The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-04-11
1I58

did he then stand In the eyes OF the patriots OF ina
land as not even 10 deserve the ephet OF creature
unlses the word 'wretched" should be prehxed 10 t
Nothing, sir, nothing justify patriot IN 70
fnsing TO lend his aid 10 his country In her hour o.
need. ..... a.. .....s.
But for the influence of Mr. W., and those who
acted with him, the war might have been pressed
with 80 much yigor and success That this question
Of impressmant might at this day have been put a
rest, and not avoided as il was by him in the Ash
burton treaty, and left open question still. The
gentleman said that, when the compromise act was
adopted we had constitution. That was IN ths
days Of old Jaekson's glory then the democracy
was triumphant and the constitution safely pre-
served IN their hands. fit 10 now muulated, bro
Ken down, destroyed, gone" the gentleman may
look to the extra session Of ls4l for the cause when
u was so grossly violated at the suggestion oil his
party leader Mr.. Clay aH
The gentleman said il was Mr.. Clay who saved
the honor cf the nulihers. II he Intended that as
hit at me, he was mistaken, for was not one OF
them;. | was a Stale-righls Union man. i agreed
with General Jackson that they were carrying their
doctrines too far and IL carried out il would destroy
the Union might plead infancy, however, in my
own behalf as my colleague pleaded il in behalf OF
Mr.. WEBsrER But am not disposed ~ do so,
saVe the honor Of the nullihersi Mr.. Hsyne had
proposed the very principles on which the eompro-
mise was afterwards founded, al the session pre-
yiOus 10 tho enactment Of the compromise. Mr..
Clay did propose the compromise; but Il was 10
save not the honor Of the nulliksrs, but the pri-
opiss Of the protective tariff His wise and far
seeing ken perceived that Il 10 danger He
Jaw Vsrplanek's ball introduced into the House,
reducing duties TO Is per cent He knew General
Jackson 10 be in favor Of that ball; and he the
House was about 10 pass the ball. and, Il that ball
passed, that he might bid good-by 10 his American
system. He has said that IL about 10 be strangied
by that giant Hercules; that he snatehed the infant
from the cradle OF danger, saved lis life, gave IL
platform on which during nine yean 10 rest and re-
eruit It's yigor. - ..r
The candidate Of the wings, in the election Of
lS40 said during that that he opposed TO
the repeal Of the compounds act but sooner he
IN power than he cut in sunder those bonds which
ought to have been held sacred. The compromise
violated by the tariff OF 1912. The people be-
came indignant, and, hurting these usurpen from
Their seats, sent here democratic majority Of sixty
votes. We are now pledged 10 repeal the act they
forced upon US; and II we do not repeal IT, shall
prove ourselves utterly recreant TO good faith honor
and justice.
Though | did not belong to the nullifers, and
though my party and theirs were arrayed in hostile
baltaons, and prepared for civil war, yet will Say
Of them that band Of more honorable men never
existed. They never forsook one OF the great prin-
ciples on which they had united. But never was
such mutual rage and snimoSty more nobly obliter-
rated, and replaced by the most perfect concord and
brotherly harmony. They agreed TO modify the
oath Of allegiance, so that Union men and multi
fers could take Il, and every trace Of ill-will
passed away like cloud from the clear face
Of the heavens. They sent to the Senate one Of the
most gallant men that ever drew the breath Of life
the very qunescence Of all that was TO be loved in
human character the NOBLE hgh-souled chiyaric HUI
ger-the hnished and accomplished gentleman--the
leader Of the Union party: more than this-tbey have
since that compromise elected two leading Union
men TO the Office ex-governor OF the States and one OF
them now fills that high Office. In that gallant little
State there Is heard no such appellation Union
men or nulllhers. The people Of that State are
unanimously united IN favor of the great constition-
al doctrines Of the country under the name of repub
licans Sir, the honor Of the nulifers has been In
far better keeping than it would have been in that Of
Henry Clay. Had it been in his keeping and been
kept no better than he kept his own, as connected
with this compromise act, that honor instead Of
shining now 30 brightly would have been a by
word IN the mouth Of man.
The gentleman from Connecticut, TMr. DIXON, /
errs then IN supposing that there is any "rankingn
IN my bosom, because MIR. WEBSTER may have in
terfered between the nulli6en and their object
Their object sir accomplished in the enactment Of
the compromise act. have no cause for any pecu-
liar ranking" in my breast | have not risen
10 interfere between Mr.. WEBSTER and the represen-
tatye from Pennsylvania whom he has SO grossly 1T
tackled. should have been content to have given a
silent vote; and in hopes that the House would
have done so, on the resolutions introduced by that
such did not call for debate. Discussion would have
been more appropriate on the information which
those relations may elicit. But as the friends Of
this exSecretary chose rather throw the character
of their favorite into the debate which sprung up,
without my aid or instigaton; and as the wings
nave been warned not to permit the arm of their
champion to be thus struck down, while it is deal
ing such mighty blows; and as they have carried
their commentator far to place him by the side
OF the loved and revered Washington, and to claim
that he brought love and respect to the name of an
American citizen abroad, by its association
with his own, l could not sit silent. OF Daniel
Webster know nothing, what the public rec
ords disclose. That history, thus disclosed, has
given me loathing of his public character, which |
cannot and will not undertake to conceal. 1t richly
entities him to be considered what the world said
and said truly, of another great inteectif not the
"wisest," at least as "the basest meanest of man.
kind" And yet, sir, his infatuated admirers have
styled hm-profanely styled him, as was well said
by the gentleman from Pennsylvania [Mr. G.. J.
lNeERsoLL as "the Godke." Sir, he bears another
familiar appellation, and must think true one
" Black Dan" And his friend from Connecticut
MIR. DNoNl has given an illustration of what he
thinks this other appeation MEANS
That gentleman said that Mr.. WEBsrER's philip
pic against Mr. lNeERsoLL had reminded him of an
anecdote he had heard, which was this: During
lngersoll held the office of Commissioner of
Stamps, the people made him promise to resign il
publicly and to swear never again to exercise its
duties. They placed INeERsoLL on white horse,
led him to the town house, and followed, hooting
and shouting behind! My friend said that the
scene reminded him Of Death on the pale horse
spoken OF IN scripture, as followed by Hell! /
presume that he designed us to draw the Conclusion
that Mr.. lNcERsoLL caught hill in the castigation
Mr.. w. gave him. Perhaps, sir, he did Ii at ali
events shows to us that Mr. WEpsrER has two
characters, which, Proteus like he can assume, as
his interests or necessities demand-the "God-ike"
and the "Hell-like"-the "God-like Daniel" and
BLACK DAM" At all events, sir, no matter wha,
character he bears abroad, that character here in
his own land, is mo-, an enviable one. For myself,
| acknowledge the power of his intellect; but do
not award my respect to great men for mere intel
lect. And when great intellectual name is not
associated with public integrity, | will leave his
praise to the hangerson ofc and the sycophahs
of the palace. Such names are unworthy Of COM
mendaton from the lips of virtuous.. American
Mr.. COBB said he thought the debate had gone
as far as the House was disposed to indulge it, He
would make an effort, at all events, to bring it to
close; and with that view he moved to lay the mo-