Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1860-1862, 1861-02-11

John Tyler, Of Virginia, Before the
: Peace fCouference at Washington,
Upon Being Elected ats Presiding
Omeer,
GEsTLEMEs: fear you have committed a
great error in appointing me to the honora-
BILE position you have assigned me. A
long separation from all deliberate bodies
has rendered the rules of their proceedings
unfamiliar to me, while should find in my
own state of health, variable and tickle as it
is, sufficient reason to decline the honor of
being your presiding officer; but, in times
like these, one has bnt little option left him
personal considerations should weigh bat
lightly in the balance. The country is 10
danger-it is enough-one must take the
place assigned him in the great work of con-
ciliation and adjustment. The voice of Vir-
GINA has invited her co-States to meet her in
council. In the inception of this Govern
ment that same voice was heard and complied
with, and the result of seventy odd years
have fully attested the wisdom of the deci.
sion then adopted. Is the urgency of her
call now less great than 1t was then? Our
godlike fathers created-we have to pre-
serve. They build up, through their wisdom
and patriotism. monuments which have eter-
nalized their names.
You have before you, gentlemen, task
equally grand, equally sublime. quite as full
of glory and immortality. You have TO
snatch from ruin great and glorious Con-
federation, to preserve the Government, and
to renew and invigorate the Constitution. If
you reach the hight of this great occasion.
your childrens children will rise up and call
you blessed. confess myself ambitions of
sharing in the glory of accomplishing this
grand and mag nifcent result. TO have our
names enrolled in the Capitol, to be repeat
ed by future generations with grateful ap
plause; this is an honor higher than the
mountains-more enduring than monumental
alabaster. Yes, Virginia's voice, as in the old
en- time, has been heard. Her sister States
meet her this day at the COUNCIL board.
Vermont is here. bringing with her the
memories of the past, reviving in the memo
ries of all her Ethan Allen and his demand
for the surrender Of Ticonderago in the
name of the Great Jehovah and the Ameri-
can Congress New Hampshire is here-her
fame illustrated by memorable annals, and
still more lately as the birthplace of him
who won for himself the name of Defender
Of the Constitution, and who wrote that let
ter to John Taylor which has been enshrined
in the hearts OF his cOuntrymen. Massachu-
sets is not here-(some member said she is
coming)-I hope so, said Mr.. Tyler. and that
she will bring with her her daughter Maine. 1
did not believe it could well be that the voice
which, in other times, was SO familiar to her
ears. has been addressed to her in vain Con-
necticut is here, and she comes, doubt not
in the spirit of Roger Sherman, whose name
with our very children has become house
hold word, and who was in life the embodi-
ment of that practical sense which BELTS the
great lawgivers and constructors of govern
ments. Rhode Island, the land of Roger
Williams, is here, one of the two last States,
in her jealousy of the public liberty, to give
In her adhesion to the Constitution, aud
among the earliest to hasten to its rescue.
The great Empire State of New York-repre-
sented thus far hut by one-delegates to-day
fuller force to join in the great work of
healing the discontents of the times and re-
storing the reign OF fraternal feeling New
Jersey is also here, with the memories of the
past covering her all over Trenton and
Princeton live immortal in story-the plains
of the last encrimsoned with the hearts
blood of Yirginia's sons. Among her dele
CATION L rejoice to recognize gallant son of
a signer OF the immortal Declaration which
announced to the world that thirteen provin-
ces had become thirteen Independent and
sovereign States; and here, too, is Delaware,
the land of the Bayards and the Rodneys,
whose soil at Brandywine was moisted by the
blood of Virginia's youthful Monroe. Here
is Maryland, whose massive columns wheeled
into line with those of Virginia in the contest
for glory, and whose State house at Anna
polls was the theatre of spectacle of a sue
cessful commander, who, after liberatiug his
country, gladly ungirthed his sword and
laid it down upon the altar of that country.
Then comes Pennsylvania, rich in Revolu-
tionary lore, bringing with her the deathless
names of Franklin and Morris and trust,
ready to renew from the belfry of Indeoen-
dence Hall the chimes of the old bell, which
annouced freedom and independence in FORM
er days. All hail 10 North Carolina. with
her Mecklenburg Declaration in her hand,
standing erect on the ground of her own
probity and frmness in the cause of public
liberty, and represented in her attributes by
her Macon, and in this assembly by her dis
tinguished son, at no great distance from me-
Four daughters of Virginia also cluster
around the council board, on the Invitation
of their ancient mother, the eldest Kentucky,
VIII ose sons, under that intrepid warrior,
Anthony Wayne, gave freedom of settlement
to the territory OF her sister, Ohio and ex-
tending his baud daily and hourly across La
Belle Riuiere to grasp the hand of some one
of kindred blood of the noble States of In
diana and Illinois and Ohio. who have grown
up into powerful States already grand, po- |
tent and almost imperial. Tent ssee is not
here, but is coming-preyent from being
here only by the floods which have swollen
her rivers. When she arrives she will wear
the badges on her warrior-crest of victories
won, in company with the Great West, on
many an ensanguined plain, and standards
torn from the hands of the conquerors at
Waterloo. Missouri and Iowa and Michigan,
Wisconsin aud Minnesota, still linger behind,
but it may be hoped that their hearts are
with US in the great work We have to do.
The eyes of the whole country are turned
to this hall and to this assembly in expecta-
ton and hope. trust, gentlemen. that you
may prove yourselves worthy of the great
occasion. Our ancestors probably commit
ted blunder in not having fixed upon eve-
ry fifth decade for a call of general Con-
yention to amend and reform the Constitu-
ton. On the contrary, they have made the
difficulty next to insnrmountable to accom-
Plush amendments to an instrument which
was perfect for five millions of people, but
not wholly SO as 10 thirty millions. Your
patriotism will surmount the difficulties,
however great, if you will but accomplish
but one triumph in advance, and that is
triumph over party. What is party when
compared to the task of rescuing ones coun-
try from danger? Do that, and one long,
loud shout OF joy and gladness will reseund
throughout the land.
The Great Robbery.