Year: 1861

and who was in life the embodiment of that
lawgiver and constructor Of governments.
Rhode Island, the land Of Roger Williams, is
here, one Of the two last States, IN her jeal-
ousy of the public liberty, to give in her adj
hesion to the Constitution, and amongst the
earliest to hasten to its rescue The great
empire State Of New York, represented thus
far but by one delegate, is expected daily IN
fuller force to join in the great work Of heal


ing the discontents Of the times and restoring
the reign Of fraternal feeling New Jersey is
also here with the memories Of the past coy
ering her all over Trenton and Princeton
live immortal in story, the plains of the last
incrimsoned with the hearts blood Of Virgin
ia 5 sons Among her delegation rejoice to
recognize i gallant son Of i signcr Of the i'm
mortal 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 at
Brandywinc was moistened BY the blood Of
Virginia youthful Monroe. Here is Mary
land. whose massive columns wheeled into
line with those Of Virginia in the contest for
glory, and whose State House at Annapolis
was the theater Of a spectacle Of q successful
commander. who, after liberating his country
gladly unginhed his sword and laid it down
upon the alter Of that conutry Then comes
Pennsylvania, rich in Revolutionary lore,
bringing with her the deathlcss names Of
Franklin and Morris, and trust ready to re-
new from the belfiy Of Independence Hall
the chimes Of the old bell which announced
freedom and independence in former days


al hail to North Carolina with her Mech


lingberg Declaration ia her hand, standing
erect Oh the ground Of her own probity and
frmness in the cause Of the public liberty,
and represented IN her attributes BY her Ma
con, and il this assembly ~ her distinguished
son at no great distance from me. -Four
daughters of Virginia also cluster around the


council board on the invitation of their an
clent mother-thc eldest Kentucky. whose
sons, under the intrepid warrior, Anthony
Wayne gave freedom of settlement to the
territory Of her siSterOhio She extends her
hand daily and hourly across Ia belle yt1frre.
to grasp the hand of some one Of kindred
blood Of the noble States Of Indiana and
Illinois. and Ohio, who have grown up into
powerful States. already grand, potent, and
almost imperial Tennessee is not here but,
coming prevented from being here only by
the foods " hich have swollen her rivers -
When she arrives she will wear the badges
on her warrior crest of victory won, in com
pany Of the great West, on many an ensan-
guined plain, and standards torn from the
hands Of the conqucrers at Waterloo. Mis-
souri, and Iowa. and Michigan Wisconsin
and Minnesota. still linger behind but it may
be hoped that their hearts arc with Us in the
great work we have to DO


Gentlemen, the eyes Of the whole country
are tarned to this assembly in expectation
and hope ! trust that you may prove your
selves worthy Of the great OCCASION Our an
cestors probably committed bll,ndcr in not
having fixed upon every fifth decade for a call
of a General Convention to amend and reform
the Constitutions On the contrary they have
made the difficulties next to insurmountable
to accomplish amendments to an instrument
which was perfect for FIVE millions of people,
but not wholly 50 as thirty millions Your
prtriotiSm will surmount the difficulties, how
ever great, if you will but accomplish one
triumph in advance, and that is triumph
over party. And what is party when COM
pared to the task Of rescuing one country
from danger2 Do that, and one long loud
shout Of joy AID gladness will resound through
out the land