The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1843-05-29


will well recollect the untring zeal and fidelity with
which Mr.. Webster defined and illustrated the great
sentative principles of the Constitution of
the profound forecast and discretion with which he
Tended them from the nsdious attacks made from
quarters and the sound judgment with which he assisted
IN eecng those notifications which time and experience
sho we'd be necessary Aud detract nothing from the
learning and the patriotism Of the smiaent members
OF that noble assembly of men, when say that
passed Daniel Webster, although then but citizen
amongst us, in his zeal patriotism, and fidelity (Great
applause) The first great public act of Mr. Webster,
member from New Hampshire, of his resolution
ating to the collection OF the revenue Of the u States
This resolution required that hereafter the should
be paid in the currency Of the Unien, in specie the
bills Of specie paying banks That resolution passed both
Houses and permanently useful in correct
had by the deprecated the
at that period look beckon that hour, and who
has watched his will look back it, the signal
gun of that war; which from that time till now, he has
every where waged against deprecated currency.
(Gredt applause And at all times. and in all crcum.
stances he has conended for Giro uatng medium found
ed entirely on metallic basis Cheers The influence
of the OF the acts OF individual upon
the currency OF nation of necessity inermingled
with others-so naturally imperceptble OF Themselves
that is difficult hardly possible to shadow forth in
bold rele-to condense into tangible and separate
tence, the effect produced by any man. But hazard
nothing in saying that in the United States Of
America has done much Daniel Webster has done to
eplighen the public mind this great and difficult sub
eco disseminate thr0ugho the country accurate and
sound views the currencyand to give action to those
just views rapidly growing throughout the land
and which, trust will soon remedy those evils which
have oppressed but which, had it not been for his e
forts would have oppressed for years. not for cenu
ries Great applause The next remarkable act OF Mr.
Webser's public life was performed while he was repre-
sentative from Massachusetts, in his celebrated speech
against the tariff proposed in 1924 Heopposed the tariff
then from conviction that it hostile TO the Interests
of the commercial portion of the community, and that
the prosperity and rapidly advancing interests Of the coun
try had better remain untouched And because also he
feared and justly feared the Introduction into this csun
try of this tart might create the evils which have accom-
panied that system in England and throughout the popu
ous countries of Europe. Tin consequence Of an inter-
rupon by person who to the reporters table, and
asked some question we did not catch the two three
succeeding sentences of this speech. We have
just called on Mr.. Loring and requested him to sup
can't report my speech-and, besides Pm very busy"
We must therefore, go from the point where the dis
stood by in the darkest hour of history in oppes
ion to the most powerful Of his political friends; and
when his opposition to their measures threatened to him
great portion, not the whole Of his personal popula
rity and political influence No can forget his posi-
ton at the time of the passage Of the compromise act or
any man has forgotten it, let him back and read The
history of this time and then, when he has read it, let
him ask what MIR. Webster proved himself to be then
whether he less than political prophet Why the
very principles and measures which he then in face Of
his party and his friends opposed being essentially de-
structive to the interests of the American system
have been themselves abandoned at the very moment
when it came into operation. Cheers) And, now, let
ask, without OBTAINING You longer this, if we can
not trust such TO defend these great interests
who has proved himself capable Of comprehending
all their relations and has proved every time and place
that he has courage and manliness enough to defend
them (Cheers) say, if we cannot confde TO him these
great interests in the name Of heaven to whom can
confde them Qong continued applause) pass by
Mr.. Webser's celebrated speeches the manumisson
question merely remarkng that they afford additional de-
monstration of that uniform devotion the great
civil liberty and humanity and public faith, by which
his career has always been distinguished now invite
your attention for few moments to the next great event
Of his eor great may be truly called and but for the
treaty of Washington, would be accounted the great
achievement of his public service, and might well be
deemed
doctrine of notification has new become SO universally
regarded as political absqrdity,, aud nonsen-
steal chimera. tina. can hardly realize the terrific
form with which one time reared ITSELF overshadew
ing the land threatening the dissolution oour Union
and the prssraton of all institutions. grew up
as we we'll know now, under the patronage and encour
agement ofscme of tn powerful and eminent states.
ofthe age II enlisted the sympathes of great por
ton OF the Southern muhy by appeals to state pride
and State preudces supposed local interests and above
ALL by pretences Of defence against the North No event
since the formation of the Constitution Of the United
States has forcbly shaken the fabric on which
the promug atinn Of the doctrines Of nullifcation
None has everhreatened Constitution and Union
with such deadly destruction that monstrous theory
and for series Of years. Webster forth the great
champion OF the Union. By the fol of his single arm
he laid that monster low He drove it from the halls OF
Congress. back to its native lair and returned himself
victorious Great cheer ipg It rallied its forces into South
Carolina in defiance Of the laws and Of the Constitution
He again came to the rescue and was the chief agent
der the admin straon of Gen. Jackson in dealing its lest
and final deathbow cannot avoid asking the attention
audience to Mr. Webser dsinterested patriot
and devotion to the country in this II will be
membered that the "Force Bill" favorite
of Gen. Jackson's admnisraton-an administration to
which Mr. Webster was strongly and entirely opposed
from the beginning, and from which he had received
thing but unmeasured hostility, reproach and abuse
II might have seemed natural, and to many poll
tcians undoubtedly would have seemed expe-
dent that Mr.. Webster would have united himself
to that strong Southern coniederacy then led by
Mr. Calhoun, and supported by powerful force in both
Houses in opposition to Gen Jackson. Such policy
short sighted aud selfish politician might have adopted
Such an one might have sought to make out the
on
but this was not the narrow policy OF Daniel Webster
He saw that the great cause of the Constitution and the
could not hesitate. He at threw himself into the
hottest Of the battle regardless of consequences to him
self and the great party of which he was the leader if
otherwise he could not the country. And when as
the favored ally of Gen Jackson accomplished the vcto-
ry, not back TO ask favor of that administration
which he had signally served. He sent in no adhe.
the powers that were. He made pretences of
reconciliation but again he took his place and pleaded
as faithfully and as resolutey ever against the mea
sures and acts OF that administration. (Cheers)
Thus he evnced many other acts Of his life that
devotion to his countrythat pure unsullied uDfading
his whole career and by which his entire public life has
been SO sgnally illustrated (Cheers leone now, sir
to very inter sstng period in his history and that of our
country The satisfaction with which all hailed his
position in the cabinet of President Harrison and the grief
and anxiety found in the death Of that usrious pari
ot need not here recounted They quite fresh
in minds, and the confusion dsrkness, dsrust,
certainty and anarchy which prevailed in the councils
of the country after the accession Of President Tyler
statesman more PAINFUL distressing, and perplexng,
than that OF Mr. Webster on the retirement Of his col
Leagues from the cabinet OF the propriey Of that re-
tirement did and shall make any question
But we oil know that Mr. Websters continuance was
subject Of intense anxiety and doubt TO his best friends
and theme of much indignant reproach from many for
mery his most Jealous adherents. And let me remind
you that it threatened to ALLEVIATE from him the afiac
tons of that great party, IN whose service he bat
fought during his whole public life. applause
Yet he remained firm and unmoved in the consciousness
Of performing his duty His patriotism equal to the
trying and painful exigency. He knew that it was his
duty to remain there seeing that there were interests
of transcendent Importance to his country under
discussion and awaiting a settlement. He knew
that the great issue Of peace or war between two
ofthe mighest nations the globe must be deter
mined He knew that great and vital questions Of inter
national law must be discussed and settled. He
knew that he had made preparations for entrance
thesegreat questions He knew that peculiar and perso
nal advantages not always proper to be enumerated,
deed himself peculiarly qualified for the discharge of the
urgent duty which presented ITSELF And therefore, he
concluded 10 remain at his poso abide tho pelting OF
the pitless storm Of the press and the peopeo abide
the temporary alienation of his friends and to trust to
ofth -