Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1837-08-03
tFrom the Plaindsaler.

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munliness which Mr.. Webster has displayed,
in freely nvowing his sentiments on the sub
ject Of slavery, on all proper occasions, Is
highly honorable to him. In this respect he
is entitled to the cordial admiration Of all
lovers Of democratic freedom, md presents IL
noble contrast to Mr.. Van Buren,, whose con-
duct has been the very opposite. How diff
fcront, for example, is the following language
from one Of Mr.. W,bstcr's speeches in Con-
gross, from that of Martin Van Buren, in his
shameful veto pledge
"lmportant as ] deem it, 10 discuss on all
proper occasions, the policy Of the measures
ut present pursued, il is still more important
To maintain the light of such discussion, in
its full and just extent. Sentiments lately
sprung up and now growing fashionable.
make 1t necessary to be explicit on this
point. The more perceive disposition 10
check the freedom OF inquiry by oxtravagant
and unconstitutional pretenees, the firncr
shall be the tone in which shall assert, and
the ireer the manner in which shall exer-
else 1t. II is the ancient and undoubted pre-
rogativc OF this people to canvass public
measures, and the merits of public men. 1t
is 'home- bred righl;' fireside privilege
Ii hath aver been enjoyed in every house,
cottage and cabin in the nation. 1t is not to
be drawn into the controversy. 1T is as un-
doubted as the right of breathing the air, or
walking on the earth. Belonging To private
life us right, it belongs to public life as u
duty; and is the last duty which those whose
representative am shall find me to abandon.
Aiming ut all times to be courteous aud tenn
peratc in it's use except when the right shall
be questioned; shall then carry it to extent.
] shall place myself on the extreme bounda-
ry of my rights, and bid defiance to any arm
that would move me from my ground. This
high constitutional privilege shall defend
and exercise within this house, and without
this house, and in all places, in time of war,
IN time Of peace, and at all times. Living,
shall assert it; dying, shall assert ii; and
should | leave no other inheritance Ia my
children, by the blessing of God, will still
leave them the Inheritance Of free principles,
and thu example ofa manly, independent and
cons ccntious discharge of them"
Here is another eloquent passage from an
occasional address delivered by Mr.. Webster
in Massachusetts,
''If there be, within the extent Of our
knowledge and influence, any participation
Of this traffic in slavcs,le MS pledge ourselves
upon the Rock Of Plymouth, to extirpate and
destroy it. II ia not fit that the land of the
pilgrims should bear the shame any longer
Let that spot be purified, or let it be set
aside from the Christian world; let il be put
ont of the circle of human sympathies and
human regards: and let civilized man hence.
forth have no communion with it.
81 invoke those who fill the seats of Justice.
and all who minister at her altar, that they
exercise the wholesome and necessary Sc
verify Of the law. ] invoke the ministers of
our religion, that they proclaim its dcnuncia-
ton Of those crimes, and add its solemn sane
tion to the authority Of human laws. II the,
pulpit be silent, whenever or wherever there
may be sinner, bloody with his guilt, within
the hearing Of its voice, the pulpit is false to
its trust"
Compare these sentiments with Mr.. Van
Burcn's pusilanimous language in his inau-
gural address, where he terms the temperate
exercise of the inestmable right of free dis
cuSson "a reckless disregard Of consequen.
ces," and the atrocious outragcs Of the mobs
that attempted to put down discussion by vio.
lence, as mere outbreaks of "popular indig-
nation" On this subject, the advantage is
OH the side of Mr.. Webster.-I
Were his political sentiments, in other re-
spects, as nobly democratic as they are in
regard to the equal rights Of all mankind TO
personal freedom and the freedom of speech
he should have the earnest support instead
Of the opposition Of this journal.
The Piaindealer is a Van Buren, paper,
printed in New York