Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1847-11-05
Speech Of The Hon. Daniel Webster,


I Nh. PaEsIDEyT:--Wrh others who have the
honor Of representing this Commonwealth in the
Congress Of the United States. have come here
to day, solely al the request Of the Wing State
Committee. J need hardly say, sir, that il gives
me great pleasure, on lhis as on former occasions,
10 meet 50 large and respectable representation
Of the Wings Of Massachusetts
In the more especial duty ass gned 10 the Con-
veniion, Of selecting candidates for The chief Of.
fees Of the State, had no original duty assigned
me. may venture, however, sir, to express
my qualification at the great unanimty which has
marked The proceedings Of the Convention. in
presenting 10 the people Of Massachusetts. again,
persons 50 well known for their principles, 50
well known for their opinions, 50 well known for
the fidelity with which they adhere to principle
and opinion.
] suppose, Mr.. President. that. so far az those
Of US who belong to Congress were expected 10
lake any part in the deliberations Of this assem-.
bly,, it was only looked for, that We should ex.
press our opinions upon the present state Of ma.
tOnal affairs, in the crisis, think an imminent
one, al which We have arrived. could have de.
sired, sir, that some of my colleagues, Of better
, health and more ability, had preceded me in sub.
sir, being apparently called upon. am here, ready
to express my opinions, humble as they are,
; frankly, on any subject and every subject thai IS
= interesting to the people Of this Commonwealth.
: There is nothing ! wish to put forward; thank
, God, there is nothing shrink from.
We are, in my opinion, in a most unnecessary.
and therefore most unIustfahIe war hope We
are near the close Of II. | aueHd carefully and
Ianxously 10 every rumor and every breeze thar
brings 10 US any report that the efus.on Of blood
caused, IN my Judgement BY rash and unjus,i-
liable proceeding on the part Of the government
may cease. In this state of public affairs. in this
slate Of excitement of public feeling, which We
know. upon this subject Of war peryades all elias.
ses and all ranks, have first 10 say, sir that any
: counseliug from me. and am sure that any
5 counSeliiug which this body wodld receive from
me, will not enlrench upon the loyalty which we
i owe TO the Constitution of the country. and The
e obedience which we are beuud to pay 10 the laws,
We are bound. sir 10 consider The nature oil
the government under which we live. There
must BE- IN every government some supreme POW.
er, some ultimate will from which there is no
peaceabe appeal. In mixed monarchies, Ike
that OF England the sovereign will reside with
The king and the parliament. lndespotc govern.
ments ii reposcs solely in the breast Of the mon.
arch, as in Russia, Austria, and elsewhere. But
with US. under our free republican and rerresen.
rativa government this public will. which We all
agree must in the end prevail, unless from peace
we resort to force, consists in the expressed opin.
ion Of the majority, ascerlained according TO the
principles Of the Constitution. Within the lin.
us prescribed by the Constitution. and pronounced
agreeably 10 It's forms, we must submit to this will
=. and opinion, or give up all government and sur.
= render ourselves 10 state OF anarchy. The
law Of majority, according TO our established
Z forms, majority ascertained in agreement with
The principles of the Constitution, is the law
/; which you, and l., and all of US are bound 10
obey.
: Sir, should hardly have adyered to this, if |
did not think that see, ahoat in the community
: signs somewhat Of a dangerous tendency.
agree that all powers may be so abused as 10 re.
, qure resistance, whether it be the power Of ur
+ aurocrar, of king and parliament, or of ma
4; loriy; for all power in human hands may be sc
= lar abused, may make so fragrant a case, as tC
r render it just in the forum of conscience 10 re-
C sisl its power. That's not the exercise of po
r IiGcal right under the Constitution of the coun
If try but the exercise of natural right against The
;. Constitution. Now, sir, | suppose we are al
d here to-day, with design 10 act, here and else
= where, in our several capacities, in the exercise
If of our political rights under the Constitution O.
Il our country, and not in the exercise Of our natu
e raj rights against the Constitution. Sir, there i;
1t not one of us here. who has had the honor O
n bearing any office, high or low, in the I. States
II government, or any Safe government, who ha.
not sworn thai he will support the Constitution o
r the United States; and no man is ignorant of The
l., fact that the Constitution of the United State
e coniers on Congress the power Of making war
o And therefore there is no man SO ignorant as no
IS TO know, when that power has been exercised ac
e Cording 10 the forms Of the Constitution, lha
If the expressed will Of Congress is the law Of The
e land, and is the rule Of every citizen's civil obi
J, cations. We may oppose, and are often in duty
" bound 10 oppose, counseS which we think lead II
G war, or other disastrous consequences. ] hope
5, that for one, have not been altogether negli
e gent Of this duty; but when the deliberations o
e government result in a law, then that law is o
- course to be regarded. have already said, tha
d / regard the present posture of public affairs a
Q inmincnlIy critical and dangerous; and that
j calls for The most serious and anxious considera
i ZION of all Wings throughout the country. Bu
,, let our counses be as temperate as they are firm
and decided.
}, There are those who think that violence i
r strength. That hold 10 be great mistake
Il Violent counsels are weak counseIs; violent con
duct is weak conduct; violent language is veal
n language. Our highest purposes. may say. ON
r bodesl resolves, ,rhtnmoStrecomnendlh lhem5eIve,
~ bp Of tho NEhAO III ~
are announced, certainly with cIear0eSs and force
;, but also with dacorum and dignity; with a just
II respect for ourselves, and just respect Tor 9th
!, ers. The grat dramalist iuslructs those whc
= would excel in the power Of movingmen's minds
g not to tear passion 10 rags and ta,ters, bat in
d the torrent aud whirIwind of their emotions, tc