Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1842-10-15
MIR. WEBsTER'S SPEECH.


ster tho credit Of .'negociating under the general
directions of John Tyler" fair aud honorable
treaty; and we publish the balance Of the speech
that readers may form their own opinions as
to his position politician, and his claim to that
tile of which no boasts much. We mean the
cognomen of Wing. lie may a statesman be
entitled to that name, but the spirit which should
pervado good Wing, IS not to be found IN his
speech. This Daniel Webster IS certainly not
tho same Daniel Webster who addressed his
coun,rymen from Bunker hill IN 1910. How
changed is the man.
"Gentiemen, ain hero day Il guest.
was invited by number of highly valued persn-
nal and political friends 10 pariake OF a pubic
dinner, for The purpose of giving them an "ppor-
tunity to pass the usual greeting between friends.
after a some what EXTENDED absence, and 10 eX-
change with me congratulations upon the result
of the treaty negotiations. 1t was AT my instance,
goutlcm3n, that the assembly took the form II
did; aud instead of seeing them at the festive
board, now meet them and you at ih'5 place
SlilI the character Of the occasion is the ime;
still here guest, to receive your greeting
upon particular subjects am not hero with any
invitation to address you, or expectation that |
should address you upon topics not suggested by
previous observations. 1t would no, be b"ittIng
the occas l1n, in my opiuiun were | to use the
clsnn for any such purpose; because, though l
desire, and "a very distant day hope, to have
opportunity of making known my sentiments
upon general political matters, and the state of
The country and of parties in the country, l know
very well that | should be trespassirg upon tho
bounds of poitencss, were to do 50 now , yne
gentlemen who have invited me here, entertain
opinions different from mine, and they would We
~ properly saw, tive met Mr. Webster to exchange
congratulations with him upon matters on which
all agree epd not Tor the purpose OF his using
the occasion TO speohfof things on which We do
no, ae,rear On thai s.-ount have good reason
TO forbear from stating how Tar am enabled To
ngree with friends of mauy years standing, and
how far am reluctantly constrained to d'lf n
from their views and leaving TO some filter oc-
casion the fufment of my intention III this re
spect.
There is one thing, however, on which viii
sneak Tho Mayor has been kind enough to say
that IN his jldgmcnt--havtng performed my duties
10 the satisfaction of The country, 1t might DC Iet
me 10 take care of my own honor aud rePnta-
non suppose he meant 10 say that III the pres
ent distraction of the Wang party, and the contra
rietv Of opinion-if such contrarioy there be
as to the course which il - proper for ne tn pur.
sue the decision OF that question might very well
be loft - myself. Gentlemen, am exactly OF
his moaning. i ain qule OF opinion, gentlemen.
that as to the question touching ms own h"n"r,
md the consistency of my own character, as am
TO bear tho consequences Of the decision, it had
much better be left to TO decide And a! though
no man more highly vaues the opinion OF his
friends than do that OF those erpunl me, upon =
question OF such delicacy and Importance as this,
| choose to decide for myself. And upon this sub.
iact shall leave you as enlightened as found
you--I will give no pIedge-uo Intmatiou as TO
my conduct way or tho other, as ! was when
the day dawncd.
Gcn,lemon. there is delicacy in this case, be-
cause there is always delicacy and regret IN ca
scs where public man feels obliged to dissent
from his friends in opinion; but there ~ no en-
barrassment-no embarrassment. 1t | see the
path OF duty clear before me, have that within
me which viii enable me to perSue that path.
throw all embarrassment and hesitation to tho
winds; public man has no occasion to be en-
barrassed. Personally he is nohng--his country
every thing; no must shake oil all personal
considerations. look only To his duty and the good
ot his couutry--abandoning at once ait those sell
fish motives. which. according they
suited disregarded mark him q great u
little man.
Fellow citizens, there many individuals
who have found great fault with my remaining IN
the Presidents cabinet since ISL and 1t Is known
To all that twenty years of honest perhaps inetii-
cIent, yet may perhaps say not altogether unds.
iinguIsEed service, IN the Wing cause, did not
suffice TO exemp, me from an outpouring such as
has seldom been directed agans, any one. | am
little hard TO be coaxed, and a good deal harder
10 be driven. ! shall choose my own ground
And thanking you for the cordial support lou have
afforded ne during the past year that have SER
we'd my country IN public station, | shall leave
It TO you, and 10 the nation, 10 say whe Their the
country would have been better off il had then
gone of office. Gentlemen, have no attach.
ment TO office. have tasted its sweets, but hnv @
tasted a so It's bitterness. | am content with
what have achieved; and would ra Their hold on
TO what have already secured than any risk
for new acquisitions in political distinction, or
new stations in public life.
suppose, gentlemen, that ought to stop here
but there is topic 10 which will allude, yet
no further than as IL in some degree concerns
myself. There was very respectable-a most
tab'e-assembly of Wing gentlemen held
some days since IN this place, aud they passed
several important resolutions There is no set Of