New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1850-06-05
REVIEWS OF NEW BOOKS.
p.1....r ssusyt and Daniel Webster.

stuart, lately Professor In the nooiogc1r. Inr
Brewster. New.York' MARI Newman L Co
Professor stuart has been subject TO great per-
sonal annoyance On account OF his signature 70 lne
paper presented to Mr. Webster by several OF his
constituents in Boston and its vicinity, In approval
of bis recent course in Congress on the Slavery
question. Within week after ne put bis name 70
that paper the learned Professor found that be nad
aroused a tempest about his ears Anonymous
letters were poured in upon him without lntenuP-
ton newspapers far and near made him tne SUI
ject Of unpleasant comment; and troop o. soou-
natnred friends were kind enough to furnish nim
with expressions Of public opinion that were any
thing but com plimentary. One person tells MIN
that he was mistaken in once supposing bis views
entitled TO respect: another, that his mind must be
;ronsi,ed by two years illness another, that he
has come to his second childhood while others tel
him plainly that he IS no more nor less than
downright wolf in Sleeps clothing.
In this uncomfortable position, Professor Stuart
hiss felt himself bound to take the field in the
present pamphlet, which is less defense Of Mr..
Webster's course than his own. Noone conversant
with the productions Of the author will be surprised
to find in it singular medley Of egotsm, Pedantry,
garrulity, exegesis, Greek phiIoogy, argument and
puerie anecdotes with the estre absence Of any
sense Of copgruity, Conference or good taste.
The introduction contains a long apology for
taking a motto from the Apostle Paul. If the same
idea had been expressed in bis own language. the
Professor thinks he should unquestionaby' lind
cataract of oboquy and indignation on his devoted
head. He would rather expose himself to con-
tumely than occasion its coming upon the Apostle,
though the latter has better shield to protect
himself Having thus given bis patronage to st.
Paul. Mr. Stuart uniods his own political ex-
periences with nimitable naivete, winding up,
according TO his custom, with Latin quotation,
rather the worse for wear.
l have never been politician, at least, have
never been what the world usually styles politi-
cian In my early days, while in my colege'stu'
dies and afterwards in the study of the Law, was
warmly engaged against the Jeffersonian politics
and administration When | became pastor OF
the First Church at New Haven, renounced all
active pursuit OF politics. | never preached a po-
litical sermon in my life. Usually did not go to
any meetings for the election of State or Town oil
GERS. My people were somewhat divided IN poll
tics and did not like unnecessarily 10 offend those
who differed from me, by voting against their
wishes for such was the violence OF party IN Jei-
been taken But never stunned voting because
| feared the consequences as to myself 1t was
principally because my vote was altogether unne-
cessary, and therefore fin my clrcumstances mex
pedient, there being an overwhelming majority IN
Connecticut OF anti-J eflersonans. | have been
more than forty years resident and freeman IN
this Commonwealth. During all that period, have
never voted at the elections, more than some ten
or twelve times In seasons OF what | thought TO
be peril began 10 vote somewhat regularly and
it was under the imperial reign OF Gen. Jackson
that commenced such an exercise OF my fran
chise rights. But / never preached politics, or
taught them, in public. have frequented the &c
tureroom, in the Theological Seminary here, near
forty wears; vet believe of all my pupils VIII
charge me with occupying their time in political
lectures. Ihave never written political piece Tor
our newspapers or magazines; except In one case
now TO be mentioned In that one case put my
hand 10 critique on a speech of Mr. Webster, de-
liyered at AndOyer; and subjolned defense oil
| Mr. WebstCr's course IN the matter OF continuing
TO bold Office under President Tyler. The people
of the glorious old Bay State had been led, at that
time, by the newspapers, lsome OF which were
filed with inpendos against Mr. w ebster made oy
interested politicians into disapProba ion OF Mr.
Webster's course then, in like manner as believe
them row TO be misled. When the whole case
was fairly laid before them, they fastened, as
body, and with that noble spirit which they cherish
to do him Justice; hope they will not refuse the
IL
account can be given OF Mr.. w ebsters course.
If it was a sin in me- who happened, from cir
cumstances unsought for and unexpected, and,
may add, quite peculiar in my life, TO become &C
! quainted with the true history OF Mr.. Webster
Secretary ship--n it was sin to develop the mat.
ter to the public so be it, do not reproach myself
rs yet however, for such sin, because | have
never been able to see any strocity in hepg to do
Justice to man to whom the public were 50 much
indebted. After a short period, from that day To
this have neither heard nor seen any reproaeh TO
Mr. w ebster, from any respectable quarter, Tor the
course he then pursued. Yet for myself DID nOs
! for time escape severe censure, on the part o
some of my fellow citizens. Anonymous letters
full of reproaches were sent to me various news
paper paragraphs, for my ediication, were careiup
iy dispatched 70 me by mall fraught with bitter
and sometimes malignant yituperatlon. Yet sur
vived When the tornado had passed, rose gent
" up, and finding no very serious bruises, went
| quietly along my humble and peaceful way as
usual.
Since then | have never meddled with politics.
| have been engaged when able 10 study, in other
matters that relished far more and If did not
understand them better, il was my own fault My
increasing age and my many infirmities have given
me disrelsh for the md6e Of political contest 1t
! was not until within q few weeks, that | ever
thought Of approaching the arena Of that contest,
even near enough 70 look on and see what was doing.
Upuckily or my quiet, the paper expressing ap-
! PROBATION OF MT. w clusters late speech was pre-
sentCd o. me by friend, and was asked whether
l agreed sufficiently with his views to sign it. My
ready reply was in the affirmative. Iput my name
TO the paper, snd there l hope and wish it may
stand. II ia not pledge, as l view the matter,
that am ready TO support every shade Of senti-
ment, on every topic upon which Mr. Webster
speech touches. That gentleman is the last man
who would demand the surrender Of their own in
diyidual views from his friends But il is pledge
that did, and il stil signifies that do from the
bottom Of my heart, assent to, and agree with, al
the important parts o! SIR. Webs,ers reasoning in
general and specially, j, Indicates my assent to hi:
aim and desire TO cherish our Union as inviolable
and to persuade both parties to make al such muta
al concessions as they can make consistently will
their conscences, for tire sake Of peace, Of mutus
good, and OF firm Consolidation. II have erred il
this case, it is az least il company with those wh
are not often impeached FOR want either OF il.elli
gence or integrity. Moreover, If a man may b