783

The emphatic testimonial which you have stamped upon my
official course, has been received by me with feelings of deep emo
Lion. The natural distrust which I felt of my own ability for
this station, has been augmented in Ito common degree by the dif
ficulties attending the peculiar organization of this body—difficul
ties, which have confronted us at every step of our progress, and
the pressure of which has never for an instant ceased to be felt.
But I can say, under a devout conviction of the truth of the de
claration, that in administering the duties of this chair, I have been
governed by a disinterested and pure desire to secure the freedom
of debate, to protect the rights of individual members, and to pro—
mote the public welfare; "my witness is in Heaven, and my re
cord ison high."
Gentlemen, when by your too partial suifrages, I was elevated
to this honorable position, 1 avowed without reservation the doubts
and misgivings which perplexed my judgement upon the question
of constitutional reform. The maturest reflection of which my
mind was capable, had led me to the conclusion that many of the
reforms which had been demanded, were trot required by a sound
regard for the public welfare, and that even in relation to those as
to the necessity and expediency of which there might be less dif
ference of opinion, the best and safest maode for their accomplish
ment was that which in a wise forethought out ancestors had them
selves provided by the 59th article of the old constitution. I did
not believe in the necessiiy of a resort to any of the forms of revo
lution to secure a remedy for any grievances under which this gal.
lant. old State of ours might be suffering. in change, for the
niere sake of gratifying a vague and undefined love of change, I
saw, or thought I saw, nothing but present discomfiture and fu
ture evil.

Entertaining those sentiments, I have witnessed with profound
regret many of the features which have been embodied in the
constitution now about to pass from our hands. That some
changes, salutary, in my judgment, and therefore commarrding
my voice and my vote, have been made, I freely admit. But
these changes are so few and light when weighed in the balance
against graver and more objectionable features, that I have no alter-
native but to vote at the ballot-box, as I should have voted here,
against the ratification of the instrument. This I do in no fac
tious spirit. If my own forebodings should not be realized—if
this constitution should be adopted by the people—if it should
strengthen our union—cement our interests—foster our industry—
promote civil and religious peace, and secure in a niore eminent
degree the blessings of that great republican liberty for which, in
other times, the blood of our people was poured out like rain, my
"right hand shall wither and my tongue shall cling to the roof of
my mouth" sooner than I will raise an impious voice against it!

And now, gentlemen, we part, not, I trust, without a deeper
sympathy in each others destinies, and a more devoted attachment