The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-11-13
THE STATESMAN WITH TWO FACES


AGAIN, AND RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED TO MR..
SENATOR WEBSTER.
Anxious as we are at all times TO do what we can
for that great of commercial freedom TO which
te democratic party Of this country is pledged, and
To which enlightened statesmen, in all nations, are
giving their aid we republish at full length the
unanswerable Jlss-irads speech delivered by Mr..
Webster TO the citizens Of Boston twenty-sx years
ago, on the 81 day Of October, 1920. In connection
with this speech, we publish, also, the remarkable
resolutions drawn in conformity with the views Of
the great orator of that occasion, and unanimously
adopted by that assembly.
These documents will well repay most attentive
peruSaL They were no hasty ebullitions They were
presented adjourned meeting Both the orator and
thehghy respectable committee appointed to draft the
resolutions, ook ample time for careful examination
and mature affection. The eminent individuals en-.
gagged in the work evidently refrained from putting
their opinions upon record until they had mastered
their great subject and the speech and the resolu
tons taken together, form compendium Of free
trade DOCTRINES in their just application to this coun-
try, Of unsurpassed perspcuity, comprehension and
cogency. They were intended to assert, and they
do assert great principles Of political economy,
which are fundamental and immutable. They SOL
EMMY register the undoubtng assent Of Mr.. Web
ster and his friends TO certain cardinal maxims OF
national policy which were true then, are true now,
and will be true alwnys The noble effort of argu-
ment and eloquence in which Mr.. Webster set forth
the grounds of his convictions, entirely worthy
his theme. II has not been answered, nor has
It's DO yer been in the least shaken by the various
instances Of special pleading in which that gentle
man has since attempted TO justify his subsequen
apogtacy from the noble creed to which he thus
solemnly pledged his faith and his character as
stalesman.
We say his apOstaey; for impartial history must
record the discreditable fact that just so soon
some score OF wealthy gentlemen in Boston changed
their inpesmsnis, Mr.. Webster also changed his prin
eipi,si Neither the profound conviction which had
animated his statements, the demonstraive force
of his reasonngs in supporting them, nor all the OBJ
legations Of personal good faith and political honor
which he had thus pledged to the great cause OF
commercial liberty il this country and Throughout,
the world, could av {, or postpone the shameful re-
csntation. The c, ,ita of Boston found out new
his friends, and forthwith he reappears in the
OF public life, to proclaim all that he had before
serted to be but cheat and falsehood and to fasten
upon the industry Of the country policy Of restrc-
ton which he had just before deliberately and loud
ly condemned. Lowell grew up, and Mr. Web
sters character hoRest and consistent
went down. The annals Of apostacy present
one sadder record. Other instances there have been
in which the men who now figure the leaders of
CIV. Such was especially the case of Mr. Clay,
when, in framing and advocating his compromise
BILL he distinctly renowned the principle of protec-
ton But Mr.. Websers regeneration is far more
signal and striking. He has shown that he had
risen to the full "heigh Of the great argument" for
free trade. He knew the full value and beauty of
the system which he was about to mutilate and to
deface. If he had remained true to his principles
and to his conscience, he might have placed his
name among the champions of commercial liberty
beside the names of Golden and of Peel. But dii,
ALTER pis,,n II was otherwise fated. The evil day
of temptation came upon him, and he to whom ii,
had been given to wicld the flaming sword Of el2-
auence in the cause of commercial freedom, became
the Lucfer of the national Fall into the baeful poll
cy of restriction Verify he has had his reward.
He has gained the friendship of the rich men of
Boston, and he has forfeited forever the confidence
of his country ,a... ...
Upon two or three occasions, in 1928, in 1890,
and 40 ain during the last session of Congress, Mr.
Webster in his remarks upon our tariff policy, has
attempted to explain away his per6dy in abandon
as,l hotfo c,aad Ia uh he had
given the matursd energies Of his manhood. He
stated last winter that he had learned more of the
federal consultation than he knew in 1870 or in
1894 The excnse---a strange one at best-cannot
serve. For, just after the unanswerabe speech,
which we give below, denying the constitutionality
Of tariff COR protection, Mr.. Webster delivered his
great argument before the Supreme Court in the case
az Dartmouth College--a constitutional argument
which his later years have not surpassed. For his
doinps in 1920, Mr.. Webster must not plead that
nieporance of the law" which excuses no man.
He was then in the zenith of his powers. The
s,,eech which we give below, clearly proves
it. II would be more to the purpose for Mr..
Webster to annoer, instead of merely repudiating
the positions which this speech maintains Let
Mr.. Webster, at the next session, amuse him
self and engh,en his friends, by refuting the
views which he here takes of the just limits
Of the revenue power Of Congress- Let him take
np the case of English restriction to which he so
triumphanty refers and point out clearly the errors
OF his former reasoning and conclusions. Let him
press into HE argument this head, by why Of IL
lustration, the recent noble measure Of commercial
reform which has immortszed Sir Robert Peel; and
let him show he can, that this is fact calculated
to sustain the later views which the capitalists Of
Boston have found Il convenient for him to advo-
cate Let him reconstruct the fallacy Of "na-
tisnal Independence, as secured by restriction"
which he SO completely demolished. Let him
reconsider and overthrow, il he can, hi, com.
prebensive views as to the growth and the
oper.tons of our commerce, and the expediency Of
leaving II nnuammeled. Let him show, in opposi-
ton TO all that he has urged, that high duties are