Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1848-09-15

bv the peruSal OF Oanlel WepsleF speeCh'
made at Marsbfed on the 1st instant, on the
subject of politics generally, and on the sub
iect of the approaching Presidential election
particularly. To our Wing friends, OF whose
party MIR. Webster is shining light, the
views and sentiments delivered on that occa-;
sion by him, cannot be otherwise than instruc-
tive and interesting in high degree. Our
limits will not permit us to publish this speech
in full All we can do, is to select from
il some OF its most attractive passages. which
we do, principally for the benefit of MIR. Web
sters federal friends in this latitude. The
first is that in which Mr.. Webster speaks of
Gen. Taylor's fitness for the Presidency. Mr.
Webster says:
1t is surely Just, and more patriotic, to take
facts and things as they are, and 10 deduce
our own convictions of duty from what exists
before u.s. However so much respectable and
distinguished in the line of his profession, or
however so much estimable as private cltl.
zen, Gen. Taylor is a military man, and mi
litary man merely. He has had no training
in civil affairs; he has performed no functions
Of civil character under the constitution OF
his country; he has been known, and only
known, by his brilliant achievements at the head
OF the army. Now, the wings of Massachu-
sets, and among them, are of opinion that 1t
was not wise or discreet to go TO the army for
the selection of a candidate for the Presidency
of the United States. 1t is the first instance in
which any man of a mere military character
has been proposed for that high Office. Wash
ington had a great military, but by far grea-
ter civil character. He had been employed in
the councils of his country from the earliest
dawn of the revolution. He had been in the
Continental Congress. He had established
great character for wisdom and Judgment in
civil affairs. After the war as you ali know,
he was elected member of that convention
which framed the constitution of the U. Slates
and it was one of the most honorable tributes
ever paid TO him, that, by that assembly of
great and wise men, he was selected to pre-
side over deliberations, and had his name first
attached to the constitution under which we
live.
President Harrison was brave soldier,
and at different periods of his life, rendered
important military services; but he, neverthe-
less, for the much greater part of his life, was
more employed in civil than in military affairs.
Territory, member of Congress, or Minister a.
broad; and he discharged all the duties apper-
tanning TO those offices to the satisfaction of
without precedent and without iustiiicatfon
from anything in our previous history. 1t is
on this account, may well imagine, that the
Wings of Massachusetts feel dissatisfied with
the nomination There may be others-there
are others-though perhaps OF less importance,
more easily to be answered
The reader will see that Mr.. Webster en-
tertains just about the same opinion of Gen'l
Taylor's qualifications with the "viIe Loco
Focos" They insist, as does Mr.. Webster,
that he has no one qualification that should,
for moment, be thought by any sensible,
reasonable man to entitle him to any claims
to that high Office.
The next extract and the only one for which
we have room, is that in which Mr. Webster
speaks of Gen. Cass 1t will be seen that
Mr. Webster works into this part of his
speech, some OF the newspaper slang about
Gen. Cass' rashncss, love of war, &c. 1t will,
however, be noticed. that the main objection
is, on the ground that Gen. Cass will use his
best exertions 10 settle the slavery question
on the basis of the Missouri Compromise that
Mr.. Webster opposes him. Gen. Taylor, on
the other hand, says Mr.. Webster, will not in.
the WiImot Proviso to the New Mexican and
Californian Territories:
Now as to Gen Cass, we need not 90 10 the
Buffalo platform, 10 find out what his princi-
pies are, or how he would conduct the gov
eminent. He will go into the government by
the same party that elected Mr. Polk, and he
will follow in the footsteps of his ilIustrious
predecessor Vociferous Jaughter.) | hold
him, | confess, in the present state of the
country. TO be the most dangerous man on
whom the power of government could be
placed. He would describe himself, not as a
conservative or protective, but would say
that ne belonged to the party of progress. He
believes in the destiny of the United States, to
go through wars and aggressions, to establish
universal government over the whole of this
vast continent. We know that if Gen. Cass
could have prevented it, would the Oregon
question ever have been settled, as it was in
1876. We know that Gen. Cass could have
prevented the declaration of the Mexican war
if he pleased. We know he supported it with
all his might, and in all the deliberations of
Congress on the matter that he was for push
ing the war to every extremity. He is man
| of learning, man of talent, and in every par
ticular superior to his predecessor; but think
him gentleman of rash principles, pushed on
by an ardent and rash party, and committed
10 such course Of administration as believe
not to be consistent with the security and
peace of the country. Therefore, gentlemen,
it is for you and me, and all Wings, to con-
slider whether in this state of the case we can
or not, we will or not, give our votes to the
| Wing nomination.
II Ithc SLAVERY YuUoti,'ut " III ;r.tu this
very election and, gentlemen, will venture
to say two things. The first is we'll known to
you, that Gen'l Cass is in favor of what is
called the compromise line. and that the pro-
visions of the Wilmot Proviso, or the ordinance
of 1887, ought not to be applied TO territory
lying south of So 30. That is his opinion
| If he had not announced that, he would have
been 36 30, or more, from the probability of a
nomination by the Baltimore Convention
Well, then, undertake to say, in the next
| place, that he will do all he can 10 establish
that compromise line; and lastly, which is a
matter of ODinion in my conscientious he1isf