Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-10-05
Mr.. Webster's Reply.

GENTLEMEs have received your letter of last month,
expressing your appreciation Of my public political conduct
and especially of my efforts in Congress settle questions
which have long agated the country and disturbed its peace
Happily, gentlemen those questions now trust dis
posed Of and better prospects open upon the country
The thry-one American States stretch vast extent
of country running through several degrees Of latitude and
longitude, and embracing many varieties Of soil, climate, in
situons habits and pursuits; yet all the Union and
the Constitution still stand every where giving protection and
security and every where cherished at the present moment
with general and patriotic regard The interests of the
different parts ofhe country, though various not opposite
flowing indeed in diverse channels but all contributing
swell the great tide of national prosperity Under the opera
ton of the Constitution have been for sixty year
free and happy civil and religious liberty have stood firm and
mistaken popular education has received impulse and
wider spread and moral and religious instruction has be
come characteristic Of ages agriculture, commerce, and
manufactures have been steadily encouraged and sustained
and under the blessing of Providence general competency
and satisfactory of living have every where rewarded
the efforts of labor and industry And in the time,
gentlemen, the country has attained to such degree Of honor
and renown that every patriotic man, in addition to bis
individual of enjoyment derives positive pleasure
from participating in the reputation of his country Of what
other country upon earth this be said with much
truth ! Who, then, would undermine this Union Who
would raise his hand against this Constitution Who would
scott at those political and social blessings which Providence
has before h to vouchsa in such abundance to
any community of Selfove hopes for the FUTURE
national prde and gratitude to God, all conspre prompt
embrace these institutions Of native land with all
the affections of hearts, and to defend them with all the
strength of hands, In critical hour and not without
personal hazard have discharged my duty and freed
my conscience its very depth, in public efforts to maintain
them limited only by the of my ability And, since
these efforts are regarded having contributed something to
the adjustment of dangerous and TO the esta
bishmen of peace and harmony among felowczens and
brothers, desire no reward but the cheering voices Of good
men, and the appreciation Of my own conscience.
And now, Friends and Neghbors, could pour out my
heart in tenderness Of feeling for the aectonate letter which
comes from you. Approving voices have been heard from
other quarters other concentrations have reached me- high
enough and warm enough demand they have received
nv most grateful Acknowledgements and regard But yours
comes from home comes from those whom have known,
and who have known me- from my BIRTH 1t is like the love
of family circle its influences fall upon my heart The
dew Of Hermon Those you who the most advanced in
age have known my father and my family, and especially that
member of it whose premature death inflicted wound in my
breast which is yet fresh and bleeding
companions
with others have paraken in the sports Of YOUTH the cheer
full labor of the field of agriculture, and in the associations
and exercises Of early manhood on the ist learned
and now aged and venerable cergymen professional gen.
emen and magistrates, of my age, whom have long
honored and esteemed and others Of all classes and all pur
suits in e There the list Also few who bear
nv name and partake my blood.
What was in early life you all know towards what
may done at subsequent periods for the good of the
country you have manifested sufficiently favorable and
partial regard and now, after have been called upon
part important crisis, perhaps, than any other Of my
life your kind regard your neghbory recognition Of former
times and former friendships, and the asctionae terms in
which you express yourselves make your letter treasure,
precious in my esteem, which shall keep always
while ve and leave for the qualification of those who may
come after
Your obliged friend and neighbor,
DANIEL WEBSTER.
To Rev. Ebenszer Price, Rev. Abraham Burnham,
DID, Rev. VIM. Patrick, Rev. Caleb B. Tracy,
Rev Nathl Bouton. ID. D., Rev Asa P. Tenney,
Rev Edmund Worth, Rev. Enoch Corser, Hon.
Parker Noyes, Hon. Thomas II. Pettengill,
Hon George w. Nesmith. and others,