Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1861-02-14
speech Of Ex-president Tyler.

patriotic "reminiscences.
Mr.. Tyler said
GENTLEMEN: fear you have commit
ted great error in appointing me to the
honorable position you have assigned ne.
A long separation from all deliberate
bodies has rendered the rules of their pro-
ceedings unfamiliar to me, while should
find in my own state of health, variablel
and tickle as it is, sufficient reason to de-
cline the honor of being your presiding
officer; but, in times like these, one has
but little option left him-personal con-
siderations should weigh but lightly in
the balance. The country is in danger
it is enough---one must take the place as
signed him in the work of reconciliation
and adjustment. The voice of Virginia
has invited her co-States to meet her in
council. In the initiation Of this Gov
ernment that same voice was heard and
complied with, and the results of seventy
odd years have fully attested the wisdom
of the decisions then adopted. Is the ur-
gency Of her call now less great than it
was then? Our godlike fathers created
we have to preserve. They built up,
through their wisdom and patriotism,
monuments which have eterndlized their
names. You have before you, gentlemen,
task equally sublime, quite as full Of
glory and Immortality. You have to
snatch from ruin great and glorious
Confederation, to preserve the Govern
ment, and to renew and invigorate the
Constitution. If you reach the height Of
this great occasion, your children's chill
dren will call you blessed. confess my
self ambitious Of sharing in the glory of
accomplishing this grand and magnificent
result. To have our names enrolled in
the Capitol, to be repeated by future gen.
erations with grateful applause, this is an
honor higher than the mountans-more
enduring than monumental alabastor.-
Yes, Virgnias voice, as in the olden
time, has been heard. Her sister States
meet her this day at the council board -
Vermont is here, bringing with her the
memorials of the past, reviving in the
memories of all her Ethan A lien aud his
demand for the surrender of Ticonderoga
in the name OF the great Jehovah and the
American Congress. New Hampshire is
here-her fame illustrated by memorable
annals, and still more lately as the birth
place of him who won for himself the
name of Defender of the Constitution, and
who wrote that letter to John Tayl lor
which has been enshrined in the hearts of
his countrymen. Massachusetts 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.
| did not believe it could well be that the
voice which, in other times, was SO fam
ilar to her ears, has been addressed to
her in vain. Connecticut is here, and she
comes, doubt not, in the spirit of Roger
Sherman, whose name with our very chill
dren has become a household word, and
who was in life the embodiment of that
practical sense which BELTS the great law
givers and constructors of Governments.
Rhode Island, tho land of Roger Will
liams, is here, one of the two last States
in her jealousy of the public liberty to
give in her adhesion to the Constitution,
and among the earliest to hasten to its
rescue. The great Empire State of New
Y orl1-represente thus far but by one
delegates to-day fuller force to join the
great work of healing the discontents Of
the times, and restoring the reign of fra
ternal feeling. New Jersey is also here
with the memories of the past covering
, her all over. Trenton and Princeton liv,
immortal in story, the plains OF the las
,, encrimsoned with the hearts blood o
Virginia's sons. Among her delegation
. | rejoice to recognize gallant son of 1
signer of the immortal Declaration whicl
announced to tho world that thirteeI
: Provinces had become thirteen independ
: ent and sovereign States. And hero to-
is Delaware, the land of the Bayards, ant
the Rodneys, whose soil at Brandywin
= = was moistened by tho blood.of Virginia
= youthful Monroe. Here is Maryland
whose massive columns wheeled into lin
- with those of Virginia in the contest 70
> glory, and whose State House at Annap
oils was the theatre of spectacle of
, successful commander, who, after liberia
Vt ting his country, gladly ungirthed hi
sword and laid it down upon the altar O
! that country. Then comes Pennsylvan
D. ia, rich in revolutionary lore, bringin
d with her the deathless names of Frankli
s. and Morris, and trust ready to rene,
Il from the belfry of Independence Hall tn
;. chimes of the old bell, which announce
a, Freedom and Independence in forme
TT days All hail to North Cardinal wit
her Mecklenburgh declaration IN herman
standing erect on the ground of her ow
, probty and frmness in the cause of pub
70 lie liberty and represented in her attr
, butcs by her Macon, and in this assembl
# by her distinguished son, at no great dis
. tance from me.
g -Four daughters of Virginia also clustc
$ around the council board, on the invite
h ton of their ancient mother, the eide
g Kentucky, whose sons under that intripi
: warrior, Anthony Wayne, gave frecdo
l. of settlement to the territory of her siste
+ Ohio, and extending his hand daily an
i hourly across La Belle Rivierc to gras
4 the hand of some one of kindred blood
G the noble States of Indiana and lllino
:. and Ohio, who have grown up into poy
e erful States already grand, potent, al
e almost Imperial Tennessee is not her
d but is coming-prevented from comr
d here only by the floods which have swo
l. len her rivers. When she arrives 81
is will wear the badges on her warri