The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-06-01
From he Ns,1 York Commercial advertiser.
Mr.. Nebster,s NeWburyport Letter.


MIR. Webster's Newburyport Letter.
We publish o-day the reply Of the Hon. Daniel
Webster TO the letter addressed to him by citizens
of Newburyport, Massachusetts, in relation TO his
hope that reader will pass it by without perusal
II is not long, but is explicit and conclusive on the
great constitutional question which at present oc
cupies 30 much of the attention of the North, and
with many Is in reality question OF conscience, in
the full and just sense of the term, We speak not
Of professed, politico abolitoniss, but of hon
eat, intelligent, Christian men. We know that
there are many of these-we find them among our
personal friends, in ordinary social intercourse
and know that they are to be found, outside the linn
tied circle Of our acquaintance, in great numbers
We repeat, that they intelligent, sincere, Chris
tian gentlemen and true friends to their country,
who would be glad to stand side by side with the
President and Mr.. Webster, in their efforts at
wise compromise, and support them in their oppo-
sition to impracticable men on either side, could
they be convinced that the Constitution righteousiy
claimed from them the concessions involved in such
compromise.
Sincerely do we respect such misgvings. Scruples
of conscience, rightly called, no man may de-
spise who himself claims to be guided by that silent
monitor. To interfere with such scruples is to
strike the key stone from the triumphal arch OF
freedom--to sap the foundation of the temple ofb-
crty. But truly conscientious person will seek
light will be open to conviction This is sure
test OF sincerity. The man who pleads conscience,
but excludes information upon the subject that Of
tends him, may well doubt that ii is the voice Of
conscience to which he listens. Very different
from such a one are those persons to whom we have
referred, anPto these, in all sincerity and candor,
we commend calm, impartial reading of Mr.
Webster's letter We think it will convince any
intelligent person that his duty to the Constitution
of the United States involves all that conended
for in Mr.. Webster's speech in the Senate; and, we
believe also that his calm and temperate reason
ing will convince the reader that the Senator has
well weighed the subject in all its branches, and
that his motives in assuming the position he has
taken are very far higher and purer than have been
attributed to him by some from whom better ap-
probation of character might have been antici-
pated
In addition TO conviction of the necessity of
mutual concession, if would secure harmony
and maintain the practical, utilitaran character of
our form of government, (Which conviction alone
has led us to approve of and support the proposed
compromise,) we are free TO say that we think the
violent opposition made to Mr.. Webster, for his
speech of March 7, is unjust in the extreme. In
1880, when the giant evil of notification stalked
into the very Senate chamber, and in no gentle
whisper or measured terms avowed its set purpose,
and sent pang, and panic, too, through the
heart OF the nation, who, we ask, boldly confronted
the movement and crushed the monster by the
force of argument and by his mastery exegesis of
the Constitution? Who but this same Daniel Web
ster, who, resting upon his laurels, or engaged
only in minor struggles, has since, by common
consent, borne the name of defender of the Con-
stitution." Was that SO small service, that
title easily earned that at the first difference
with the North in sentiment both alike should be
forgotten?
Now the man who thus turned aside the enven-
omed shafts of the nuifers from the Constitution
which he cherished, has only done the same thing
when that same Constitution assaulted by north.
ern repudiators. To the South he said-"You shall
not do this thing, for the Constitution prohibits t''
and to the North he says :" You must do this thing,
for the Constitution requires it of YOU" Is not
this consistency Of the highest order? Is it not
honest and right course? The counsel may be un-
palatabe, the duty painfui but if the counsel is
wise and the duty is made plain what alternative
have we? And surely the North, that applauded
when the Senator from Massachusetts planted him
self upon the Constitution in 1880, should not cry
him down because he has the moral courage to re-
fuse to renquish his foothold upon that sure foun-
dation in 1850, though the reward of his deli-
ty to that instrument be the loss of some of his
former friends This we say of the man, not OF
Mr.. Webster; and would say it of any man who
had thus maintained his integrity, just should
have heartily opposed Mr.. Webster had he failed
to stand by the Constitution.
In the letter which we publish to day are devel-
oped some singular facts, which go to show Gu
rious inconsistency in the excitement, both at the
North and the South on this slavery question. The
Slave States most clamorous for additional safe
guards or disunon are those which suffer least by
the escape OF slaves. In the New England States,
which Of all others most vocferously denouncc that
clause OF the Constitution which provides for the
restoration to their owners of fugitive slaves
Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode Island,
and Connccticut-not single seizure of fugitive
slave has ever been made, except in Connecticut
twenty hive years ago, and he was discharged for
this contraricty Of fact and sentiment in the
neghboring States, free, the other slave. "Mas-
sachusetts grows fervid on Pennsylvania wrongs,
while Pennsylvania herself is not excited by any
sense OF such wrongs, and complains of no inus-
tice. The Abolitionists of Massachusetts, both the
out-and out and the qasi, rend the welkn with sym
pathies for Pennsylvania, while Pennsylvania would
quite willingly be left TO her of herself
Massachusetts tears fall abundantly for Pennsyl-
wanna sufferings, but which sufferings Pennsylvania
herself knows little or nothing Of" Yet no people
more opposed TO slavery than the people Penn
sylyania; and from the whole the inference is un-
avoidable that great part Of the excitement is the
result OF want Of knowledge and reflection; that
much oft, too, is created and promoted by design
ing demagogues; and that with discussion and
predominant, and harmony will be restored-con-
illusions which are already being justified by the
progress of events.