Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1846-11-19
MIR. WEBSTER'S SPEECH

MT WEBSTER addressed the Wings of Boston
at Faneu!l Hall, on the evening before the Massa-
chusetts election. We make the following extract
from his speech.
Speaking of the New York elections, Mr.. w.
| commended, that what had brought about the chan
ges there was general dissatisfaction with and
want OF confidence in the general government, un-
der It's present administration The change had
been wrought by considerate and reflective men,
not as individuals, but in masses and in troops, vo
ting for the Wing candidates; they had taken the
wing ground as tie most effectual mode of show
ing ther dlsapProbatlon of the war; and the tariff of
1910, and had given up their adhesion to third par
ties, and had become Wings out and out. He
lhonSht tnat this was the proper mode OF acting,
ana mat IL the opposition to the present admins
tratlon acted temporarily and dscreetly it would
hold all 1t had gained, and acquire new strength
lie alluded to the subtreasury, as one of the
measures OF the present administrations the benefits
of which are not yet fully developed, and Thought
that the evils Of the tariff of 1916, and of the Mex
lean war, are at present the most apparent to the
public.
At the alluson to the Mexican war, some one in
the North gallery cried out
''Who voted for it?'
AS soon as the excitement caused by this inter
ruption subsidized, Mr.. Webster exclaimed. with one
OF his peculiar smiles, and in very impressive
manner
~ Ouo tot OOttu .JOF ny Hny DOdv The PreSl-
dent made acithom any uote at au''
There was immense cheering for some moments
when he again said-"Are you answered 2"
AGAIN there was cheering, and as soon as he
could be heard he proceeded to say, that the war
was Presidential war, got up contrary to the ex-
press provisions of the Constitution. The first that
was heard Of 1t was from the assertion OF the Presi-
dent that the war existed. Texas had become a
part Of the United States, and the boundary that
mad been claimed up to that time was the river
Neuces all beyond that was actually i'm possession
Oh Mexico, had never even been claimed by Texas
But the President had, by great violation of duty.
ordered the United States army to push forward be-
yond 1T, and in so doing he had committed what
MIR. w. considered as an mpeachable offence.
The President had it in his power to do such
thing, but had no right TO do it. BY the Cobstiu-
ton he was authorized to repe INVASION but he was
not authorized TO 90 beyond the territory and invade
another country. This was the deep foundation of
all opposition to this war-that it was illeoal-a
great violation of duty.
Mr. Webster said that he had very little or no
respect for the government of Mexico He consi-
dered the Mexcans the worst governed people in
the world. They were the prey TO military chief
tains, such as Paroles and Santa Anna, who were
not the Presidents Of a free people. He alluded to
the just claims which the United States have
against that country, and he said that there was
little doubt that Mexico was wrongly injuring her
own character i'll not allowing and settling those
claims, and he would not excuse her. He said that
like all the States that had grown up and had been
formed out Of the old Spanish monarchica posses
sions, her government had proven miserable fail
ure But this did not discharge us from our duty
All we know is that it exists as separate country
contiguous to our own. What he asked. are we
to do with her, when she is conquered Arc we
TO make her one vast territory? Are we to annex
her to this country? These are questions which
will be put at the next session of Congress. The
people ofthese United States are not in the habit
of calculating, when right is to be asserted, what
viii be we EXPENSE but on occasion Of this kind
they will be very apt to ask what the speculation
will cost