH. Dawson, E:q of Georgia, beirs loud
ly called OF. reepondedas as tJliows
MIR. PRr'IDzSr ASD GESrLEMEs: If Georgia has
any other representative here night, should Ger
:ain!y have sough 70 escape the responsibility OF
5ponding 70 tie call made uron mo. ] am able, how
ever 10 congratulate myself upon thing, which
am happy 10 see and that is TIM: there is in anoe
every hssrt here q willing reapOpse 20 the true con
servat've sentiments which have been uttered here
TO night and the great principles winch il was iL.
part o. N.-giuiS 10 have promulgated. Really, g,ni!e
men, hsve been overwhelmed with qualification II
the proprey OF nnh :ke iona;s which you hcve jus
offered. They are appropriate this occasion vi the
celebration Of ths natal day Of our great and gcod
Washington. As lar as hs feme is known-nnd the
most ignrsD ere familiar with in this coun'ry-no
thing be batter understood about him thar his
devotion to thi4 Union. (Arp!euse.) How often &c
| regret when hear the examinations and recrinlna
tions that have faten place between your representa-
tives in CorG- and elsewhere. Il Is of re
g-e 10 ud them Obvious Of those Reflections and
considerations which would have given them charity
for ana;her. And tie sentiments which nave bee
of7Tco. tlink, are appropriate ani proper when
there gentlemen praseE; from the free es well as
the slave Sta.es We em'ght make srme allowance for
the sentiments entertained by raauy OF Our Norti.
ern friends 10 regard {" cur irs;;utions. Have you
ever reflected. ;a:i perhaps, even you born and eu
Gated al the North. and brought up from ch,dhou! 10
s.c.iup You would have been Ike Ncrthern men
ere. pr, indeed sgsils. thu S'ufh' Have he gentle
msa from the Northern States ref 4 the. had
they been born ard reared at the South they w0uI
have bgen perhaps ~ great freesic-s as any
amongst us' daughter AID applauae.l This tac: !!
properly reflected upon by every man, would induce
him 10 receive with many grains OF allowance what.
he may hear from Gil opponent In se.ii;csa: :nd
political economy.
/ vii. lot dsfa;n you with speech, efer the e1.
ample, of brevi'v thst have been eet ne by the dis
tngu;shed cons of Virginia who have preceded me,
and whose elnquerce il has been my privilege to
lstsn 20. I will conclude with a toast which trust
will meet with the appreciation @! ell prssent:
The memory OF Washington and the Uaion OF
these Sts:;s Unit. tbe first shsl. per.b may The last
flourish. tapp!euae.)
The next lot o. was as folow.:
The Orator OF the Day: His great and note
themes wers painted with masters hand-hs pic.
ture. vie wiki The majestic statues.
The Hon. X. NJ. I. HUNTER was loudly called for
but the President informed the company tho. M.
Hunter had left. Whereupoa tn. Hon. NJ. +. II.
GARRETT Ia sa2ouse To- n call, made brief speech,
which ;hs Reporter unable, because Of his dis
lance from Mr.. Mr.. g., to take down. This honora
Bile gentleman made warm Southern speech in the
couse Of which h. denied the nationality Of the claim
70 Wssbinpon's name and fame. Is DECLARED that
they were the property Of Virginia. and tina. the
other States had no more claim to them than they
bad to the fame of Shakespeare and Milton. Mr.. G.
concluded with :tis toas:
Tire South fret, the South lsst, and the South at
all times
The following toasi was next announced:
"The Poets of the Day: The muses. strewed the
monument with flowers, and the incense Of patriot.
sm sheds iis fragrance around"
T JAMES BARRON Hope and JOHN x. THoaPsos,
E.q,, responded in brief but appropriate speeches.
The following toast was announced:
"Msssacbusetts and Firginia-the revolutionary
ties that unite them still live in the hear;s of our
people"
Th. Hon EpwARD EyrRrrr rnse in re.non,s IN
call from all psrs Of the Hall, sud upon rising was
received with long continued applause Order being
restored, he spoke as follows:
Mr.. PRESIDENT AND GENTLEMEN: 1 esteem il q
great privilege and honor speak on behalf of Msssa
chusc;ts on this most interesting occason-0f Massa
chuses the eldeOt Of the sister States of Virgins in
thi, great family OF republics. She knew and loved
Jour peerless scn at an early day. While the Lille.