Delaware State journal, advertiser and star. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1832-1833, 1833-06-21
DANIEL WEBSTER.

DANIEL WEBSTER.
While Mr. wop,s.~.- nrfTalo n large !
body of the manufacturers and mechanics of
the place and vicinity waited on him, and by |
their Chairman, delivered the following adj 1
dress:
SIR,-Upon an occasion so betting as
the present, the Manu-; .turers and Mecban-
les of Buffalo would do injustice to themselves
did they omit to communicate with one, who, |
like yourself, has identified his public life !
with the cause of protective industry. OF
such an omission they would not be guilty,
and from public meeting of these classes of
citizens now in session, this commit ee HIS
been delegated to convey to you, sir, their SEN
timents.
The committee are charged with assuring
You that, identified as the members of the
meeting are, both in principle and pursuit,
with the national protective policy, they have
watched with much solicitude your struggles
in the councils of the nation, OH this most vi
tai point of national interest and that it was
with no less pride than pleasure they found
in you the able defender of those principles
which they hold most dear-With these
views of the past, and at period too, when
wholesome councils have been dsregarded,
no worthy citizen can be unmindful of the fu-
ture; and the committee are further charged
to advise you, sir. that in the coming strug-
gle for the recovery Of the national intlepen-
dence, they have much to hope from the ef-
forts you will still make in the furtherance of
that object.
Finally, Sir, we have to assure you of the
lively sense of gratitude with which your past
services, in the cause of protection, are re-
membered by those whom we represent !;
and it only remains for us to invoke the smiles
of Heaven upon your future exertions, and of
those who shall act with you, to establish
those principles OF government which alone
can lead this nation back from the downward
road it is now treading, and by protecting
the industry of its people, ensure its eventual
prosperity and happiness.
And Mr.. Webster replied:
need hardly say, Mr.. Chairman -art
Gentlemen, that it gives me much satisfac
ton to receive this mark of appreciation O
my public conduct, from the Manufacturers
and Mechanics OF Buffalo. Those who ar,
the most Immediately affected by any mea
sures of Government, are naturally the ear
liest to perceive their operation, and to fore
see their final results. Allow me to say
gentlemen, that the confidence you expires
in my continuance in the general course which
have pursued, must rest, and may rest safe
ly, trust, on the history of the past. Desir
ing always to avoid extremes, and to observ
prudent moderation in regard to the protec
tive system, yet hold steadness and perse
verencc in maintaining what has been estab
lshed to be essential to the public prosperity
Nothing can be worse than tina; which con
Germs the daily labor, and the daily bread
whole classes of the people should be subjet
to frequent and violent changes. 1t were ia
better not to move at all than to move fol
ard and then fall back again.
My sentiments, gentlemen, on the Tari
question, are generally known. In my opii
ion, a just and leading object in the who
&c
ofAmerican manual labor. confess tn
every days experience convinces me MOI
and more the high propriety of regarlii
this object. Our government is made f
NIL, not for a few. Its object is, to promo
the greatest good of the whole; and til
ought to be kept constantly in view in its a
ministration. The far greater number
those who maintain the government beo
20 what may be called the industrious or p,
ductive classes of the community. With
labor is not depressed, ignorant and mint,
ligent. On the contrary. it is active, spir
ed, enterprising, seeking its own reward
and laying up for its own competence and
own support.-The motive TO labor, is t
great stimulus to our whole socicty and
system is wise or just, which does not affc
this stimulus, as far as it may. The prott
ton of American labor against the injurit
competition of foreign labor, so far at lie
as respects general handicraft productio
is known historically to have been one
designed to be obtained by establishing
constitution; and this object and the con-
tutional power to accomplish it ought me-
to be surrendered or compromised ia any
gree.
Our political institutions, Gentlem
place power in the hands of all the peoI
and to make the exercise Of this power,
such hands, salutary, it is indispensable t
all the people ST., uld enj,y, fist the mean
education, and scconvl, the reasonable
tainty of procuring competent livelihood
industry and labor The institutions
neither designed for nor $, tied to nation
ignorant paupers. To disseminate kno
edge, then, universally, and to secure to
Dor and industry their just rewards is the
u both of the General and State Cove
ment, each in the exercise of its appropr
powers. To be tree, the people must be
diligently free; to be substantially indepe
ent, they must be able to secure themsel
against want, by sobriety and industry; tc
safe repositories of political power, Il
must be able to comprehend and underst
the general interests of the community,
must have a stake. themselves, in the v