Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1844-02-08

Mar. Webster's Letter.
The long expected letter Of DANIEL wsn.
srrR, defining his position In the ensuing
Presidential question, we copy below from
thin Boston Courier Of Monday. Il was writ.
ten In reply io letter addressed to him and
signed by eleven hundred Wings Of his ma
tive State. lNew.lIampshire,) asking his con
sent a. use his name before the American
people as a candidate for the Presidency, &c.
| II will be seen that he expresses himself q
deeply sensible OF the honor conferred upon
him by those who have thus manifested their
preference for him, but thinks i, his duty To-
request lhcln not TO indulge in that pr.fr-
renee, as i, is obvious the tendency of opn.
ion among those To be represented in the
Convention, is generally and strongly set in
another direction--alluding oi course, 10 Mr..
CLAY. lie desires that no obstacle may OPP
pose the leading wishes of political friends.
and regards The principles involved in the
election of The next autumn. the same as
belonged TO that Of 1910. The cause, he
conceives. To be The true cnuse of the Coun.
Try, &c. and none, hc says, should despair of
rs success. Tho ieller will greatly relieve
'hN public mind IN regard to Mr.. Webster's
position, aud render assurance more sure than
ever Of the election Of Mr.. CLAy.
WAsHINGToN, Jan. 9, l843.
/ Gentlemen,-I have received your
letter, requesting permission to pre-
sent my name To The people as IA candi-
United States, subject To the future wise
deliberate action Of the Wing National
Convention Of 1914"
1t would be dlsingenuous 10 withhold
an expression of the grateful feelings
awakened by a letter, containing such
a request, so very numerously signed,
and coming from among those VIII" have
known me through life. No one can
be insensible 10 the distinction Of being
regarded, by any respectable number
of his fellow citizens, as among those
from whom choice of President might
be made, with honor and safety to the
country.
The office OF President is an office,
The iInportance of which cannot be too
highly estimated iIo who fills il,
necessarily exercises great influence.
not only on all the domestic interests Of
the country, on its foreign relations, and
ihe support of its honor and character
among the nations Of the earth, but on
that, which is OF ihe very highest I'M
port TO the happiness of the people, the
maintenance of the Constitution itself,
and the prosperous continuance q. the
government under it, Our systems are
peculiar and while capable, as eypc-
rirncc has shown, Of producing tine
most favorable results, under wise and
cautious administrator, they are, new
,erlheless, exposed 10 peculiar dangers.
We have siX-and-iweniy States, each
possessing within itself powers of gov
ernment, limited ouly by the Conslitu-
iion of The United States and we have
a General Government, 10 which are
cnnfdrd high trusts, to be exercised
! tor the benefit of the people of all The
States. IL IL obvious. that this division
"t powers, itself the result of II novel aud
most dclicai. political operation, can
be preserved only by the exercise of
wisdom aud pure patriotism. The
| Constitution of the United States stand
on the basis of The peoples choice
| II mus, remain on that basis, so long rs
IL rpmaius al ALL The vrnera,on aud
Hove which are entertained for Il, will
be- increased by every instance OF wise
prudent, impartial and parental admin
istjlIion. On The other hand. they will
he diminished by every administration
which shall cherish local divisions, de
vote itself 10 local interests, seek to
bend the influence of the Government
to personal or partilan purposes, "r
which shall forget that ali patriotism is
false and spurious, which does moi look
with equal eve to the interests of the
whole country, and all its parts, present
aud to come. | hardly know what an
I, Amrrican statesman should so much
'dpprccaie, on his own account, as well
as on account of his country, a. that
me ibnsiNhIlOn bl lne u nlltu SUITES,
now the glory of our country aud the
admiration oI the world. should become
weakened in lis foundations, perverted
in its principles, or fallen and sunk, in
n nations regard, and Il nations hopes,
|, bv his own lnllies, errors. or mistakes.
II The Constitution was made Tor the
/ good Of the c"uairy this the people
Il know. Its faithful administration pro-
NOTES that good this the people know.
Il The people will themselves defend i,
| against all foreign power, aud all open
lorce; and they will righ'Iully hold to
a just and solemn account, those To
whose hands they commit it, aud in
whose hands il shall be found to be-
shorn of n single beam of its honor or
deprived Of a uariicle of It's capacity for
| usefulness. II was made for an honest
people, and they expect il to be honest
| " administered; al the present moment,