The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-10-08
Mr.. Webster's Speech.

The last speech which Mr. Webster has addressed tc
his country, and the very last cue which he has sen
forth TO his followers was delivered at Springfield the
2sth OF September when the Massachusetts, ederaists
held their State convention The orator took the floor at an
early hour of the session The Boston Advertiser speaks
OF it as zone of the most able addresses which he has
made" We are spared the necessity of speaking of
its ability its eloluence. A critic-and very shrewd
one he shas given the following description OF the I'M
preston which the orator made on himself II is anu
sing, and we suspect it is correct.
We shall probably take up this speech analyze its po
stons, and review its arguments hereafter For the
present, We must be permitted TO remark, that, in our
"humble opinion, it abounds more in sophstry than in
argument-more in Misrepresentation than in facts.
Mr. Webster begins by laying claim to great moderation
in manner, and "sobriety of sentiment" But we
fess we do not many evidences of them in the at
lacks which he has made upon the administration We
shall give example only as specimen OF the rest
The orator levels his principal artillery against the war
He charges upon authors that is war of preext
that il was pretext, because the declaration which
it based in the Presidents message that 'war exist
ed by the act of Mexico cannot be made out correctly,
by any evidence in point OF fact !" because emo
was the declared than other causes resorted
o" and one preext was, the ''refusa OF the Mexican
government to receive ministers; another that
Mexico had declined to pay the debts due to the citi
of the United States " that these not put forth
as the of in the message of the President and
that these are "after thoughts" &C., &c.
If Mr. Webster intends assert that the President, in
his message OF May H. 1916, makes no alusion to these
of complaint he is strangely guilty of gross mis-
representation. They are both introduced prominently
in the message For example, it says: "The grlevous
wrongs perperated by Mexico upon citizens through
out long period of years, remain unredressed; and
solemn treaties pledgng her public faith for this re-
dress have been disegarded OF course the most prom
nent place given in the message to the invasion OF our
SOIL and the murder of countrymen. And thus the
President makes good the declaration of the existence of
the war; and overhrows the miserable nsnuaon about
a "war OF pretexts:"
Extract from the message.
mistaken in its character Had acted with vigor in
epellng the insults and redressng the injuries inflicted by
Mexico the commencement should doubtless have
escaped all the difficulties in which now involved
Instead of this however, we have been exeng our best
efforts 'propate her goodwill pom the pretext that
Texas, nation independent rs herself thought proper
unite its destnes with own she has affected t. be-
lieve that have severed her rghiul territory and
official proclamaons and manitestoes, has repeatedly
threatened make upon for the purpose OF recon-
uering Texas In the time, we have tried every
effort al reconciliation The cup of orbearance had been
exhausted before the recent Information from the
frontier OF the Del Nortc But now, after reiterated
invaded territory, and shed American blood on the
American soil She has proclaimed that hosties have
commenced, and that the two nations now at war.
AS war exists, and Notwithstanding all efforts 10
avoid it, exists BY the Of Mexico herself we called
upon by every consideration of ddy and patrotlsn to
indicate with decon, the honor the rights, and the in
terests oil our country