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tory and connection with the patriots of the revolution—
to be invited here and welcomed by the presiding officer of
this Convention, and by the chief magistrate of such a
State, and by the chairman of the committee, irrespective
of party, I assure you, but not jn an egotistical view, is
peculiarly gratifying to me. [Applause.] The history of
Maryland and Annapolis is more familiar to you than it
is to me, and it is not necessary for me on this occasion
to indulge in a recitation of those historical facts that
will last as long as history itself.
But, if my memory serves me correctly, after we had
passed through the revolutionary struggle, after it had
been demonstrated that the articles of confederation were
not of sufficient perfection and strength to secure the gov-
ernment, the suggestion emanated from this chamber to
remodel the constitution under which we now live. [Ap-
plause.] And that is the constitution that I was taught
to revere from my earliest infancy, and believe in its great
principles as the germ of the rights of man. For the prin-
ciples of the constitution I have perilled my all—for the
great principles therein contained I have staked every-
thing. Relying ever upon one rule of action—and that is
to first be convinced that you are right, that you under-
stand principle, and that in the pursuit of a correct prin-
ciple we never can reach a wrong conclusion—satisfying
my judgment and my conscience that the principles of
the government were involved, and that it was right to
pursue them, I have never hesitated nor debated as to
what course to pursue. [Great applause.]
Who was it participated in the formation of this con-
stitution? Washington, the Father of his Country, who,
in the language of his eulogist, was "first in peace, first in
war, and first in the hearts of his countrymen." He it
was who was a delegate to and president of the convention
that framed the Constitution that I was sworn to sup-
port, and which I will support. [Great cheering.] And
you are now engaged in a similar work upon the prin-
ciples that Washington laid down in the Constitution of
the United States. When that Constitution was framed
we were but a handful of people, and our commerce was
limited, our resources of every description being but
miniature as compared with what they are now. There-
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