The New York herald., 1844-09-23

ana enables US 10 estl1,ate with great precision he
value which he, Mr.. CLAY, puts upon the efforts OF
Mr.. Webster, himself, to make the antl-savery
anti Texas question the great issue in the present
contest. And in this letter, from which we have
quoted, Mr.. Clay expresses only the sentimenlsand
opinions. which were presented by him in the let
ter TO his friends intended for publication in the
National Inteaigsacer on his nomination by the
Baltimore Convention, but which was returned TO
him with request 10 modify the passages relative
to Texas.
Let US now turn to the speech of Mr.. Webster
on Boston Common, which we give at length on
the first page of this days paper. We there find
Mr.. Webster affirming that Mr.. Clay is pledged to
go against Texas, and that Mr.. Clay holds as he,
Mr.. Webster holds unquestionably, that the an
nexation of Texas does tend, and will tend, and
must tend TO the existence and perpetuation of Afr
can slavery, and the tyranny OF race over on
this contnent, and, therefore, he will not go tor H. !"
And Mr.. Webster goes on to argue against annex
aon chic hy on the ground OF It's being equivalent
10 perpetuation Of slavery-employing The very
argument which Mr.. Clay had so pointedly con
demned aud reprobated as inappropriate and inap-
pcable, and that, TOO, against measure the adop-
ton OF which Mr. Clay had said he "should be glad
g see." Now, what does all this mean 7 It's mean-
ing s, we thnk, very easily discovered. Mr. Web
sier is only prosecuting his original policy. He re-
frrs Significantly and proudly 10 the position he
has maintained for seven years" on this subject.
He has no idea of moving one har's-breadth, al.
though The fortunes Of Mr. Clay should be involved
in destruction. There he. Daniel Webster, stands,
aud from that position he commences The move
m-nt Tor the succession In 1913. This is The mean
log OF this extraordinary speech which is endorsed
in The manifesto or address issued on the same oc-
caslon. and v hich will also be found on our first
page. hus early, does Mr.. Webster commence h 8
position TO Mr. Clay, and the division in the wing
army is complete.
Meanwhile the panic spreads. The abolitlonlss
denouncipg Mr. Clay as "an incorrgibe robber
and tyrant," are working with almost superhuman
activity. Their vote in this State will be enor-
mously increased at the next election. We have
seen how it has swollen in Maine So also il will
be in this, and all the other tree States Already
the wealthy wings ale drawing their purse-strngs,
and the canvass is all but abandoned to the violent,
the fanatcal the officese ekers, the Webster men,
aud the Fourierltes Thus has brilliant prospect
been obscured. For at period in this cam
paign, Mr. Cay's chances did, indeed. appear most
promising. And had the canvass for him been
conducted in the free States with discretion judg-
ment, and sincerity, his defeat would have been
difIicult-perhaps impossible to accomplish. Now,
however, the is certainly changed, sadly for
tn worse. THIS last effort Of Mr. Webster must in-
evIably increase the lukewarmness, the oppressive
and dshearlening sense OF dsunion, the uncertain
~ and alarm which had before, unfortunately,
begun TO be manifested in the wbg ranks What
may be done to avert the calamity now threatened
in many quarters, we know not. We shall
await with great deal Of curiosity and anxiety.
the proceedings at the mass meeting on Thursday
next. What il is contemplated to do on that occa-
sion, we have not yet distinctly learned. But
whatever form the movement may assume, then,
il will Influence, TO great extent the general pro-
gress of the remainder Of the campaign through
out the north One thing, at all events, is certain,
we are now in the midst of the very crisis Of the
contest, and the fortunes OF Henry Clay are uem-
bling in the balance.