Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1834-10-16
SPEECH OF MR.. WEBSTER

SPEECH OF MIR. WEBSTER.
Extracts from the Speech of Mr.. Webster,
delivered at the dinner lately given to Senar
tor Bell, in Concord, N. ii.
" 1t is the principles and authority as-
serted in the protest which most alarm,
the people--the light claimed by the Pre-
sldent to neg alive and construe the laws,
and to reject the construction of Con-
gress and the courts--the assumption
that all officers are his, and that every
act Of an officer, is his (the President's)
act II this be so, what becomes of inn
peachment The constitution says that
any officer shall be liable TO impeach-
ment for NAL practices. Impeach man
however, under this doctrine, and he saws
"Behold the rescri pit Of the Emperor. ~
Impeachment in such a case would be
idle, supererogatory. In short, though
do not wish to make eXtravagant state
ments, venture to say, that ii we yield
to the doctrines of the Ptotest, we shall
live under an elective monarchy; cleo
tive as yet, but for information as to how
long It will remain so, let us consult tho
page Of history. l know no difference
between the King Of England and the
President of the United States, if the as
sumptions of the Protest be submitted 10.
And how has this happened What has
brought about this state of things? What
would have been done, if John Quincy
Adams had acted thus : put the same
question 10 you in regard to his prede-
cessors, not excepting even Washington
do not believe that Washington, in the
most palmy state Of his administrations
at the moment of his greatest popularity,
would have been able to have maintain
ed himself single month, had he claim
ed the powers Of the present President
in the Protest. Why are they then toll
Grated now even for moment There
is but one reason; it is this-that there
are those in the present generation who
are interested to deceive, and those who
from culpable inattention to the concerns
of their country, suffer themselves to bo
deceived. Power now maintains itself
by the purchased and the deceived.
/ Every thing, said Mr. Webster, now
turns upon personal confidence. Alarm
the people, and the reply is, "the Hero
can do no wrong" Tell them the con-
sttution is in danger, and they say, cit
may be so, but he means no harm. -
Speak to them ofthe seizure of the Trea-
sury, and they will tell you, "that if the
President had not acted as he had done,
the bank would have corrupted the
whole legislature before the next ses-
sion." He (Mr. Wcbster) thought this
man worship dangerous. 1t was not
what our foreialhers had taught US. JEFF
ferson said he did not fight for an cleo
tive monarchy, But this was not the
worst. Were we sure that these various
usurpations Of Executive power origina-
ted with the "hero?" Sure that the main
spring was held by the hand-that he
was the head of his own administration ?
Or were they realizing the fears oftne
Roman Coriolanus before the gates Of
Antium? Was it not possible that the
blows which they received, proceeded
'from boys with sticks, and cooks from
I the kitchen with spits and ladless" Let
him revert to another matter. The pre-
sent administration would expire in three
! years. Let them suppose the accession
of another military man, with the same
popularity, to follow up, step by step, the
pretensions Of his predecessor. What
would be the state of the country eigh.
years hence Could they say then that
they governed themselves made their
own laws? lie, (Mr. w. put it to every
man to say what must ensue ifthe pre-
sent system were followed up. They
could bear every thing but the destruc-
ton Of the government-pressure, any
thing. Ii their money was needed, let It
flow like water for defence; but be frozen
! like ice, if for tribute. It's not because
it is money, said Mr. Webster, that wo
refuse to part with it; but because we
know that if our opponents get our mo-
ney, they get every thing; and If they do
not get that, thoy get nothing. Yes
contlnued MIR. Webster, we can give up
every thing but our constitution, which
lis the sun Of our system. As the natural
sun dispels logs, heats the air, WHITES
and ELIMINATES; even so does the constl-
tuition, in days Of adversely and gloom,
como out fer our rescue and hold us up.
illrlhe luminary which now sheds its HI