American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1846-12-04

The WEBSTER DINNER AT PHILADELPHIA
The friends of the Hon. Daniel Webster in
Philadelphia, gave him magnificent enter.
tainment, at the Chinese Saloon, OH Wednes-
day evening, at which large number of in
vited guests attended, among them the Hon.
John P. Kennedy, ofthis city. No less than
1900 ladies occupied the galleries, and when
the distinguished guest entered the hall, the
whole assembly arose and made the welkin
ring with long and loud applause, After the
removal of the cloth, a number of toasts were
drank, and in reply to one complimentary to
himself, Mr.. Webster arose and delivered u
speech which occupied more than four hours,
every sentence Of which appears to have been
received with great enthusiasm. lie passed IN
review all the leading measures of the present
administration, with his usual ability and elo-
quence, very few of which, of course, he APP
proved. The following is a sketch of his re-
marks on the Mexican war, as given in one Of
the papers of that city:
He was opposed to the annexation Of Texas,
because, among other things, it was adding n
country which did not acknow ledge slavery on
ly by force OF such annexation. He did not
have a good opinion of the Mexican govern
ment, but he proceeded to contend that the
President had preclPitated the war by taking
armed possession OF the left bank of the Rio
Gfande-ot territory disputed between the
two governments, and by other hostile mea-
sures with the feet, so far in advance of actual
no. Ia IL, .I,t,, IL
January preceding the actions OF the It'll, 9Th
and 9th Of May.
These measures, taken without the sanction
of congress, how are they explained? How
they tUiN be explained hereafter, remains to be
seen. This remark was received with applause,
aud was understood as looking to an mpeach-
meht of the President. Mr.. Webster read let
ters and instructions, showing that the Presi-
dent was, as early as January, 1916, making a
military movement wagIng u war against
country with which we were at peace, without
the sanction of congress. He said it was
grave matter, looking to executive usurpaton.
The war power was with congress, as was all
power looking to or leading TO war 1t was
something more than a gross mistake-a blum
der, thus to push all army forward into dis
puted territory, so as to produce war: and that
wv HUI OObtl hOuSCo vi SOlIS COD WGiC III IuIl
session.
Mr.. Webster limited at the actions of the Sth
and 9th of May and tile acts of congress in re.
laton thereto, and he contonded it was never
intended to give the President any more pow
er than for defence. He did not believe he
had power to make conquest, but merely to de
! fend the possession of that territory which wa
claimed by this country. His remarks were
not made to defend the conduct of Mexico, ir
refusing to negotiate with US, nor, God knows
with a desire TO place our country in the wrong
but to defend the constitution of the land
which he deemed to have been violated.
He then passed in review the conduct of oul
soldiers in the war, passed merited compl.
ment upon Gen. Taylor, which was loudly APP
/ plauded, and concluded this branch of his
speech with highly wrought and eloquent Gu.
logium upon the intrepid conduct of the volun
teers ofour country, both in the present war
and at Bunker's HILL in the war Of the revolu
| ton.
DEcLISEp. The Charleston Evening News
says, that Mr.. EImorc declines being cand
date for the u. S. Senate.