Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1848-09-14
11oIitital.
Speech of Hon. Daniel Webster,
AT MARsHFTELD, SEPT. /, ls4s.
PnoNoGRApHic REPORT.

Although it is not my purpose, during the
recess of Congress, to address public as
semblies on political subjects, have felt it
my duty TO comply with your request, as
neighbors and townsmcn, and to meet you
to-day. / 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. | shall
perform that duty, certainly with great frank
ness, | hope with candor. 1t is not my pur-
pose to-day to attempt to carry any point, to
act as any man's advocate, TO put up or put
down any body. l wish and propose to
address you in the language and in the spir-
it of conference and consultation. I'm the
present extraordinary crisis of our public
concerns, desire to hold no mans con-
science but my own. My own opinions |
shall communicate freely and fearlessly, with
equal disregard to consequences, whether
they respect myself or respect others.
We are on the eve of a highly important
Presidential election. In two or three
months, the people of this country are to
elect President of the United States and
all see, aud all feel, that great interests of
the country are to be affected, for good or
evil by the result of that election. OF the
interesting subjects, over which the person
who shall be elected, must necessarily exer-
else more or less control, there are especial
ly three, vitality connected, in my Judgment,
with the honor and happiness of the coun-
try.
In the first place, the honor and happi-
ness of the country imperativey require,
that there should be a chief magistrate cleo
ted who shall not plunge into further wars
2 OF ambition and conquest In my udg-
ment, the Interests of the country aud the
feeling of vast majority of its people, re-
quire that President of these United States
shall be elected, who will neither use his
official influence to promote, nor who feels
any disposition in his heart to promote, the
further extension of slavery in this country,
and the further influence of it in the public
councils. In the third place, if have any
just estimate, if an experience--not now
short one-in public affairs has enabled me
to know anything of what the public pros
perity demands,-in the next place, | say
that the stale of the country does require an
essential reform in the system of revenue
and finance, -such as shall restore the pros
perily, by promoting the interest, aud fos-
tering the labor of the country in its vari-
Gus branches. There are other things I'M
portant; will not alludc to them. These
three hold to be essential.
There are three candidates presented TO
the choice of the American people. Gen.
Taylor is the Wing candidate, standing up
on the nomination of the Wing Convention.
Gen. Cass is the candidate of the opposing
and now dominant party of the country
And third candidate is presented in the
person of Mr.. Van Buren,, by convention
of fellow citizens assembled at Buffalo, whose
object,-or whose main object, it would ap.
pear to me, is centered in one of these con-
siderations which have mentioned; and
that is the prevention of the further increase
of slavery,-an object in which you and |
gentlemen, so far as that goes, entirely con-
cur with them, l am sure. Most of US who
are here today are Wings, National Wings
Massachusetts Wings, Old Colony Wings
Marshfield Wings; and if the Wing nomi
nation made at Philadelphia were entrel,
satisfactory to the people of Massachuset,
and to us, our path of duty would be plain
But the nomination of a candidate for thu
Presidency made by the Wing Convention
i'll Philadelphia is not satisfactory to thu
Wings Of Massachusetts. That is certain
and it would be idle to attempt to concea
the fact. 1t is more just and more patriotic
to take facts as they are, and things as the
are, and deduce our own convictions of dut
from what exists before us. However re
spectacle and distinguished in the line g
his own profession, or however estimable 4
private citizen, Gen. Taylor is a militar
man,-and a military man merely. He ha
had no training in civil affairs; he has pei
= formed no functions of civil nature, unde
the constitution of his country; he has bee
known, and is known, only by his briliar
achievements at the head of an army. No
The Wings of Massachusetts, and | anon
them, are of opinion that it was not wis
nor discreet to go TO the army for the sele,
ton of candidate for the Presidency OF III
United States.
1t is the first instance in our history,
which any man Of mere military charactt
has been proposed for that high office. GEE
Washington had great military characte
but by far greater civil character. II
had been employed in the councils of h
country, from the earliest dawn of the Re
olution; he had been in the Continent
Congress; he had established great chara
ter for civil wisdom and judgment. Aft
the war, as you know, he was elected
member of the Convention which formt
the Constitution of the United States, al
it is one of the most honorable tributes ev
paid to him, that by that assembly of gre
aud wise men, he was selected to presi'
over their deliberations; and he put his nan
first and foremost to the Constitution und
which we live. President Harrison W
bred soldier, and at different periods
his life rendered important military servic
but President Harrison was nevertheie:
for much the greater part Of his life, Ell
ployed in civil than in military service. F
twenty years he was either Governor of
\ Territory, member Of one or the other
the Houses Of Congress. or Minister abroa
and discharged all those duties to the sat
faction of his country
This case therefore stands by ITSELF
without precedent, and without iusti6cati
from anything in our previous history.
is on this account, imagine, that the Viii
Of Massachusetts, feel dissatisfied with Il
nomination. There may be others: tn,