Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1843-11-23
MIR. yyebster's speech,
DELIVERED IN ANDovER, NOV. 2, 1913.


4
Hon. Daniel Wetsier delivered one oil
his greatest and most importsnt political
speeches on Thursday afternoon, 10 a
large assemtlsge of The Wings OF Massa.
chuselts, held al Andovcr. The occasion
was me nj to be county mass meeting
but the deep interest felt just at present
IN State politics, and the desire % hear
Mr.. Webster, WHO had promised 10 at
tend, drew together thousands fr m otter
countries, pni from allhe EASTERN pr
tons Of the STATE. The letter olt3nvta
ton was addressed to Mr.. Webster by
Noses Stuart, ID. D., Professor in the
Theological Seminary, and Ch4irmon OF
the Andover Wing Committee, snc cx-
pressed the desire Of the Essex County
" higs 10 hear him upon all the prominent
questions of natioaal politics.
After the adoption Of sundry resolutions,
the last OF which was mplimen;ary to
him, Mr.. Webster said:
1t is not without considerable rcluc.
lance, fellow citizens, tina, present my
S Ii before this meeting to-day. 1t had
been my purpose 10 abstain entirely, in
time TO come, from public addresses to
such vast assemblies as are here to day.
But the invitation came 10 me from sour
ces which | so much respect, and appear
ed to be urged with so much earnesinpss,
that il was not in my yielding nature 10
Withhold assent. Cheers. Aud that
consent, gentlemen, cannot regret, when
| look around me and before me, and see
such collection, not only Of the citizens
oil Andover, but Of the Citizens of other
parts of this county and Of the adjacent
counties.
Gentlemen, concur most zealously 10
the hopes expressed, and am ready to
perform any duty to accomplish what is so
much desired to be accomplished in the
election Of Mr.. Briggs aud Mr.. Reed TO
be Governor and Lieuienan, Governor Of
this Commonwealth Of Massachusetts. -
(Cheers.) do not propose, gentlemen,
on the present occasion, TO enter into any
extended discussion Of the topics of State
politics; but will say, generally, tina,
wish most ardently to restore Massachu.
sets TO what 1 have known her. In
tn transa ctons OF The last year | have
seen much which does not appear 10 be-
long 10 her character, to her history or to
her principles much which has had no
flavor, no relish of the Old Bay State ia
it. (Cheers.) Gentlemen, 1 entertain
not particle Of doubt tina, the good sense,
and the good feeling of the people of the
State will effect the ends aimed at, and
accomplish all that any honest patriot
could desire. | see the omens of this
success, not in the noisy ebuIltions of
vaporing spirit, but IN that profound earn
estness of a conscientious sobriety, of
sense of duty, with which sensible men,
and patriotic men, prepare themselves for
The proper performance Of the functions
which belong TO them as independent
electors of the State.
Gentlemen, the Committee Of And ,ver
which has invited me here mas desired me
to address the assembly which might be
convened, on number Of vastly impor-
tant topics. 1t will be impossible, of
course, Tor ne TO occupy so broad field
as they have proposed; and yet, gentle
men, 1t is my purpose to confne what
have to say to subjects by them suggest
ed. have been desired, genllvmea, to
express to them my opinions on the re
specilve duties Of the National and State
Governments ON the duty OF the Gene.
raj Government towards the various class
es of society, agriculturists, merchants aud
manufacturers on the Importance Of keep.
ing sacred public faith, and the obiga.
tons TO pay debts. and on the importance
of etlectDg some reformation 10 the cur
rency Of The country, which shall make
It such as our people need, Of uniform re-
cevabditv and of equal value. Now,
gentlemen, one portion Of the embarrass-
ment which l feel on the present occasion,
aIsrs from the circumstance that really,
upon these subjects, have very little that
is aew to say. By The favor of the peo.
pie of Massachusetts have oten now a
good while IN public life, and at times IT
extreme and g neral embarrassment. On
most of these subjects Of general interest
my opinions are we'll known, and, g-nlle-
men, they are quite unchanged But
will nevertheless, at the invitation OF the
Comm ttee. avail myself of this occasion,
not so much to announce my doctrines,
certainly not any new doctrines, as to re.
cur to Sediments on these various subj cts
which | have dong entertained and which
! still entertaln, believing them, as ] do,
conductive to the public good and the
pablo happiness.
Now, gentlemen, m regard TO the duties
OF the gen rad government there are some
which, every body acknowledges, belong
To II. All agree that /, S the duty If the
genera! government to project and defend
The country; that II has the power OF
raising an army and equlpping navy ad
eqntr to this purpose. All agree that to
II belongs the power and the duty os SUI
perint'adiag our foreigh relations and in
general that the maintenance oil the honor
and interests of the country. so far as
they are Connected with foreign States,
belongs 10 the general government. But
in regard to its domestic duties, to the OBJ
Jects IN harmony with our institutions,
and with a view to which it ought con-
siantlv to be administered, there has grown
Gp difference OF oplnlon Of great breadth
and leading to diverse consequences on
one side or the other. Now in this dis
position on the question, wish that the
remarks which shall shortly submit 10
Won should all of them proceed from a