Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-02-04

,s,dv determined upon he has great taent m ehoos
;nG course Of conduct he is helpless hestntne' VIZ
certain and when he breaks loose IRON ie - = u
If his besa.ion he is rash and imprudent NOT fu'ly
h n decide for himself which course to take, he choos
es desperately and chooses wrong.
Ills therefore that Mr. Webster has been always 60
yerned By men about him. he has ground corn at Iie
mill Of the Phllisnes ever since he came 10 h's
strength Ills early speeehes-the best he ever 'oaue
in favor Of free trade, in the defence OF Tue '
eress of his patrons, tine Boston merchants ms fuo
seouen speeches against free trade, were III defence
the interests OF the class OF men, no" oeco''e
holders Of shares in manufacturing corPoiu'o"s',
His old opposition 10 National Bank was anahoohea
hr ,ot class insisted that bank was necessary to
their purposes and his ancient doctrine that haru mo-
ney was the only proper and constitutional currency
was given up when they voted IT huihpuS, ~ WI
press he was never leader ofhs party; ne hau never
any measures oil his own 10 PIoPose' "a ~
" "Hs genius WAS rebuked as it is said
| Au,onys was by CTsar's- . . ,
al h. was content 70 leave the practical direction of
ba marty to that more shrewd and skilfui manager,
y hc he took his station in the ranks ana ioioweo
where he led In fact throughout his whole p"'''cal
life he has shown himself man TO oe lea ana mol
man to lead. ~ :,
| YET when occasionally he is indscreet enough 10
iudre for himself he does very unwlse things Two
wears since the close OF the session oil congress- ne
startled the country with sudden proposal lhat e
government should cut short the negotiations ABOUT
The dsnucd portion of Maine, by taking military pos
session of on the fourth Of july The country wonu
have been plunged into proitess war without prrPa'
ration if such proposal had been listened to- and ms
friends made him explain it away. Last summer ne
made speech Patchogue, in which he claimed 10 be
a Jefrrsonian Democrat, and threatened to tios the
man who said that Daniel Webster was an arlstocrat
Some of the Wing journals published part OF the
speech but il being Immediately seen that It was very
foolish thin. they dropped the matter instantly anu
nothing more was said about Daniel Wcbsters Demo
crazy.
Nor has Mr. Webster the frmness to follow out a
right course in the face OF other men dIsapprobatlon
After making his tour, in the summer OF 1851, through
the Western States in which he sklliully managed 70
lose popularity proportion 10 the number o speeches
he made lie took his seat in Congress aud declared
himself jealous champion of the policy Of allowing
those who settle on the unsold public lands liberia
right of presumption. For this Mr. Clay rebnkcd him
fccely and rudely the spot and since that time hl'
zeal in favor of the squaers has slept. Mr. Benton
prcemption bill is now before tho Senate; Mr.. Clay
distribution bll is before the Senate also; Mr. Webster
puts aside The question of presumption, and gives iis
support to the project Of Mr.. Clay. The Wing Jour
nails this very day publishing tins new proof OF Mr.
Wpbstrrs want uf decision and consistency
This man is to be made Secretary Of State, primer
pal counsellor of the President and is to be entrusted
with the charge Of our foreign relations How W suit
ed lr Is 10 such post we have seen The settlement
relations with foreign nations favorable terms
requires either perfect frankness and decision, or con
sumn,aie art Webster has nciher-fralk end rcso
lutte he is not neither he fitted for artlce his Gun
ming IS awkward, and his expcdients unskilful. lie
must he watched or he will spice his dispatches with
something like The ndiscretions of his speech about
the North Eastern boundary or the extravagances OF
his ha:angne n Pachngnc or haply allow hmseli 70
be driven from just position, by little dexerous bus
tcrinr Just he forced to abandon his doctrine
conctin prescription, 10 which, without consulting
Mr. Clay, he had prcmaturcly given ntterancc.
We say therefore 10 the Wings, if you make MIR
Webster Secretary of State, must watch h'm well
YOU assist him with good counsel, you must put
IA vceroy over him., to stitfrn him when lie is weak
and 10 hold him back from indscretions. Nobody we
suppose will pretend that Harrison will be capable Of
directing what shall be done in intercourse with
Foreign governments The poor old gentleman with
Mr. Webster at his sdc will be in the situation of a
blind commander steering his vessel with the aid of
blind helmsman