Middletown transcript., 1876-01-29
ADDRESS
HON. T. F. BAYARD,
At the BANQUET or the Americas Club OF

Philadelphia. january 8. 1876.
SENATOR BAYARDs SPEECH.
Mr.. Chairman and my brother Dem
ocrats: As mere social success you
dinner has been SO complete. that if
should merely congratulate you an
thank you for the warm welcome | hav
received, all that is necessary woul
have been done. / could not feel
stranger here in Philadelphia, wher
for more than a century my materna
ancestry lived and were identified will
the welfare Of your people, and wher
I have formed other and dearer ties Q
affection which, though severed by
death, will ever live in my remem
brance. Perhaps. might be histori
cally right in claiming you as part o
my constituency, for Pennsylvania ano
Delaware were once under the same
provisional government. Willie Penn
came down, and by hook or BY crook
took away the three lower counties from
Lord Baltimore, and in the course o'
that peaceful conquest he wrote to the
Marquis of Halifax. describing your
great. rich and populous State, that he
needed more territory in order to allow
"his poor eve lambs to get down to the
seaside and drink" 1t is certain that
that Penn was mightier than the sword
that is, the sword of Lord Baltimore.
But let it not be forgotten that without
bloodshed he founded a great estate,
upon the cornerstone of civil and re-
ligious liberty. and made a treaty. not
in writing. that had the popularity Of
never being broken. because simple
good faith made and preserved it. He
did not find it necessary to butcher or
enslave a single Indian in order to pro-
tect himself and bis settlers in their
newly acquired rights.
CREDIT FOR THE SUCCESS OF THE CEN
TENNIAL ExnIBIsIoN.
1t is quite impossible to speak in this
city and 10 this year without reference
to the Centennial Celebration to take
place in July next. Originally have
favored the idea of bringing the people
Of all the States together in peace and
amity-good thing to be done at any
time. and in the lurid light of the
events Of the last fifteen years. espe-
cially to be desired When it was
agreed that such a celebration of the
birthday Of this union Of States and
their government should be held. the
question was made by Senators from
New York and New Eogland. as to the
proper place. and then said: Where,
but in the birthplace of man should
the anniversaries of that birth be kept
AS well celebrate the birthplace Of
Shakespeare elsewhere that at Strait
Avon as the birth Of Amer
ican Independence out of Philadel-
phia. where it was first proclaimed"
And here let me say that the energy.
enterprise. skill. liberality and ability
which have been exhibited by Pennsyl-
vania and her great city Of Philadel-
phia in this undertaking have silenced
the doubts, rebuked the sneers. and
gained the applause and respect Of the
entire country. The commission to
whom the work has been entrusted |
have woman honorable and permanent
fame. There is French saying: "Aid |
myself and God will aid thee )" and
although l do not consider the Congress
Of the United States as omnipotent as
the British Parliament, yet believe it
san lawfully give aid. and l sincerely
rust it will. l confess to you I was
more Influenced in behalf Of this un-
lertaking BY the belief it would re-
mite the people of my country in a
'ense of common brotherhood and good
ceiling, than from anything else There
we're, perhaps, some doubts as to the
possible want Of Constitutional power in
Congress to make such an appropria-
ion. but, the weight of reasoning was
u favor. and | gave my country the
benefit of the doubts.
IN ANSWER TO THE TOAST
But ! have forgotten my formal duty
# responding to the toast. I am glad
0 observe in the printed programme
he use Of the word Federal" as ap-
,lied to our government and to the
congress. No words were used with
ut full intent and knowledge of their
igni6cation BY the grave. able and
arnest men who wrought 10 sad sin
Gritty" to frame the Constitution of our
government. The very name was
United States is, States unifed
t was a representative government Of
he States, and the people of the States,
nth the great underlying idea that
ower. wheresoever given should al
rays be limited. Ali over the written
harter does this appear, and the in
ibitiona, either upon the States or
pom United States, are almost as fire.
uent as grants Of power. and 10 ex-
essive caution, express reservation of
overs not granted was carefully made
,r the protection of the States and the i
eople. 1t was letter Of attorney.
'revocable indeed, from the States to {
heir new government, but never more
han delegation of enumerated powers.
LIMITING EXECUTIVE POWER. {
They sought to secure limitation by ,
istributing power iu the various de- j
artments, and securing each against I
,vasion by the others. And do you :
OF recognize another proof in this that J
urs was meant to be a government
onducted BY the people? Our officials
nd rulers were not expected to be men U
ways learned in state craft. students I
T history and scholars; but the home
red men of good sense. honest charac- I
y and moderate requirements were to d
3 in the main intrusted with the man. .
cement of the governmental machin- 4
y. BY subdividing the powers the S
odicom Of ability requisite for safety i
as lessened. the liberties Of the people \
ss endangered. and all were to be p
nIdqd hu nIain uordc of ocoo-tc;,oJ