Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1850-05-15
Mr.. Webster,s speech at Boston.

MIR. Webster's Speech at Boston
Mr.. Webster has added new laurels to hi
brow by his late speech in Boston. He reach
ed Boston on the 29th ult., where he was me
by five thousand persons. He was addressed
by Mr.. Curtis, complimenting him, on behalf o
the citizens of Boston, upon the stand he tool
in Congress. FROM the barouche in which hi
was sitting, Mr.. Webster rose to reply amids
tremendous cheering. After abiding TO thu
occasion of such warm congratulations, aside
from party, for his late efforts in Congress, anG
thegpresent excited state of the public mind
growing out Of the slavery question, he thus
concludes his remarks with sentiments that
should be dear to the heart of every true Anne.
rican:
In this condition of things-in this pecu.
liar situation of affairs-he had thought that the
commonwealth of Massachusetts would have
approved of all honest endeavors to allay ex.
listing dissensions. and that public sentiment
everywhere, irrespective of locality, would ap.
prove Of efforts such as he, had alluded to. He
trusted that in these expectations he should
not be disappointed; but, however that might
be, it was his intention to perseyere in the
course of pacification which he had commenced,
regardless OF consequences, so far as related to
him personally.
Under no circumstances would he give the
slightest countenanee to local agitations which
threatened, in his opinion, to sever the Union.
"May my tongue cleave to the roof of ny
mouth" continued Mr.. Webster, in a tone of
exceeding animation, "before l give coun-
tenance to any agitations of this kind" When
he returned to his seat in the Senate. he should
take the earliest occasion to express his opin-
ions fully On this and kindred subjects.
There was, he regretted to say, the greatest
degree of prejudice and misrepresentation exist
ing in the public mind, in reference to many
| questions now before Congress. He would
mention, for example, that concerning the sur
render Of fugitive slaves. There were obliga-
tions imposed upon every officer of the Federal
tity Of an ~oath-which could not be disregarded
nor slightingly performed. Agreeable duties
required no effort to perform; but when disa-
greeable duties had to be discharged, in opposi-
ton to strong personal feelings, then it was that
the faith and virtue Of the public officer were
tried.
The question now was, whether old Massa-
Observation-Disclosures in character-oftlie high
est moral sentiments-rigid in her sense OF
justice-a State that has never sweryed from
the path of rectitude and honor-whether she
would, in this her day of trial, stand to the
truth as it existed, against not merely tempta-
ton, but against her W prejudices. She had
conquered a sterile soil and an unfriendly eli
mate. She had conquered every body's preju-
dices, and the question now to determine was,
whether she would conquer her OWL. This was
the question which he had now to ask.
He had not stepped backwards; he had aban-
doned no old positions. He had undertaken to
| restore peace where distraction reigned; to pour
| oil upon the troubled waters, to make the people
realize the peril Of their situation, and, by in
| culcating a true spirit of compromise and con-
c~ession, avert all threatening dangers. He did
not wish to see this great confederacy OF States
bound together by mere legal ties, but by those
common sympathies which bound kindred
hearts together. What he most desired to see
was an all pervading love Of our glorious Union
which should be felt as warmly in the North as
in the South-in the cold granite hills of New
England, as in our far-of possessions on the
Pacific.
When Mr.. w. commenced speaking bou-
quets were showered upon him by the fair in
mates of the Revere House, who occupied ev-
cry window, and whose gay and lovely APP
p~earance lent a peculiar charm and grace to the
whole scene. He concluded by thanking his
| fellow-cit,zens for the kind and cordial welcome
extended towards him, and took his seat amidst
loud and enthusiastic cheering.