The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-02-23
WHOLE NO. 4l4.


legged TO the contrary and whatever other interests
Estate banks, &c) may have contributed 10 the adop
ton of the measure, the moving the paramount con-
sideration which actuated the secret and selfish ad
slsers Of Gen. Jackson in bringing i about was the
necessity Ga necessity admitted and spoken Of among
themseves of raising up new, or OF restoring some
old, PARTITION wall Of length and breadth enough TO
exclude from the favor OF Gen jackson and the embrace
OF his ardent followers, Daniel Webster and others
VINO had recently won SO much upon his regard Had
Mr Webster been capable of abandoning his princi-
pies, and of losing sight Of The best interests Of the
country ~ an eager desire of personal advancement
ne mad only to say TO Gen. Jackson, 81 will support
you, SIR, In your financial measures" and his political
fortunes would have been made-so far the favor of
an Executive OF overwhelming popularity and of
largely dominant party could have made them. But
ne oresaw and predicted the ruinous effects of these
measures upon all the great interests Of the country
ana therefore, resoutely opposed them. Had he, by
supporting them contributed to bring ruin and DESC
lation upon the country he would have been hailed
by The Jackson party Democrat dyed in the
WOOL patriot Of the first water eminenly worthy
OF the highest Offices in the gi of President Jackson
But by refusing sanction a course of policy which
IT Is now apparent has been attended with all the dis
astrous consequences he predicted Mr.. Webster
missed the chance OF being transformed into Simon
Pure Democrat forfeited the growing favor of Gen.
Jackson and the Jackson party lost the honors with
which they stood ready to crown him. and disqualified
himself forever in the estimation Of the Jackson lead
ers, for the Office of Secretary Of State and indeed
for serving his country in any other capacity Such
the Inconsistency and total disregard Of truth and prin
cPe manifested by the present assailants of Mr. Web
serl
II, in national point of view, Mr. Websters APP
Pontmcnt to in the Cabinet was called for il
appears to me there considerations which should
render It peculiarly acceptable TO the South. To the
honest supporters of Mr.. Van Buren, in the slave
States, his appointment should be particularly agreea-
bic. They advocated Mr.. Van Buren's reelection
mainly on the ground, that it was the true policy of
the South to support Northern candidate who was
with them the subject of Abolition and other aues-
tons affecting supposed TO affect the peculiar in
terests of the Southern States If this argument were
good in the case Of Mr.. Van Buren,, how intellectually
stronger is il with regard to Mr. Webster He is the
pride and the boast of considerable section of the
Union lie Yields vast Influence In the New Eng
land States, and in New York and Pennsy lvania-an
influence which the Southern States can turn all to
their own advantage, by giving to him support and
confidence due to his talents and the many
important and efficient ices he has rendered of late
IN The maintenance of principles admitted TO be orho-
dox by the whole Wing party including some Of the
sternest Republicans of the old school.
So that Gen, Harrison, in selecting Mr. Webster
for a seat in the Cabinet, has shown watchful and
special regard for the peculiar institutions of the
South. II is manifest, that had the matter been left
to the slave States, themselves enlightened view Of
their own interests should have prompted them to
quest the appointment of Mr. Webster to in the
Cabinet His sentiments on the subject of Abolition
other subjects, it will be found examination they
were not made up put to suit OCCASION and
promote his own personal advancement. So far back
as 1880, in his celebrated reply to Mr.. Hayne, on
Foote's Resolution, Mr.. Webster declared he then
entertained and had Arrays entertained the opinion,
that Congress have authority to interfere in the
emancipation of slaves in the treatment Of them in
any of the Statest remaining with the several States
to provide rules and regulations therein, which hui
mainly and true policy may require"
N n speech in the Senate January 10Th 1873 he
said, he had always not only admitted, but insisted,
that slavery within the States subject absolutely
and exclusively belonging TO the States themselves"
AT Alexandria in this District he expressed similar
sentiments in June last
Nor did he confine the expression Of such senti-
ments to assemblies Of slave holders but in July fol-
lowing, in the heart of his own great Commonwealth
which our opponents have charged with being deeply
infected with this fanaticism--in Worcester county
Massachusetts, did he rebuke the fell spirit of Aboli-
ton, and noby vindicate the constitutional rights Of
the South.
Assar On Tho s,h &c or,ebsr Last, standing in the
Capitol of Virginia, before vast of slave
holders, he declared upon all the responsibility that
belonged to him. that I there was no power directly
orindrectly in Congress the General Government to
interfere in the slightest degree with the institutions
of the South"
come now to another subject of deep and ex citing
interest TO the Southern States which Mr. Richie is
treating in his usual dlsingenuous manner He is
tasking all his faculties to dupe his readers into the
Secretary of State is the prelude high pro-
tectve Tariff and to revenue greatly beyond the ne
cessary wants of the Government the Of which
is to be squandered upon extravagan system of In
ternal improvements This is a deliberate and wfu
misrepresentation If this the object, Mr.. WIS
place would be in Congress- not at the head of De
partment. | feel no hesitation in saying, that Mr..
Webster is not in favor of raising larger revenue
than is necessary for an economical admnisI alton of
the Government. The condition Of the revenue, il is
well known, will render revision Of the Tariff in
dispensabe at an early day; and this subject Mr.
Wehsteis opinions likely to be found Just and
moderate He voted against the Compromise Act, il
will be remembered, because il did away in great
measure, the principle Of discrimination; through
which such incidental protection TO particular and i'm
portant articles the welfare Of the whole country
might require, could best be afforded. The principle
OF Incidental protection and of ieiaatory exercise
of the power to regulate Commerce. Gen Jackson al
ways recognized, and 1t IS one which the country
never will and never ought 10 surrender II is enough
surely TO say that no greater revenue shall be raised
than is requisite for the necessary wants Of the Go
vernment, economically administered But will il be
seriously contended that in raising that necessary sum-
the duties all articles, whether necessares or luxu-
res shall be invariably the same and that articles ne
cessary for Independence time Of War NAV not
be incidentally protected by the imposition of some
what higher duty, than it may be deemed expedient
for mere purposes of revenue, to impose other ia
brics not necessary for the national defence Shall
such incidental protection 10 such articles be denied
if it become apparent that their production in this
country must cease without ii when, too adequate
protection may be afforded without raising dollar
more revenue than is necessary for economical adj
mnstration of the Government
MIR, Webster, although uncommted by his course
on the Co npfomise Act-alhough in fact, he voted
against it, yet when il became law Of the land as
long the harmonious action and cooperation of the
great sectional divisions of the Union shall appear
to be dependent upon the maintenance Of the prnci
pies recognized in it, great is Mr. Webstcr's devo-
ton to the harmony and preservation Of the Union
that he is determined to acquiesce in it, unless under
its operation il becomes evident that some essential
and vital article of domestic industry must 90 down
in which event Mr.. Webster's individual efforts, we
may presume would be used for its preservation so