Liberty advocate., 1844-03-09
LIBERTY ADVOCATE.
LiBERTYHHaaaaHnARGH o, l0li
FOR PRESIDENT,
RBNrRSY CLAY
Mr.. WEBsTER'S LETTER.
OF KENTUCKY.

I. MIR, WEBSTER'S LETTER.
4 The following letter Iromthe Hon. Dan
= lel Webster, will be read with much it
} terest. Although ho has been censure
5 for odhoring too long to the cabinet Of Mr.
. Tyler, we never for moment doubted hi
/ devotion to the Wing cause. lie vii
lend the power Of his eloluence and III,
influence Of his great name, to the eleva,
lion of Henry Clay TO the Presidency
I, The Somhron.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 3, 1874
GENTLEMEN-l have received your let
ter, requesting "permiSSion to present my
name TO the people as a candidate for the
Office OF President OF the United States,
subject to the future wise, deliberate ac-
ton OF the Wing National Convention OF
1914"
1t would be disingenuous 10 withhold
an expression of the grateful feelings
awakened by letter containing such a
request, so very numerously signed, aud
coming from among those who have
known me through life. No one can be
insensible to the distinction Of being re-
garded, by any respectable number of his
fellow citizens, as among those from
whom a choice of President might be
made, with honor aud safety to the coun-
try,
The office Of President is an Office the
Importance Of which cannot be too highly |
estimated. He who fills it, necessarily |
exercises great influence, not only on all |
he domestic interests of the country, on
is foreign relations, and the support OF its
lon0f and character among the nations
II the earth, but on that which is OF the
cry highest import TO the happiness OF
he people, the maintenance of the Con-
ututlon itself, and the prosperous con-
lnuance OF the Government under it.
)ur systems are peculiar; and while ca
able, as experience has shown, of produ
ing the most favorable results, under q
'ise and cautious administrations, they {
re, nevertheless, exposed to peculiar :
angers. We have six and twenty States, /"
ach possessing within itself powers OF c
overnment, limited only by the Constitu-
ion Of the United States; and we have a d
feneral Government, TO which are conf
ed trusts, to be exercised for the benefit c
{ the people of all the States. 1t is OBJ. c
ious that this division of powers, itself c
he result Of novel and most delicate v
olitcal operations, can be preserved on b
y by the exercise Of wisdom and pure b
atriotism. The Constitution Of the Uni C
ed States stands on the basis Of the peo- S
les choice. 1t must remain on that ba-
is, so long as it remains at all. The ven C
ration and love which are entertained 4
Or it, will be increased by every instance t
{ wise, prudent, impartial, and parental o
administration. On the other hand, they v
ill be diminished by every administra- a
on, which shall cherish local divisions. b
evote itself 10 local interests, seek to bend a
nc influence of the Government to per- 81
onal or partisan purposes, or which shall 81
'rget that all patriotism is false and spu- p
lous, which does not look with equal eye h
the interest Of the whole country, and n
II lis parts, present and to come. hard Il
know what an American states. a
ian should so much deprecale, on his II
wn account, as well as on account Of his h
wn country, as that the Constitution oil
le United States, now the glory Of our W
ountrv and the administration OF the pt
'orld, should become weakened in its al
perverted in its prinsiples, or OF
lllen and sunk, in nations regard az
nd nations hopes, by his own loIlies, &C
rrors, or mistakes. ce
The Constitution was made for the al
ood of tho country; this the people
now Its faithful administration pro. ce
lotes that good; this the people know
he people will themselves defend it er
gainst all foreign power, and all open
rce, and they will rightrully hold to ch
st ana solemn account those to whose
ands they commit it, and in whose hands
shall be found 10 be shorn Of single ce
'am of its honor or deprived of par
Gle of its capacity for usefulness. 1t
as made for honest people, and they ex- tn
'ct it to be honestly administered At
e present moment, il is an object Of gen.
al respect, confidence, and affection.
Questions have arisen, however, and
e likely to arise again, upon the extent
its powers, or upon the line which sep, tha
ates the functions of the General Go. j
rnment from those Of the Stale Govern.
,nts; and these questions will require,
lenever they may occur, not only firm, it i
IS, but much discretion, prudence, and ins
partiality in the head of the National and
Extreme counsels or extreme Fal
inons on either side, would be very Ia
ely, if followed or adopted, to break eve
the well adjusted balance Of the whole. 'mu