Virginia advocate. [volume] (Charlottesville, Va.) 1827-1860, 1830-04-02
THE ADVOCATE.
cnAriorrEsvirLE FRIDAY APRIL Q, 1880.
MR.. WEBSTER.

unsuccessful in his effort 10 defend them direct
iy; andshe merits cannot be sustained in the
compa,ion Of their conduct relative to tho
mcasurs of the government to which they
were opposed, and that of their opponents, the
Republicans These measures principally con.
sisted oAhe acquisition of Louisiana, its ad'nis.
sion intoihe Union, the Embargo, and the laio
war. Til disclosures of MIR. Adams to Mr..
Jefferson proving a conspiracy of the Eastern
Fcderalist to sever the Union, tho Mission Of
John Hcny, and tho Hartford Convention,
shew tho character aud measure Of the resis-
lance with they meditated. There is one
measure Connected with the Hartford Conven-
ton and sprbging ont of 1t which should not be
passed over - silence. We mean the embassy
dispatched fpm that body consisting, if wo ie
member right, of three of it's members 10 insist
on a peace with Great Britain on any terms, and
to urge the psignaton of Mr.. Madison. They
proceed "a Washington flushed with antici-
patcd triumph over the Government of their
country in The hour Of, its calamity. The
blackened iuins of the public buildings shcw-
ed that the barbarian ravages ruthless invader,
- the bui,ce,k Of our holy religion" had been
there In tao confidence, derived from the pub
JIG calamities, Of making any terms they pleas
cd with ,hsir humbled aud responding country
Hope elevated, and joy brig htcncd their crcsts.
But modification aud disappointment awaited
them.; Their arrival ut the scat Of government,
and that of tho news Of the Victory of Now
Orleans were simultaneous, ..r nearly so. They
scarcely had time to announce tho object of their
mission and open their traiterous views to the
government OF their abused and betrayed coun-
try, when the intelligence of this signal and
glorious achievement came TO reanin,ate the rub
lie councils and To dash tho hopes uf treason
10 those whose principles or whose picty forbade
their rejoicing on account of victories obtain
ed over the Bulwark Of our holy Religion" tins
victory musi have been gall and NORWOOD
III touched their paaes with double infusion of
bitterness; both as. being achieved over the
veterans Of wellington, aud especially as it de-
Gated the cherished projects OF their political
vengeance.
We would gladly suffer these "reminiscences
oi party violence, except 50 far as they may be
useful for warning and ndmonion, TO descend to
oblivion. We have no disposition to keep them
above ground theme of party elimination
Their only use should be to serve as lesson TO
government and people. But having always be-
longed to that party which opposed the insane
misrule of the elder Adams, and which succeed
ed to the Administration on the civil revolution
of 1901 (which thought the Embargo worth
trial ms n preventive of war, and which sus-
taincd the Government in that last iesort of in
Jured nations, forced on us by the insults and
outragcs OF the enemy, we cannot look with
indifference on 4 discussion in which the con-
duct of parties is unsparihgy Investigated, and
abe attempt is made 10 Shift tbs odium which is
Jnstly attached to the Fedcralists Of New Eng
land, on the shoulders OF their opponents. II is
the interest Of the country that that conduct
should be placed in its proper light. 1t is tbs
duty Of the press thus to exhibit it.
While the nature Of man shall continue to be
rs il now is, the conflicts of party will always
prevail under any system of government. which
allows freedom of opinion s. of action TO the PEG.
pie. These conflicts will occasionally he de-
graded by unworthy nsunents, and will some.
4imes RIM into cXcesses. dangerous to the public
peace and security. When the occasions which
give rise 10 them have passed away, they should
be looked back with sentiments of regret, and
remembered "n'y as the materials of History.
The conflicts of this description through which
we have passed, ;.ave been of character to try
thoroughly, the sodity of our institutions and
that they have readily survived them, should
confirm our confidence in their stability and per.
E,ancncc.
Has MIR. Webster been moro successful in
rindicating his own COURSE in reference to the
Tariff, than in asserting the claims Of New Eng
gland to the favour of the West, and in excul-
pating the Federusts Of that portion of the
Union from the charge Of an opposition to the
measures Of the General Government, unwar-
raniable in lis character and INSCRIPTIONS in it,
mcans' We think not.
In the month o: October 1921, Mr. Webster
sustained in speech distinguished for close.
ness Of argument, variety of illustration, and
abundance Of facts series of Resolutions in
opposition TO the Tariff policy, which declared,
among other things, that taxes imposed on the
people for Tic sole benefit Of any one class OF
mon, nre equally Inconsistent with the principles
of our constitution and with sound policy aud
that tie proposed tariff s. the principle on which
IL is avowedy founded, would if adopted layo a
teh!encyto diminish, tie industry, impede the
prosperity, aud corrupt the morals Of the PEG.
pie. We have never seen the speech of Mr.
Webster, in which these sentiments were sus.
taincd; bnt in The year 1s24 lie resisted tile Ia
Eff of thai year in speech em;hrntly distin
gushcd by closeness of argument, variety oi
illustration and abundance of facts His re-
cent effort in the Senate, splendid ms we ac
knowledge it to have been, must Yield to hi.
speech Of 1924, in which he demonstrated the
'iinpolicy and incxpcdency Of the Tariff anc
exposed its pcrnic nus operations on the grea
snteresls of coE;mercc aud navigation. Tie III
Scrvai OF IorI years seems 10 have produced u com