ATHENAEUM, SAVANNAH, GA., MARCH 21, 1861

MR. MAYOR AND GENTLEMEN: 

We are in the midst of one of the greatest epochs in our history.  The last ninety days will mark one of the most interesting eras in the history of modern civilization.  Seven States have in the last three months thrown off an old government and formed a new.  This revolution has been signally marked, up to this time, by the fact of its having been accomplished without the loss of a single drop of blood.  This new constitution, or form of government, constitutes the subject to which your attention will be partly invited.

In reference to it, I make this first general remark:  it amply secures all our ancient rights, franchises, and liberties.  All the great principles of Magna Charta are retained in it.  No citizen is deprived of life, liberty, or property, but by the judgment of his peers under the laws of the land.  The great principle of religious liberty, which was the honor and pride of the old Constitution, is still maintained and secured.  All the essentials of the old Constitution, which have endeared it to the hearts of the American people, have been preserved and perpetuated.  Some changes have been made.  Some of these I should prefer not to have seen made; but other important changes do meet my cordial approbation.  They form great improvements upon the old Constitution.  So, taking the whole new constitution, I have no hesitancy in giving it as my judgment that it is decidedly better than the old.

Allow me briefly to allude to some of these improvements.  The question of building up class interests, or fostering one branch of industry to the prejudice of another under the exercise of the revenue power, which gave us so much trouble under the old Constitution, is put at rest forever under the new.  We allow the imposition of no duty with a view of giving advantage to one class of persons, in any trade or business, over those of another.  All, under our system, stand upon the same broad principles of perfect equality.  Honest labor and enterprise are left free and unrestricted in whatever pursuit they may be engaged.  This old thorn of the tariff, which was the cause of so much irritation in the old body politic, is removed forever from the new.

Again, the subject of internal improvements, under the power of Congress to regulate commerce, is put at rest under our system.  The power, claimed by construction under the old Constitution, was at least a doubtful one; it rested solely upon construction.  We of the South, generally apart from considerations of constitutional principles, opposed its exercise upon grounds of its inexpediency and injustice. * * * Our opposition sprang from no hostility to commerce, or to all necessary aids for facilitating it.  With us it was simply a question upon whom the burden should fall.  In Georgia, for instance, we have done as much for the cause of internal improvements