New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1844-02-07
Mr.webster ON the Presidency.

Ncsmith and about eleven hundred other Wings
of New Hampshire, who had written him an elo-
ouent and highly complimentary request that he
would permit them to present his name to the
Wing National Convention at Baltimore as a
candidate for the Presidency. We have not room
for the requisition, but Mr.. Webster's patriotic
and noble response is as follows
WASHINGTON, January 3, 1913.
Gentlemen-I have received your letter. IT,
uuesting permission to present my name 10 the
People as Candidate for the ofhce OF president
&c the limited States, subject to the future wise,
Je, ;l, action of the Wing National Conven
ton of lS44 ..,,,l
recession Of the grateful feelings awakened by a
Ietter containing such request, so very numer-
o,slv stoned. and coming from among those who
bave known me through life. No one can be
;nsensible to the distinction of being regarded, by
anv respectable number of his fellow-citlzens, as
,mono those from whom choice of President
MIGHT be made, with honor and safety to the
country.
The Office of President is an Office, the lmpor
lance of which cannot be too highly estimated.
He who fills it necessarily exercises great IN
huence, not only on all the domestic interests OF
the country, on its foreign relations, and the sup
port of it's honor and character among the nations
of the earth but on that, which is of the very
highest import to the happiness OF the people, the
maintenance of the Constitution itself, and the
prosperous continuance of the government under
It. Our systems are peculiar; and while capa
BILE. as experience has shown, of producing the
most favorable results, under wise and cautious
administration, they are, nevertheless, exposed to
peculiar dangers. We have six and twenty states,
each possessing within itself powers of govern
ment. limited only by the Constitution OF the Uni
ted States: and we have general government,
TO which are confided high trusts, TO be exercised
for the benefit of the people of all the States. 1t
is obvious, that this division of powers itself the
result of a novel and most delicate political oper
alton. can be preserved only by the exercise OF
wisdom and pure patriotism The Constitution
of the United States stands on the basis Of the
neonle's choice 1t must remain on that basis, so
LONG as it remains at all. The veneration and
love, which are entertained for it, will be IN
creased by every instance of wise, prudent, I'M
martial and parental administration. On the other
hand. they will be diminished by every admins
tration which shall cherish local divisions, devote
itself to local interests seek to bend the influence
of the Government to personal or partisan pur
poses, or which shall forget that all patriotism is
false and SPURIOUS which does not look with equal
eve to the interests of the whole country, and all
it's parts, present and to come | hardly know
what an American statesman should so much
deprecate, on his own account, as well as
on account of his country, as that the Con-
sttution of the United States, now the glo
ry of our country and the admiration OF the
world should become weakened in It's lounda-
tons, perverted in its principles, or fallen and
sunk in nations regard and nations hopes,
by his own follles, errors, or mistakes. The Con-
stitution was made for the good of the country
this the people know. Its faithful administration
promotes that good this the people know. The
people will themselves defend it against all for
eign power, and all open force and they will
rightfully hold to ust and solemn account,
those, to whose hands they commit it, and IN
whose hands it shall be found to be shorn OF
single beam of its honor or deprived of particle
of its capacity for usefulness. 1t was made for
an honest people, and they expecti to be honestly
administered. At the present moment, 1t is an
object of general respect, confidence and affec
ton. Questions have arisen, however, and arc
likely to arise again, upon the extent of It's pow
ers, or upon the line which separates the tunc-
tons Of the General Government from those OF
the State Governments; and these questions will
require whenever they may occur not only firm
ness, but much discretion, prudence and impair
TALLY in the Head of the National Executive
Extreme counsels or extreme opinions on either
side, would be very likely, if followed or adopted,
to break up the well busted balance of the whole.
And he who has the greatest confidence in his
own Judgment, or the str""se"t -"l;apce on his
own good fortune, may yet be well dlthdent Of
his ability to discharge the duties Of this trust, IN
such manner as shall promote the public pros
perity, or advance his own reputation.
But, gentlemen, while the office of President
is quite too high to be sought by personal solicit
taton or for private ends and objects, it is not to
be declined, if proffered by the voluntary desire
of free people.
1t is now more than thirty years since you and
your fellow citizens of New Hampshire, assigned
me part in political affairs. My public con-
duct, since that PERIOD is known. My opinions
on the great questions, now most interesting to
the country, are known. The constitutional
principles which have endeavored to maintain,
are also known. If these principles and these
opinions, not likely to be materially changed,
should recommend me to further marks of public
regard and confidence, l should not withhold my
self from compliance with the general will But
| have no pretensions of my own to bring for
ward, and trust that no friends of mine would
at any time use my name Tor the purpose OF pre-
venting harmony among those, whose general
political opinions concur, or from any cause
whatever, but conscientious regard to the good
of the country
It's obvious, gentlemen, that at the present mo-
ment the tendency of opinion among those to be
represented in the Convention is generally and
strongly set in another direction. l think it my
duty, therefore, under existing circumstances, to
request those, who may feel preference for me,
not to indulge in that preference, nor oppose any
obstacle to the leading wishes of political friends,
or to united and cordial efforts for the accom-