Herald of the times, and Rhode Islander. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1846-1849, 1847-10-21
Speech of Daniel Webster
DELIVERED AT THE
WING STATE CONVENTION IN
MASSACUIJSETT

WITn others who have the honor to
represent this Commonwealth in the
Congress Of the United States, have
y come here to-day, solely at the request ol
$ the Wing State Committee. need
, hardly say, sir, that it gives me great
pleasure, as on former occasions, so on
this, to meet so large and respectable a
representation Of the Wings Of Massa-
chusetts.
Il In the more especial duty assigned to
the Convention OF selecting candidates
for the great Offices of the State,.I had
no original duty assigned to me. | may
venture, however, sir, to express my graf
itication at the great unanimity which
has marked the proceedings of the Con-
venton, in presenting to the people of
Massachusetts again, persons so well
known for their principles, so well known
for their opinions, so well known for the
fidelity with which they adhere to princi-
pie and opinion.
\ | suppose, Mr.. President, that so far as
those of US who belong to Congress were
expected to take amy part in the delibera-
tions oethis assembly, it was only looked
to, that we might express our opinions
upon the present state of national affairs
in the crisis, Il think somewhat of an
imminent one to which we have arriv-
ed. | could have desired, sir, that some
Of my colleagues, Of better health and
more ability, had chosen to preccdc me
in submitting remarks to the meeting !;
but as it ls, sir, apparently called upon, |
am here, ready to express my opinion,
humble as they are, frankly, on amy SUBJ
ject and every subject that is interesting
to the people of this Commonwealth
There is nothing | wish to put forward !;
thank God, there is nothing | shrink
from.
i We are, in my opinion, in most un-
necessary and therefore most unjustla-
BILE war. l hope we are near the close of
it. | attend carefully and anxiously to
every rumor and every breeze that brings
to us any report that the eifusion of
blood, caused, in my judgment, by rash
and unjusiiliable proceeding Oh the part
of the government, may cease. In this
state Of public affairs, in this state of ex-
citelnent of public feeling, which we
know, upon this subject Of war, pcrvades
all classes and all ranks, have first to
say, sir, that any counselling from me,
and | am sure that any counselling which
this body would receive from me, will
not entrench upon the loyalty which we
owe to the Constitution of the country,
and the obedience which we are bound
to pay to the laws.
Il We are bound, sir, to consider the ma
ture of the government under which we
live. There must he i'll every govern
will, from which there is no peaceable
appeal. In mixed monarchies, like that
of England, the sovereign will resides
with the king and the parliament. In
despotic governments 1t reposes in the
breast of the sovereign, as in Russia,
+, Austria, and elsewhere. But with US,
under our free republican and represent
tative government, this public will, which
we all agree must in the end prevail un-
less from peace we resort to force, con-
sists in the expressed opinion Of the ma
jority, ascertained according to the prn-
,ciples Of the Constitution. Within the
limits prescribed by the Constitution and
! pronounced agrecably to its forms, we
must submit to this, or we give up all
government and surrender ourselves to
state of anarchy. The law Of majority,
according to our forms, majority ascer-
tanned in agreement with the principles
of the Constitution, is the law, which
you and | and all of us are bound to
obey.
Sir, should hardly advert TO this, if
! did not see, afloat in the community,
signs somewhat of dangerous tenden-
cy. l agree that all power may be SO
/ abused as to require resistance, whether
it he the power of an autocrat, of king
and parliament, or of majority for all
power in human hands may be so far
abused, may make SO lagrant a case as
TO render 1t necessary in the forum Of
: conscience 10 resist its demands. That
is not the exercise Of political right
under the constitution Of the country,
but the exercise Of natural right
against the Constitution. Now sir, sup
pose we are all here to-day, to act here
and elsewhere III our several capacities
in the exercise Of our political rights uI-
der the constitution of our country, and
not in the exercise of our natural rights
against the Constitution. Sir there is
not one of us here who has had the hon
or of bearing any Office, high or low, in
the United States government or in the
State government, who has not sworn
that he will support the constitution of
the United States. There is no man ig-
norant Of the fact that the constitution of
the United States conlers OH Congress
the power Of making war, and therefore
there is no man so ignorant as not to
know that when that power has been ex-
ercised according to the forms OF the
constitution, the will Of Congress ex-
pressed, is the law of the land aud it is
binding upon every mans conscience, in I
my humble opinion.
While IN the course Of debate VIC may