Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1861-03-23
Address Of Ex.President Tyler in the Wash.
ington Peace Convention.

AIiltICu ~ StCuC CIlOI III NIpOIItlIlS Jl>
to the honorable position you have as
signed me. A long separation from al
dcliberativc bodies has rendered the
rules of thcirproccedings unfamiliar te
me, while ] should find in NV own
state Of health, variable and tickle as i,
is, a sufficient reason to decline tho
honor of being your presiding officer
But, in times like these, one has but
little option left him. Personal con
sidcration should weigh but lightly in
the balance. The country is in DANCE,
it is enough. One must take the
place assigned him in the great work
of reconciliation and adjustment. Tho
voice of Virginia has invited her co.
States to meet her in council. In the
initiation Of this Government that same
voice was heard and complied with, and
the results of seventy odd years have
fully attcstcd the wisdom of the dccis-
ions then adopted. Is the urgency OF
her call now, less great than it was
then? Our godlikc fathers created
we have to preserve. They built up
through their wisdom and patriotism,
monuments, which have cternalizcd
their amcs You have before you,
gentlemen, a task equally grand, equally
sublime, quite as full of glory and i'm
mortality. You have to snatch from
ruin Il great and glorious confederation
to preserve the Government. and to
renew and invigoratc the Constitution.
If you reach the height of this great
occasion your cllildrrn's children will
rise up and call you blessed. | confess
myself to be ambitious of sharing in
the glory of accomplishing this grand
and magnificent result. TO have our
names enrolled in the Capitol, to be
respected by future generations with
grcattul applause. This is an honor
higher than the mountains, more cnlur-
ing than monumental alabastcr. Yes,
Niryimia's voice. as in the oldcn time,
has been heard. Her sister States meet
her this day ut the council board. YER
mont is here, bringing with her the
memories of the past, rcviving in the
memories of all. her Ethan Allen, and
his demand for the surrender of Ticon-
dcroya in the nanic of the great Jcho-
yah and the American Congress.
New Hampshire is lIerc-hcr fame
is illustrated by memorable annals, and
still more lately as the birthplace of
him who won for himself the name of
"Dc!tndcr of the Constitutions" and
who wrote that letter to John Taylor,
which has been cnslr.ncd in the hears
of his coumtrymcn.
Massachusetts, is not here. Some
member said she is coming. hope so,
and that she will bring with her her
daughter Maine. | did not believe
that it could be well that the voice
which, in other times, was so familiar
to her ears had been addressed to her
in vain.
Connecticut is here, and she comes l
not, in the spirit of Roger Shcr-
man. whose name with II very chill
drcn has become a household word. and
who was in life the embodiment of that
practical sense which benefits the great
lawgivcrs and constructors of govern
Rhode Island, the land OF
Roger Williams, is hcrc-onc of the
two last States, in her jealousy of the
public liberty, to give in her adherence
to the Constitution, and among the car
lest to hasten to its rescue. The great
Empire State of New York, represented
thus far but by onc delegate, is daily
expected in fuller force to join in the
great work of healing the d%iscohtcnts
of the times, and restoring the reign
of ~fratcrnal feeling.
New Jersey is also here, with the
memories of the past covering her all
over. Trenton and Princeton live inn
mortal in story. The plains of the last,
imcrimsoncd with tho hearts blood of
V%irginia's sons. Among her dclcga-
ton l recognize u gallant son of a
signcr of the immortal Declaration
which announced to the world that
thirteen provinces had become thirteen
independent and sovereign States.
And here too is Delaware, the land
of the Bayards and the Rodncys whose
soil Mt Brandywinc was moistencd by
the blood Of Virginia's youthful Mon
roc.
Here is Maryland, whose massive
columns wheeled into line with those
of Virginia in the contest for glory,
and whose State House at Annapolis
vas the theatre Of the spectacle of a
successful commander, who after libe-
rating his country, gladly ungirthed
his sword and laid it down unOn tho
altar of that country. Then comes
Pennsylvania, rich in revolutionary
lore, bringing with her the deathIess