Part 36 (1/2)
”_Louisville, May 30, 1837_
”HON DANIEL WEBSTER:--
”Sir,--Your fellow-citizens of the town of Madison, Indiana, deeply iations which they and all the true lovers of constitutional liberty, and friends to our happy and glorious Union, owe you for the many proh nowappointed the undersigned a coh whom to tender you their salutations and the hospitalities of their town, desire us earnestly to request you to partake of a public dinner, or such other expression of the high estimation in which they hold you as nate
”Entertaining the hope that you may find it convenient to comply with this request of our constituents and ourselves, we beg leave, with sentiard, to subscribe ourselves,
”Your fellow-citizens,
W LYLE, W J MCCLURE, WM F COLLUM, A W PITCHER, JAS E LEWIS, D L MCCLURE, } _Committee_”
ANSWER
_Louisville, May 30, 1837_
”GENTLEMEN,--I feel much honored by the co the friendly senti that I should pay the ether unlooked for, I had yet deter a point on the Ohio withoutsome short stay at it I shall leave this place on Thursday , and will stop at Madison, and shall be most happy to see any of its citizens who may desire to meet me I must pray to be excused froard to the time which it will be in eneral wish, whenever it is practicable, to avoid every thing like ceremony or show in my intercourse with my fellow-citizens
”You truly observe, Gentleitated I think, too, that you are right in saying it is injured; that is, I think public measures of a very injurious character and tendency have been unfortunately adopted But our case is not one that leads us to lorious country in which you and I live, is great, free, and full of resources; and, in the ent and patriotic spirit pervades the coht Whatsoever has been injudiciously or rashly done reat length of tireat interests of the people of the United States, if wisdoood-sense shall prevail in their publicis the _currency_ In my opinion, this is an interest with the preservation of which Congress is charged, solereat objects of the Union If we fail to maintain it, we so far fail of as intended by the national Constitution Let us strive to avert this reproach froovernment and that Union, which make us, in so many respects, ONE PEOPLE! Be assured, that to the attainment of this end every power and faculty of my mind shall be directed; and may Providence so prosper us, that no one shall be able to say, that in any thing this glorious union of the States has co either its own duties or the just expectations of the people
”With sentied friend and fellow-citizen,
”DANIEL WEBSTER
”To W LYLE, W J MCCLURE, WM F COLLUM, A W PITCHER, JAMES E LEWIS, D L MCCLURE, } _Committee_”
The address of Mr Marshall, above alluded to, was as follows:--
”SIR,--The people now assean of their selection, do most sincerely and cordially welco to you the most liberal hospitality, they do no more, however, than they would be inclined to do towards the humblest citizen of our common country But this public and forard which they entertain for you is intended to do more than inform you of the simple fact that here you can find food and shelter, and partake with them of the pleasures of the social circle If this were all, it ht be co to you the hand of friendshi+p and kindly pointing you to the fa of the people around you, it is intended to give you that consolation, ( to every true American heart,) _the people's_ approbation of your acts as a public servant This is done, not with that abject feeling which characterizes the ho which prompts freemen to honor and esteem those who have been their country's benefactors Prohted to honor the _father of our country_ He led his armies to victory, and thus wrested the liberties of his countryrasp of a tyrant; and ratitude towards those who, by the power of their intellects, have effectually rebuked erroneous principles, which were evidently under the very existence of our beloved Union?
Yes, Sir, our country has now nothing to fear froer which the whole country can see on its first approach, and every arm will be nerved at once to repel it; it can be met at the point of the bayonet, and millions would now, as in days that are past, be ready to shed their blood in defence of their country But, Sir, in _those_ who artfully excite the passions and prejudices of the people, and, by presenting to them the most plausible pretexts (for their own selfish purposes), lead thehtlessly to abandon the sacred principles upon which our government is founded, and to reject the measures which can alone promote the prosperity of the country,--in such webravery of the soldier is totally unavailing
”The injury which is inflicted is not at first felt; time is required to develop it; and when developed, the closest investigation may be necessary to trace it to its cause; this the people may not be able to accomplish This enemy to the country can only be discerned by the keen eye of the statesman, and met and conquered by the power of his intellect And he who is successful in thus defending his country rateful remembrance by his fellow-citizens It is for such reasons, Sir, that we have presented to you these testier to us, your public character, your masterly efforts in defence of the Constitution, the services you have rendered the West, and the principles and measures which you have so ably advocated, are known and approved, and I hope will ever be reh some of your efforts have proved for the time unsuccessful, it is to be hoped they would now have a different effect When the old and established overnment have been abandoned for new ones, simply as an _experiment_, and when that experiment, if it does not produce, is, to say the least, immediately followed by, ruin and distress in every part of the country, may we not hope that h the reasons why a different policy should be adopted? But if the people's representatives cannot be convinced of the error into which they have been led, it is high time the people thes over the land, so thick, so dark, a ray of hope can hardly penetrate it But shall the people gird on their armor and ht through the ballot-box; and perhaps they do not know against what to direct their effort; they are almost in a state of despondency, ready to conclude that they are driven to the verge of ruin by a kind of irresistible destiny The cause of the evil can be discovered only by investigation; and to their public men they must look for information and for wisdom to direct therievances, or recount the past services which you have rendered your country We wish to cheer you on to increased efforts in urging the measures you have heretofore so zealously and ably advocated
May your success be equal to your efforts, and h life”
RECEPTION AT MADISON[110]
If, fellow-citizens, I can , as I do, in the open air, I will return to you my heartfelt thanks for the kindness you have shown er