The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-09-03
To THE

is much with the nom nation made by the
late convention at Pbilsde phia. Of Southern mana
military fresh from bloody fields known only
by his s~ ord-as whig candidate for the Presidency
So far as is in our hsnbIe ability, we desire to pre-.
serve the Union and the whg party and to
whig principles. But wish to see, also, that these
principles may be preserved and this Union perpstu-
Sted copsste ut with the ri hts free
States, and the prevention Of the farther extension
the slave power and cad the ELECTS of the prece-
dent, which we think eminenty dangerous, and not
exhibiting us in favorable light the nations the
earth, of eevating mere military to the Presi
We think crisis is upon us ; and we would gladly
know how we may best discharge cur duty, true
Americans, honest men. and good wings To you who
have been so loug in public life, and who able, from
your great experience aud un-qnaed ability give
bors and friends think We have claims we ma
turaly look and should be exceedingly gratifed If
in any way, private or public you would express your
opinions upon interesting public questions pend
ing, with that boduess md dislipctness with which
you are accustomed to declare your sentiments II
you cal concur with via hes please signify to in
what manner it would be st agreeable to you that
they should be carried into effect
With very true regard remain your very true and
obedient servants,
DANIEL PHILLIPS, WILLIAM F. LITTLE,
Gro. H. WEArHERBEE, WATERMAN THOMAS,
HENRY BLANcHARD, WILLIAM HATCH
NATHANIEL PHILLIPS, DAslrL Wright,
JEDEDIAH LITTLE, Asa HEwEs.
SOLOMON LITTLE,
To this MIR. Webster returned the following
answer
q,
Gentlemen have received your letter The cri-
tical state of things at Washington oblges me to
think II my duty to repair th.her Immediately, and
state Of my health, the heat of the weather
private circumstances of affecting pature render
1t very dssgreeable foe me To leave home ] caunot
therefore, comply with your wi hes present but
return, If such should continue to be DESIRE
will meet you aud the other wings OF Marsh aed in
-pnoeremonious manne that may coater together
oh the topics to which your letter relates
am, gentlemen with esteem and friendship,
Your Obliged fellow citizen
DAM WEBSTER
To Messrs -Danel Phillips, George Leonard, George
III. Weatherbee liepry Blanchard, J j. Ellis, Nathi
Ellis, Jedediah Little W!n L Little, Jsbez Hatch,
Waterman Thomas VIM. Hatch
ZION Mr.. Webser's return from Washington, the
application was renewed to him, and Friday last
was the time appointed for the friends of the
statesman to meet him in consultation. Notices
having been sent TO the most populous places,
there was, as might be expected, very large
assemblage on the ground Many of the nearer
ravelled distances OF several miles to hear Mr.
Webster, and took their wives and daughters
with them The number of vehicles on the
ground was about two hundred and fifty, and the
assembage was estimated at from one thousand
to fifteen hundred The place selected was the
Winslow farm, called, close to the road. A
substantial platform was erected Tor the accommo-
dation of the eloquent speaker and his friends
and it was carefully covered with canvass to pro-
tect them from the sun.
At few minutes before three, Mr.. Webster
reached the place Of meeting, and spoke as fol-
lows
Although It is not my purpose, during the recess
of Congress, to address public assemblies on po-
lIucal subjects, have felt 1t my duty to comply
with your request, neighbours and townsmeu,
ard to meet you to-day and i am not unwilling
10 avail myself of thus occasion to signify to the
people OF the United States my opinion on the
present state OF our public affairs shall perferm
that duty certainly with great trankness-I hope,
with candor 1t not my purpose to-day to endeavOr
to carry any point-to act as any mans advocate
TO put up or put down any body but wish, and
purpose to address you In the language and In the
spirit of confidence and consultation. In the pre-
sent extraordinary crisis OF our public concerns,
desire no hold mans conscience but my own.
shall communicate freely and f-aressly, with
equal disregard to consequences, whether they
respect myself or ctbcrs. We are on the eve OF
highly important Presideuts.al e.ec'lon. In TWO
or three months the people OF this country will be
called upor to elt CT a President Of the United
States; and all and all feel that great interests
of the country are to be affected tor good and for
evil, by the result oil that election vi the lm-
portant and interesting subjects over which the
person who shall be elected to that office, must
necessarily exercise more or less control, there
are. in my Judgment, three vital ones connected
with the honor and happiness of this country. In
the first place, the honor and happiness of this
country imperativey require, that there shall be q
chief magistrate elected, who Will not plunge us
INTO another war of ambition and conquest Gap.
,plause.) In my judgment, the interests OF the
county, and the feelings Of vast majority OF
the people, require tina President OF the United
States shall be elected who W Ill not use his Off
cial influence to promote any disposition to permit
the further extension of slavery in this country,
or further the influence OF 1t in our public councils.
In the third place, if have formed any just esti-
mate If my experience, (oot now short one,) has
enabled me 10 know any thing Of what the public
prosperity demands say that the state of the
country does requrean essential reform in the sys-
tenn of revenue and finance such as will restore
prosperity by fostering the Industry OF the country,
in af its various branches. There are other sub
iects of importance, which shall not, however,
alIude to at present These three | hold to be es-
sentiay So There are three candidates tor the
Presidency presented to The choice OF me Ameri-
can people. General Taylor Is the wing candl-
date, standing on the nomination OF the wing
National Convention. General Cass IS the can
didate of the opposing, and now dominant, party
IN this country; and the thlId candidate Is pre-
sented in the person ct Mr. Van buernic py
convention Of his Il How citizens at Buffalo,
whose object, or whose main object, II appears to
me, is contained in one OF those considerations
which have mentioned; and that is, the preven-
ton of the further increase of slavery-an object
in which you and l. gentlemen, entirely concur, as
far as that goes, am sure. Most of us here to-.
day are whigs-Massa chusetts whigs-natl0nal
whigs--Old Colony wings, and Marshiield wings;
flaughter) and II the wing nominations made at
Philadelphia entirely satisfactory to the people
of the United States, and us, path Of duty is
plain. But the nomination OF the candle for
The Presidency by the wing convention ~ Phila-
delphis, not satisfactory Ia the wings OF Missa
chusetts That is certain, and il would be idle to
attempt to conceal the fact II IL surely just, and
more patriotic, to take facts and hngs as they are
and TO deduce our own convictions OF duty from
what exists before us. However much respect
able and distinguished IN the line OF his own
a. ~