Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1841-02-04

SKETCH OF MIR. wEBsTER'S SPEECH ON
THE PRE- EMPTIoN BILL.
'orre.pondenee Of he Baltimore Patriot.

The debate upon the presumption bill in the Sen
nte, has been sngulary distinguished BY ability an'
eloquence. OF late 1t has been of exclusive char
acter. The bill itself, indeed, has been seyera
times nearly lost sight Of in the superior ntefes
and importance Of the subjects which have incident
ally arisen for discussion. The merits or rahei
dement's Of the whole policy Of this condemned ad
minstration, and several great measures which
have been Indicated likely to be presented under
the auspices Of General Harrison and his Cabinet,
have been opened up and debated with degree Of
talent which has been seldom surpassed al any PEE
riod Of our Congressional history. Day after day
have those patriotic and distinguished Senators OF
the true Wing stamp--C ririeaden, Preston. Man
gumb sttled in defence OF the lights and interests
OF tie States, and Of ard enlightened measures
! of Legislation. On Saturday, the announcement
that Mr. Calhoun was to address the Senate on his
notable lond project, and those general questions
/ TO which | have referred, and that Mr. Webster
oud probably reply to him, attracted great crowds
to the chamber. They were not disappointed -
| The Senator from South Carolina, perhaps never
put forth bis acknowledged powers of thought and
81 preston more vgoiousy-but even his strength
sufficient 10 sustain his erroneous views and
| the ijust and unpatrotc cause which he bad es-
poused Tho character Of Mr. Calhoun's project
far giving away the whole public domain. which
righlfuIly belongs to the whole Union. and in which
every American citizen, whatever State, ought to
D
lim they are situated, is known to your readers
Most Justly was his proposition denounced, at the
time originally suggested, as the highest bid
that ever had been made by any candidate for the
Presidency. From that time, Mr.. Calhoun has
chung TO il as darling project. He has chung to
il us last desperate scheme Of winning that popu-
srty VIII CHI has so often eluded his grasp. He
urged It on that occasion with all the energy and
zeal he could exert. He appealed to all the
iptnY Cd fgali hirh afphf he
supposed TO exist in the mind. OF those who seek
the ACKNOWLEDGMENT of their own particular
tions, regardless of The injustice and deep wrong
they inHict upon their fellow citizens and brethren
OF other States to whom they should be bound by
all the ties of friendship and consequently. Mr..
Calhoun is against laying taxes upon luxuries and
against the distribution policy and aasuming upon
this occasion that egolistcal and yain-giorious
Of prophecy, which he is so fond Of adopting, he,
with onnous look. voice and gesture, predicted,
that if the coming administration should venture
upon the establishment of National Bank, or the
distribution system its policy political revolu.
ton is inevtabe-if indeed the Government itself
would not come TO end
IL was for DIR. Webster TO reply to the South
Carolina Senator. He rose promptly, without any
preparation and spoke with an impressiveness and
effect never surpassed since his great encounter
with Mr. Hayne, in 1890. So thriingly eloquent
indeed parts of his speech. that his
friends Of the Senate-many of the distinguished
strangers upon the floor, we'll as the auditors IN
the gallery could restrain the manifestations OF
their feelings by bursts of spontaneous applause -
full report will be necessary to give your readers
adequate idea of that power of condensation
and close logic. with which Mr.. Webster maintain
ed the power of Congress over the Public Lands,
and TO raise revenue by tsxation-and the copious
and striking manner in which he illustrates the cir
cumsances of the Government and the states under
which these powers onsh lit to be exercised. He es-
Iecialy urged the proprie;y and expediency of dis
ributing the proceeds Of the Lanss in fair and eqn
table proportions and of supplying the wants OF the
Government by taxes such articles as are used
by the wsalthiest classes, at the present time when
the Treasury is Impoverished, an! when some oil
the States are embarrassed by debt. He remon-
strated against toe appeals 10 sectional feelings in
dulged in by Mr. Calhoun, and spoke Of the obliga-
lions resting upon every American Statesman, 10
regard the interests of the whole country in strain
OF lofty und inspiring orstory which found re
Spouse in every patriotic bosom. he repealed the
groundless appehensons which had been express
cd, as to the consequences OF the measures which
had been spoken of by the Wing Senators. Far
from deemng that such measures would lead to
dissolution of the Government, to revolution or TO
civil tumult he confidently believed that they would
receive the appreciation Of The country. and be re-
garded in ali future time the fruitful sources of
happiness and posperi,y. There was onn passage
in which Mr.. Webster rose to grandeur of SEMI
ment and eloqnence OF expression which carried
the audience quite beyond themselves. twas that
in which he spoke of the efforts which had been
made to destroy the credit of the States, and to
dea1en their sensiblty TO their pecnniary obiiga.
tons. He referred TO The publications in the off
caforgan of Mr.. Van Buren,, and in the affiliated
presses of the administration throughout the
Try, tending to bring d,credit upon our institutions
and upon the character OF our people, by spreading
far and wide the arIocious charge, that the late
election was carried by the influence OF money and
foreign Bankers and Corporations.
lie had felt his cheek burn with shame and in
dignation, when he had read these caIumnes. of
the Government press in the columns OF the leading
journal. of Europe, which are devoted to monarch
isl forms Of Government. ard bitterly hostile the
spirit and principles OF Repubicnnism. In the
pages Of the roIy journals OF England, these intern
perate accusations sgainst our countrymrn of sell
ing the elective ri lit for brbe-these dishonorable
appeals to the cupidiy of State Legisatures-these
vile arguments. designed to produce disregard Of
the sacred obligations to pay just debt.-are eager
y and industiously presented, to stain our nation
al character. and 10 prove that the gland expert
me Mt Of free Representative vernment in America
has failed. Well did Mr.. Webster say that the
mon who should by any ACT or word. destroy or i'm
pair the lit and honor of the States of this Union
OF intimate that they can relieve themselves from
their just obtg atoms in any manner but by making
full payment their creditors, is friend to his
country, and has title to the name Of Statesman
or Legislator. whatever opinion he may entertain
OF himself. This sentiment echoed by every
true American heart in that assemblage. and il was
here that MIR. Webster was interrupted by an ire.
presslble burst of applause. The whole speech has
indeed produced great impression in this city,
and the public will look for il with great interest.
! We had Ohio defamation, both in the Senate
and House, to-day. Mr. Allen spent two three
hours in ths idle and dscreditable attempt prove,
that the charges of his brother par1ans about for.
eign influence, British gold &C., &c, are true
Thste was no novelty in his oralioh 1t was the
old story which the Globe clique have been retail
ing ever since the overwhelming defeat Of Van Bu-
rensm in November. His elaborate Grafton wa.
not thought worth reply by any body.
! In the House, Duncan made long Grafton in
which he went over much of the ground occupied