The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1850-05-08
MIR. webster Inn Boston.

| e'"S''''Su w iiSa' iii'i Speuk. Ilc uu-
dressed the crowd from the barouchc
in which he was sitting. The following
is an abstract of his speech, as report.
ed by telegraph:
Mr.. Webster commenced bv obscrv-
ing that he was sorry to say that in The
attempts to settle the great and exciting
questions which were now agilnling the
country from one extreme 10 the other,
sufficient progress had not been made
10 secure perfect reconciliation OF
conflicting interests; but still there was
ground 10 indulge the hope tha, an ad-
lustmcnt, satisfactory to every section
ofour wide and diversified Union, would
yet be made.
lie fully appreciated the kind con
gratulalions Of his fellow. ci,izcns--ful.
ly appreciated the declaration that ,hev
tld not come here as purtisans. This
was moi the place nor the time to dis
cuss party questions.
He had in his own humble way made
an effort 10 concilintc--to calm that cx.
cited state of feeling which agila,ed the
public mind Of the North aud Of the
South, and to restore to tho federal
government the ability 10 conduct its
affairs, as heretofore, with effective uni
ty. II could not he concealed, for the
fact was evident to all that i, wns out of
the power Of Congress to lcgislatc for
the general interests Of the whole coun.
try, until such measures should frs, be
adopted which would have direct ten
| dcncy TO ullay that excitement which
all patriots mus, dcprecn,c.
In this condition Of ,hings--in this
peculiar situation Of nilairs--he had
thought that the Commonwealth Of
Massachusetts would have approved Of
all honest cndeavoTs to allay existing
dlssensions, and that public sen,irncn,
everywhere, irrespective Of locality
would approve the efforts such as he had
alluded 10. He trusted that in these
expectations he should no, be disappon.
ted; but, however that NIGH, be, it was
his intention 10 pcrsvcrc in The course
ofpaciticalon which he had commenced
regardless Of consequences, SO far as
as rc!nted 10 him personally.
Under no circumstar COS would he
give the sligh.es, colntcnance to local
ngitntions which threatened, in his opin.
ion, to sever the Union "May nv
tongue cleave to the roof Of my mouth"
continued Mr.. Webster, in a tone of
exceeding animation, "bcfore | give
countcnanco TO any ngila,ions of this
kind" When he returned to his sea,
in the Senate, he should take The enrli
est occasion 10 express his opinions fully
on this and kindred subjects.
There was, he regretted tn.dnnisap.
Freen!sfs ensiA,3s |sgEeG?a gs' public. piq
in references ex,s!ing \, in !agiions now be- be-
fore Conerc.. - ne would mention, for
eS"nple, that concerning the surrender
Of fugitive slaves. There were oh!inn.
tons imposed upon every officer Of the
federal governmcnt--ob b!ignions i'm
posed by The sanctilv an oah--which
could not be dsrcgarlcd nor sligh,ngly
performed. Agreeable duties required
no effort to perform; bu, when disagree.
able duties had 20 be discharged, in op
position to strong pcrsonol feelings, then
it was That the faith and virtue Of the
public officer were tried.
The question now was, whether old
Massachusetts, intellectual in churac.
tcr-of the highcs, moral sentiments
rigid IN her sense Of ius,icc-a State
That has never swervcd from the path
OF recitudc and whether she
would, in this her day Of trial, stand to
the truth as i, existed, against not mere.
ly temptation, but against her own pre-
ludlces. She had conquered every.
body's prrludiccs, and the question now
TO determine was, whether she would
conquer her own. This was lhc oucs-
ton which he had now to nsk.
He had not stepped backwards
had abandoned no olG positions. He
had undertaken to restore peace where
distraction reigncd--.lo pour oil on the
troubled wntcrs---to make the pcoplc
realize the peril Of their situation, and
by lnculcaling true spirit Of compro.
mise and concession, avert all threaten.
ing dangers. He did not wish TO see
this great coniedcrncy Of States bound
'oScticI ny mere regal Ties, hul by those
common sympathics which bind kindred
hearts together. What he most de.
sired TO sec was an all pcrvahing love of
our glorious Union, which should be
telt as warmly in the North ms in the
South IN the cold granite hills of New
England as in our far of possessions on
the Pucifc.
There was very little enthusiasm
manifested during the delivery Of Mr..
Webster's speech, owing, probable, 10
the disadvantages under which the
crowd labored, in not being able to hear
distinctly. Besides, the people were
very much annoyed by The rat,ling of
cart loaded with iron, which. i, is Said,
was engaged by some Of Mr.. WIS free
soil friends, 10 make as much noise du.
ring the delivery OF the speech as posi-.
BILE. MIR. w. spoke abou, twenty min.
ntes. When he commenced spcnkinn
bouquets were showcred upon him bv
the fair inmates Of the Revere House.
who occupied every window; and whose
gay and lovely appearance len, pccu.
liar charm and grace 10 the whole