The Charlotte journal. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1835-1851, 1842-10-20
{ NUMBER 4.
Mr.. wERsTER'S SPEECH,
1t FaneaH Hal, Boston. September 80, 1912
FROM Tns NEW YORK TRIBUNE.

ed 0 sulfocatlon, and before the tune ap.
pointed for the meeting, thousands had Como
! away, unable TO procure admission. At
precisely IL o'clock, A d., Mr. Webster
came in, attended by committee Of gen.
tlemen, consisting of the lion. Jeremiah
Mason, Benjamin Russell, Pfesideu, Qaia.
cy, Gov. Armstrong, II. G.. Oils, Beijl.
uiin Rich, Abbott Lawrence, and many 9th.
ers. lie was introduced 10 the audience bv
the Mayor, in very neat and tasteful Adj,
dress, TO which be replied nearly as follows, :
know mott know not Row il is, M
May or, but there is something in ihe echo
{ OF these woIls, or 10 the sea of upturped ia.
ces which | see around NE, or in the genius
which always hovers over this place, fan.
ming into life arden, and patriotic feelings
with every motion OF its Wlngs--i know net
how it is, but there is sumethiog that OK
cites me strongly, deeply, TOO deeply 10 al.
low adequate expression for my emotions.
IL will not be doubted by you that this sal.
utaion, that this greeting, is greeting felt
here al the heart. Boston is ny home---
my cherished home. Ii is now more than
/ five and twenty years since came here,
with my family, to pursue here in this eli.
Iigniened metropolis those objects, both pub.
lie aud private, for which my studies and
education we're designed 10 cit me. /; is
twenty years since the intelligent citizens
OF Boston asked ne TO loan myself TO the
public trust as their representative and it
gives me infinite pleasure 10 see here to
day, occupying those seats assigned to the
gentlemen more advanced 10 life, not few
of those who were originally instrumental
10 indicating the course of life by which
have endeavored TO serve the people Of this
town.
When the duties of public life have with.
drawn me from this my home-l have felt,
nevertheless attracted to the spot to which
all my local affections tended; and now that
the progress Of time must bring about that
Period-even if it should not be FASTENED
by the progress Of esens-when the duties
Of public life mus, yield 10 coming adyanc-
ed years. cherish the hope Of passing
among these associations and these friends
what shall remain of my life, when these
public services shall have ended which for
good or for evil, are all the inheritance
have TO leave 10 those who shall come after
me.
The Mayor has spoken kindly of my pub.
lie services; and especially Of the results
of the negotiation which has recently been
brought 10 close, and in which was en-.
gagged. | hope, fellow citizens, that some.
thing was thus done permanently useful to
the country. | present no personal claims
of particular merit. endeavored 10 do
my duty. | had hard summers work
but am not wholly unused TO hard work.
| had many anxious days, and some sleep.
less nights. But if the results Of my abors
merit the appreciation of The country, shall
be richly rewarded and my other days will
be happier, as my other nights will give still!
sweeter repose. ! sought TO dispense the
clouds which threatened storm between
England and America. For several years
past there has existed class of questions,
which did not always threaten war, but
which never assumed the aspect Of perma.
cant peace.
The highly amented person-to whom
so just Il tribute was paid by the Mayor
at his Inauguration as President in ls4l,
called me TO the place | now occupy; and
though know il is in bad taste to speak
much of ones self, YET among my friends
and neighbors here viii say word or
two II your please. | had the pleasure Of
seeing him on several occasions at his house
and elsewhere. have never made any
boast Of the confidence the President re-
posed in me, but circumstances, hardly
worthy of serious notice, have rendered it
proper that should say that soon as Gen.
Harrison was elected President of Tie Uni.
ted States, without word from me upon
the subject, he wrote TO me inviting me to
take place in his Cabinet, leaving me for
to choose, and asking my advice as TO the
persons would wish associated with me.
He expressed rather wish that | should
take the department of the Treasury be-
cause, he was pleased to say he knew had
paid some considerable attention to curren.
cy and finance and he felt tina, the wants
of the countryside necessity Of the coun.
try on the subjects of currency AVID finance
were among the causes which had produ.
ced the revoution--that revolution which
has resulted IN placing him in the Preslden.
tial chair.
II so happened that preferred another
place--,hat which | now occupy. felt
all its responsibility but | can say truly
and correctly, that whatever attention
had paid to currency and finance, felt
more competent to carry on other concerns
of the Government aud WAS not willing
TO undertake the daily drudgery Of trade
was not disappointed IN the exigency that
existed in our foreign relations. The
whole danger was at no time publicly deyel.
oped but the cause of the difficulty knew
and knew too that an outbreak seemed
TO be at hand. alluded to that occurrence
to which the Chairman alluded--shich
took place during the year ls4l with
which was connected the name of Alexan.
der Mcleod. A year or two before the
British Government had authorized mill.
-