Iowa capitol reporter. [volume] (Iowa City, Iowa) 1841-1855, 1848-10-04
Mr.. Webster's ssFaint Praise,
Il Speech.


, ed Mr.. Webster's position by publishin,
garbled accounts Of his speech. This wa.
substantially true, especially in relation Il
the Hawkeye; but since then someIpf then
have published the speech in full. Still
} IN f'llflment ofour promise, we givea few
} extracts, going to show, as we think, thai
instead Of coming out manfully in suppor
Of Taylor" the main design of the speak.
er was to 'sdamn him with faint praise. .
This we think will more fullyappear when
we consider the peculiar character of the
speaker, the political and social influ-
ences by which he is surrounded, and the
circumstances under which the speech was
made. He was called out by the earnest
solicitations of the Taylor men. The
weight OF his great name was wanted in
support OF the desperate fortunes of can
didate, whom no consideration could induce
the radical wings of as~e eL.... -..- =. ID.
for, except their hatred for democratic
rule. Under these circumstances it was
naturally supposed that he would say some
thing in support Of Taylor. How did he
respond? Let him speak for himself. He
said - " &a 5sH ~ .a=.3 "5t
I'll am not unwilling to avail myself of
this occasion to signify to the people of
the United States, my opinions upon the
present state of our public affairs. ...
"Most of us here to day are Wings
National igs-Massachusetts Wings
Old Colony Wings -Marshfeld Wings.
And if the Wing nomination at Philadel
phla were entirely satisfactory TO the Wings
OF Massachusetts and to us, the path of our
duty in regard to it would be perfectly
PLAN. But The nomination was no, thus
satisfactory 10 the whigs Of Massachusetts.
That is PLAIN, and it would be idle to
attempt to conceal the fact. 1t is more
just and patriotic 10 take things as they
are, and deduce our conviction of duty
from what actually exists before us.
"We know, gentlemen, that, however
respectable and distinguished in the line
OF his own profession, however estmable
as citizen, General Taylor IS military
man merely. He has had no training in
ciril ofairs-he has had no participation
IN the councils OF the RepubHc-he is
known only by his brilliant achievements
at the head of an American army. Now
the Wings Of Massachusetts, and among
them, are Of the opinion that 1T uas not
arase, not discreet, to go to the army far our
candidate for the Presidency. This is the
first instance in the history of the United
States that any mere military man has been
proposed for that office.
This case, therefore, stands by ITSELF
wihhom precedent IN our preUions history.
And it is on this account principally, |
imagine, that the Wings of Massachuse
feel dissatisfied at the nomination. There
are other reasons of less importance. and
more easily to be answered.
That he (Gen. Taylor,) is a skilrul,
brave and valiant soldier, is admitted by
all. No one denies it. But that goes with
me but very little way
Mr.. Webster then goes on to say that
Taylor is the Wing nominee-the regular
nominee-the only wing candidate &C.,
and therefore he shoH moi oppose him
but he does not say that he pW rote fer
him. He continues:
''And the nomination was hailed. not
very extensively, but by some enthusias-
TIC and not rery far seeing politicians here
in Massachusetts, amongst us. who raised
the notes of exultation over their onticipa-
ted triumph, certainly early enough, per-
haps little too enrly for sound Judgment
and discretion. They might better hare
uuited title.
But, gentlemen, the truth is, and no one
can avoid seeing it-unless, as is some.
times the case, the object is brought
too near the eye TO be discerned-that
these Wing meetings and this Philadelphia
Convention proceeded exactly according
to this reason: that, believing General /,
Taylor to be a Wing, they thought he
could be elected more easily than any 9TH
er Wing. That was the whole of it
That sngacious, '"ise, far-seeine doctrine of
ornilibilHy, lies at the bottom of the whole
matter"
Speaking of the motives that induced
the Federal Conv ention to nominate Tay-
lor, Mr.. Webster says:
81 think l understand their motives
Their reasonings was just this-'General
Taylor is a Wing; an eminent man-not
indeed in civil life, but circumstances have
given him eclat with the people; if he is
elected, with him we shall have an in
crease Of the Wing strength in Congress,
and therefore it is best to sustain him.
That was the object and motive-howeve
wise or unwise--of a large majority Of
the convention.
In my opinion ii uas whoHy unuise
policy. 1t was not suited 10 the Wig char
acter. 1t was short-sigh'ed. But acquit
the members of the convention of any of
the motives ascribed to them, especially
this one set forth in the Buffalo platform.
"Such, gentlemen, are the circumstan-
ces connected with the nomination of Gen.
Taylor. aa2o
"Gentlemen, before Gen. Taylor's nom
ination, | stated always, when the subject