The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1842-03-01
A LETTER FROM MIR. WEBSTER.

The following letter from Mr. Webster to the
Committee of Invitations for the Tyler Dinner OF the
19d was received too late for insertion along with
the published proceedings of yesterday Phil Ing
WASHINGTON, Feb. 10Th, 1912.
Gentlemen-It would give me much pleasure to
join you in your proposed commemoraton of the
birth day of Washington, but public duties deprive
me of that satisfaction.
Every revolving year, evinces, more and more
clearly, the wisdom, and virtue, and patriotism OF
that ustrious man; and instead of Offering you any
sentiments of my own to be announced at your cele
braton, will you allow to transcrbe paragraph
from his Farewell Address
"The unity of Government which constitutes you
one people, is also dear to you 1t is justly so,
for it is main pillar in the ediice of your real indie
pendence, the support of your tranquility at home,
your peace abroad of your safety Of your prosperity
of that very liberty, which you highly prize. But
it is easy to foresee that from different causes and
from different quarters, much pains will be taken,
many articles employed, to weaken in your minds
the conviction of this truth-as this is the point in
your political fortress against which the batteries Of
internal and external enemies will be most constant
ly and actively Though often covertly and nsdious-
ly) directed-t is of infinite moment that you should
properly estimate the immense value of your national
union to your collective and individual happiness );
that you should cherish cordial, habitual, and inn
movable attachment to it, accustoming yourselves
to think and speak of it, as palladium of your po-
lcal safety and prosperity watching for its preser-
walton with jealous anxiety discountenancing what
may suggest suspicion that it can in any
event be abandoned; and Indignantly frowning upon
the first dawning of every attempt to ALLEVIATE any
portion of country from the rest, or to enteeble
the sacred ties which now link together the various
parts"
There is no of these sentiments, gentlemen,
which does not enter into my convictions, and sink
deep in my heart. They have constituted, and, so
long live Will constitute, the principle of my po
litica conduct, whether in public or private life If
we can maintain these sentiments-lf we can keep
their Judgment high, secure, and mistaken, in the
affections Of the American people, we need not fear
that patriotism and good counsels will bring the coun
try triumphantly out of all difficulties, and carry it
onward in its bright career of prosperity and renown
But, if these sentiments shall be abandoned, there
will come consequences, amidst which know not on
what plank patriotism may hope to stand, for its last
effort or how the voice of the wisest counsels may
expect to be heard, above the bowling of the storm
Your invitation intimates, gentlemen, that the
company will be composed Of the friends of Presi-
dent Tyer's Administration. OF that Administra-
tion its character, its purposes, or its hopes of
cess it may become me to say little. In the events
which have happened and amidst the circumstances
which surround it, it asks thing from the Ameri
can people; and that is, fair trial If they will
protect it against the effects of unjust denunclatIon IN
advance and judge of its merits demerits as they
may NC uisCioSeu s6qucl IL VIII hiNo Nv
to complain, and so far as | am concerned, will not
of the final judgment of the country.
Let it be judged by its measures-by the degree of
care it shall manifest to maintain the honor and nte
rest of the United States in their foreign relations
by the disposition it shall evnce towards reasonable
provision for public Defence the land and on the
water by its recommendations on the great subjects
of revenue and finances by its cooperation IN all
means of retrenchment and reform by
It's impartial regard to all interests and all parts OF
the country; and, above all, by its remembrance or
its forgetfulness of the solemn admonition of him
whose ever-gorious name and services you commem-
orate that the main pillar of our independence, pro-
perty and happiness, will be found to be that
Unity Of Gopsrnnent ,ohich constitutes us one people
| am, gentlemen,
Your obliged friend and fellow-citizen,
DANIEL WEBSTER