Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1850-05-16
Mr. webs,er,s speech at Boston.


speech at Boston. altogether too brief to con.
vey adequate impression Of its power, or OF the
effect which it must have produced upon his con.
| stituents. A better report has reached u.s. and we
cannot refrain from giving it to our readers.-tMo
Republican.
After Mr. Curtis had concluded his reception
speech, Mr. Webster rose in the carriage, and wal
received with immense cheering. The neise hav.
ing subsided, he proceeded to say that it was with
great pleasure that he met so large assemblage
Of his friends at time when his private affairs had
called him from the seat Of government. The du-
ties Of the session in the public counsel of the
country have been arduous. am sorry say those
arduous duties not done with. / am sorry 10
Say that the public affairs of the country have not
yet made so much progress towards satisfactory
adjustment as to remove all the anxiety which has
been felt about the adustment Of the subjects nder
discussion; but feel authorized now to say, there
IS reason To hope, reason to expect that fuI Their
ref1ection-that the generous ccmpaI ison of yari
Gus wishes, where we disagree-will bring abou,
that improved state of pubic feelings, in the re.
production OF which all our expectations OF useful
discharge Of public duty, all our eApectations OF
useful legislation, must depend. #'
Icannot but feel SIR. that stand in the presence
OF my friends. must regard this gathering as the
personal tribute of your welcome. You do not wei.
come the politician; and this is not opportunity
for discussing those questions which now arl,ate
the community and the government-auest,ons
which can can leave little rrpose in the mind Of
any iEteiigent man till he can see some probability
that from their discussion and adjustment may come
in favor of the prosperity, peace, happiness, and
continued union Of the country.
Gentlemen, have felt it nv duty on a late occ,
sion to make an effort to bring about some anchor
alton Of that excited feeling this subject which
pervaaes the people Of the country everywhere
North and Snuth-tO make effort, als,, to res.
tore the government to its proper capacity for dis
charging the proper business of the country. Let
me say II Is unable to discharge that business
mat may regain ih;t capacity there is necess.
" Tor efort both lii Congress and out Of Congress-
Nelther you nor shall see the legislation of the
country proceed in the old harmonious wav upti,
Inc discussions III Congress and out of Congress-
upon the subject to which you have alluded. shall
be In some way suppressed. Take that truth home
with you. and take il as truth. Until something
can he done to ailay the feeling now separatinc
men in different sections, there can he no useful
ana satisfactory legislation in the two houses of
Congress. MIR Curtis and gentlemen, the Common.
wealth Of Massachusetts, has done the honor to
place me as one Of her representatives, in Congress
have believed that she would approve in me any
honest, courteous. and sincere effort to allsy the
discussion which we see among the people of the
county. and to restore Congress to its constitu-
honal capacity Tor action. have believed that the
Commonwealth Of Massachusetts would SUI port
her personalities in that course. | have bcliev
ed that general sentiment Of the whole cuuntr,
would FAVOR and encourage their efforts in il. and
nave the satisfaction now to believe, and in that
belief shall not be disappointed. ICheers1 How.
ever that may be, that effort shall repeat. RE
neweh cheering.l In that course of ratification I
snail peiSetere regardless of all personal cnnse-
quences. Three cheers. shall minister 10 M
local pfeJudiresI shall support 10 agiations hay-
ing their foundation in real ghostly abstrac,ion-
Laughter and cheers shall say nothing which
may foster ihe unkind passions separating the North
from the South. May my tongne cleave to the roof
OF my mouth before II may utter any sentiment
which shall Incl the agitation in the pu bile mind
on such subject. ICheers.]
Sir, have said that this is not an cc sion for
political discussion. / confess that, if the time
and circumstances gave an opportunity, l should |
not be 'ndlsposed 20 address the people Of Mas sa-
chusetts directly upon the duty which the present
eNigencIes Of affairs have tevoIved upon her. thi,
81 eat and glorious Commonwealth-upon the duly. |
al least, winch ii devoises us hn represent h.
In the national legislature. This will not be such
an Opportunity. have an occasion. in my seat in |
The Senate, to which shall Immediately return n. to
give my opinions, upon some topics OF an interest
ng character--torics in regard To some OF '. hicb
mere exist both mis- statement and misappreh
the greatest m'sstaitmet the greatest n,isarpre-
iensl''n. especially so far US ] am concerned
may simply mention of the Sc topics-the deliv-
ny OF fugii,es from service. With regard to that
luestlon, there exists the greatest rrejudices-the
4 eatest misapFreheLsioas. l do not wonder at
he isarrrrhensiuns. / am well aware that il i, |
topic which must excite rreiudices. tan yer,
sei feel what the preju,!ires are which il must |
'ery naturally hring up Ill The minds OF the good
'eoi,le or ihis Common wealth.
regard
that topic, duties al soluieiy incumbent Oh the
imposed b, the con tuition
hs"iuteiy incumbent on every person " no holds
nice IN Massachusetts. Uncer her own cousttu-
ION and laws and those OF the nation. she is bound
MI persons are bound, in the discharge of the du-
va a'sasreeahe duty. We cali upon her to lis
hafse mat hu'y as an affair of high morals and
Ign principles. We show to her, and we ask her
resolve upon The performance of duty, though it
disasreeabIe duty. Any man perform an
-reeahie duty, but II is not every man who can
0 What Is altogether unpleasant lie que stion now
J, whether Observation-Disclosures the old State
Massachusetts, improved by two centuries of
riizaiion. renowned for her inteiiec tua Charae.
r., mighty in her moral pow er, con picuous before
ne world, leading State in this country ever since
was country, a leading State in the Union ever
nee 1t was union-the question is, whether
massachusetts, will shrink from or come to fair
Ill reasonable, and moderate performance, and no
ore than fair, and reasonable. and moderate .
'iformance of her sworn obligations. think she ]
ill. (Cheers.
Sir, the question is. whether Massachusetts, will
and TO the truth against temptations whether she
ill tie just against temptation; whether she will e
''eEd herself against her own prejuaices. She has
'hGuered every thing else in her time she has ,
'hquered this ocean, which was her shore she u
Is conquered her inflexibe climate; she has fought
# way to the universal respect Of the world: She
IS conquered eveiyhod,'s prcjudices but her own
the question is whether she will conquer her q
sn prejIs,ces. shall return to the Senate to put
At patstioA W hcis Ill presence Oh mat common
other, who shall deal il to her heart. ICheers.l In
e meantime, let me repeat that tread no step II
ckward (Cheers.l ]
| am devoted to the restoration Of peace, harmo-
Z, concord out of Congress, and such a degree Of
iiuai cooperation IN Congress, as may enable ii
carry ON once more the legitimate business Of :,
government of the Union, for the preservation -
which strive. The union Of states for which
strive Is not merely union of law, OF ton siitu-
N, OF compact, hut while il is that, i. is a union
Sreunr nf fr, nj Tspln
9 whole country. do not wish that any portion u
the people of this country shall feel held togeh b
only by the bonds Of legal corpnratlnn-honds Il
itch some Of them may think restrain their limbs, -
imp their objections, gall and worry them. On II
contrary, that they shall be bound together by a
'se uaseen, soft, easy sitting chains that result !
IN generous affections and from sense of COM u
n interest and common pride. In short fellow b.
izens, my desire and my labor is to see that state
things produced, IN which-tlling all bosoms :,
tn gratitude, all hearts with y--llumnating all u
es-spreading through all ranks ofpeople wheth- O,
rich or poar--whether North, South, East or l.,
estthere shall exist the balm FIR all our suiii "
!. the great solace Of all political caiamties la
the great and glorious future, aud in love Of our
tied government.
Nr Webster closed, after speaking about fifteen ="
nnes. amidst vocferous cheering, which lasted b.
ne moments.
he meeting being in the open air. the vast ovid.
heir anxiety to hear the speaker, rushed upon al
reporters tables. and entirely stopped the OPP fe
lions OF most of them. In this dilemma, your IT,
orter was greatly indebted to Mr. Hale, of the :"
verser, for the report prepared for that paper 10
TN