The Middlebury galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1848-1850, 1848-09-19
SPEECH OF MR.. WEBSTER,
AT MARSHETETD
1CoSCLUpED.1

~ A.NNN VI 0OhOAhuACHN, liCIC - iO NuduNC
for him. Others are as good judges as | am.
But am not able to say that / see any State
in the Union of which there is a reasonable
probability that he will get the vote. There
may be. Others are more versed in such sta
tistics than l am. But see not, and there
fore think that the issue is reduced exactly
between Gen. Cass and Gen. Taylor.
You may remember, that in the discussions
of 1914, when Mr.. Brney was drawing off
votes from Mr.. CLAY, said that every vote for
Mr.. Birney was half vote for Mr.. Polk. Is
it not true that the Liberty vote distracted
from Mr.. Clay's vote in the State of New York
made MIR. Polk President? That is as clear
as any historical fact. And in my judgment.
it will be so now. l consider every Wing
vote given to Mr.. Van Buren,, directly aiding
the election of Mr.. Cas-. Mark, say, WHO
vote. Now there may be States in which Van
Buren, may draw from the other side largely
But / speak Of Wing votes, in this State and
in any State. And | am of opinion that any
vote given to Mr.. Van Buren, inures for Cen
Cass.
Now as TO Gen. Cass, gentlemen. Weneed
not go to the Baltimore platform to instruct
ourselves into what his politics are, or how he
will conduct the Government. Gen. Cass will
90 into the Government, as coming in by the
same party that elected Mr.. Polk and he will
follow in the footsteps OF his illustrious prede
cessors.' (Ldughter.) l hold him, confess, in
the present state of the country, TO be the
most dangerous man in whom the powers OF
the Executive Chief Magistracy could well be
placed. He has described himself not as
conservative, not as protective to present in
stitutons, but as belonging to the party ofPro-
gress. He believes in the doctrine OF Ameri-
can destiny; and that that destiny is to 20
through wars, and invasions, and armies ofag-
grandizement-to establish a great, powerful,
and domineering Government over all this
country. We know that if Mr.. CaSs could
have prevented it, the treaty with England in
1912, would not have been made; we know
that if Mr.. Cass could have prevented 1.-THE
settlement of the Oregon question would not
have been accomplished in 1916.
We know that Gen. Cass could have pre-
vented The Mexican war; and we know that
he was first and foremost in pressing that war
We know that he is q man Of talent, of ability,
of some celebrity as a statesman, in every way
superior to his predecessor, if he should be the
successor of MIR. Polk. But ! think him a
man of rash politics, pushed on by rash par
ty, and committed to a course of policy, as |
believe, not in consistency with benefit to the
country. Therefore it is for you, and for me,
and for all Of us-Whigs-to consider, wheth-
er in this state Of the case we can, or cannot,
we will, or will not, give our votes for the
Wing nomination. | leave that to every mans
conscience. have endeavored to state the
case as it presents itself to me.
Gentlemen, before Gen. Taylor's nominal
toni stated always, when the subject was men.
toned by my friends, that did not and could
not recommend the nomination of military
man to the people OF the United States, foi
| the Office Of President. 1t was against my con-
viction of what was due to the best Interests
of the country, and to the character of the Re-
public. stated always, at the same time, that
if Gen. Taylor should be nominated by the
Wing Convention, fairly, i should not oppose
his election. stand now upon the same dec
laration.
Gen. Taylor has been nominated fairly, as
far as know, and / cannot, therefore, and
shall not, oppose his election At the same
time, there is no man who is more firmly of o.
pinion that such nomination was not fit TO be
made. But the declaration, that would not
oppose Gen. Taylor if nominated by the Wing
party, was of course subject, in the nature OF
things, to some exceptions. If believed him
to be man who would plunge the country in
to further wars for any purpose of ambition or
conquest, | would oppose him, let him be nom
mated by whom he might. If believed that
he was a man who would exert his official III
iuence for the further extension of the slave
power, would oppose him, let him be nomi-
mated by whom he might. Bnt donot believe
either. (AHLause)
believe that he has been, from the first.
opposed to the policy of the Mexican war, as
improper, impoIitic and inexpedient. / be-
Iieve from the best information can obtain
and you VIII take this as my opinion, gentle
men-I believe, from the best information
can obtain, that he has no disposition to 20 TO
war or to increase the limits of slavery, or to
allow Of the annexation Of new States to this
Union.
Gentlemen, so much for what may be con-
sidered as belonging TO the Presidency as 4
National question. But, The case by no means
stops here. We are citizens Of Massachusetts.
We are Wings of Massachusetts. We have
supported the present Government of the
State for years, with success; and l have
thought that most Wings we're satisfied with
the Administration of the State Government
in the hands of those who have had it. But
now it is proposed, on the basis Of the Buffalo
Platform, to carry this into the State elections.
There is to be nomination of a candidate for
Governor, against Mr.. Briggs, or whoever
may be nominated by the Wings; and there is
| to be nomination of a candidate for Lieusen-
ant Governor, against Mr.. Reed, or whoever
may be nominated by the Wings; and there
are to be nominations against the present mem
bers of Congress. Now, what is the utility Of
that ? We have ten members in the Con-
cress of the United States. / know not ten
men of any party who are more jealous, and
firm, and infiexible in their opposition against
slavery in any form.
And what will be theresult? Suppose that
a considerable number of Wings secede from
the Wbig candidate and 60 to candidate of
the new party-wha: will be the result? DO
not we know what has been the case in this
country? Do not we know that this District
has been unrepresented from month tomonth,
and from year to year, because there has been
an opposition to as good an anti-slavery man
as breathes the air Of this District? On this
occasion, and in this presence, may allude to
our present Representative, MIR. Hale. DO
we want a man to give better vote in Con-
gress, than Mr.. Hale gives? Why, under
f,ta m cav that tborp Il not one of the LlDer-