The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-05-06
CITY OF WASHINGTON.
THURsDAY NIGHT, MAY Q. Is47.
MIR. Webster at tho South.


uished gentleman at public dinner recently rendered to
him at Richmond Mr. Webster informs the company that
he has undertaken his present tour through the southern
States without any purpose OF addressing muudes or
discussing political questions" Under these circumstances
ftbe declaration be duly carried out, cannot doubt
,bat he will be received by his southern fellow citizens
with the distinction BETTING the conspicuous part which
he has borne for thirty years past in national coun
ella and with all that cordial hospitality which is the
poverbia characteristic of the section of country through
which he proposes travel We trust indeed, that this
first visit OF Mr.. Webster to the Southior he tells
that he has before extended his journeys be-
vond the James rver-will not be without its good eff
feet, upon his view OF the just claims of southern
interests and institutions, and of the public policy of the
country in respect them We venture to hope, that,
after his return from the South shall hear from his lips
no more such nvocaons the thrd" or Liberty party
athe North to rally for the OF the country from
Democratic measures and principles of legislation,
much to our regret, frequently expressed by him in the
campan of 1874 It is at all events, to be hoped that he
NAV not hereafter insist upon the "identty' Of Wing
views of our public policy with those entertained by these
same Liberty men," 1t will, besides, be adding new
chapter to his history, if the new sympathes which he
NAV imbbe from his sojourn in this hitherto unvsited
region NAV serve to unsectonaze him, and make him,
what he Processes be- American in principle and
in sentiment.
In his speech at Richmond, Mr. Webster has certainly
acted so far in conformity with his announced inten-
ton as 10 avoid any profesed and elaborate discussion
Of the political questions at issue between the two
great parties OF the country. He has dwelt with empha-
sis on the surprising excellence of our Federal Con-
stiution, the value of our Union, and the glory and
renown of the generation OF great men by whose labors
the nestimabe blessings OF political system were
conferred upon u.s. All this is just and patriotic, and
meets we need not say, most cordial concurrence,
II will find an echo in every American heart. But we
find nerspersed among these general reflections OF Mr.
Webster some remarks of very different character Ev
identity in allusion to the existing war; and in condemna
ton of it, Mr. Webster tells that have but
single rational or Just objectthe establishment OF civil
and religious liberty, and the elevation OF man to the
standard OF human rights" military achievements
nth any other object are, in Mr.. Websters view, sun
worthy of human regard" These propositions lit
orally stated not true. The vindcaton OF national
character, the protection of national rights from foreign
a-yresson the security of national naturalization for
continued and systematic outrages, and the estab
Ishment OF permanent peace by necessary demonstra-
tion of military power against halfcivzed and mis-
governed neighbony nation are, all of them, ust and
rational objects of war" Mr.. Websters propositions
are plainly enough introduced for the purpose OF nsnu
atns that with Mexico is not "just and ration
al" And in order to make his propositions carry with
them this import, Mr.. Webster them down to
the statement of entirely principle 1t is
common federal bunder tits in full keeping with his
conduct in the war of 1884, when he refused ade
quate supplies for suffering troops and il is unfortu-
naey in unison with the sentiments he now enterains
upon the Mexican war.
But it is in his remarks upon the subject OF Internal
Improvements by the federal government that Mr. Web
sters well-known political hcresies become in this
Speech most apparent Here is his view OF that matter
"Whilst taxation is the great end of government,
think every called collect for the
good the nation In all countries and in this country
accomplish and which cannot be accomplished other
wise look upon the government the leader the
duc,o whose duty it is lead the country Thus
&c. withi, the constitutional of the government and
thtnk the gocee is bound to take the lead in these mat
tiers Of substantial importance The government appears to
to be like the conductor railroad chose business
70 forward aud draw the train after him and If he
es his duty go tcrong any Uay, it ,oonder II
the train push forward and throw him of the track Much
laughter and applause.I
the federal government which is contained in the latter
part of this passage is surely quite original Versed
Mr. Webster must be in the commentaries upon the Fed
era Constitution which have been left by the trainers
OF that instrument, yet quite certain that he
nowhere nl the government created by it described by
those great under the smile of Conductor on
railroad, dragging after him train ofindependent and
sovereign States, through of Internal Improve
ments! Such description would, indeed, convey
very Just and idea of the sway exercised by Peter
the Great all the Russias; but it is quite out OF
place in account Of the relations established by
Constitution between the federal government and the
States.
is, in fact, not little remarkable that Mr.. Webster,
even while protesting himself ''man for canals and
railroads." and looking forward the time when the ex-
tent and facility OF our internal communications shall
enable say, "thee no longer Aeghanes" is
not little surprising that, with these ideas in his mind
Mr. Webster should not have single word to say of the
and duty of the State governments in respect Internal
Improvement In fact the words estates" and Estate
governments do not even occur in his whole address
He is so much absorbed in his idea of 'sone united
government that he to forget that it is a
federal government He forgets that the States are
component and essential part of the federal system
that without Them it would have had existence
that to the federal government they have only given
tain portion of power, all the rest not specially delegated
being preserved to the States the people" respectively
In fact he is so ultra Federalis that he may be called