The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1850-05-14
For the Middlebury Register
Hon. D, Webster's Position.

The great speech OF this distinguished
statesman has awakened a deep interest in
tho nation and called forth highly approx
ing and equally condemnatory comments, in
Wing speeches and presses. One class can
discover no dcrcliction Of principles or
change Of views or measures in tho address,
while another class sees in it perfect aban.
donment of both-and therefore accuses him
of seeking 10 eriend the area Of Sidrcry,
which in previous speeches he had pledged
himself never TO doof rejecting the IVamot
Proriso, which he had defended during the
Presidential campaien-.of seeking TO CON
vert the people Of the free States into STARE
catchers "-and of now striking hands with
Clay in unwise and ruinous " compromises"
thus making rdr on the President. who is
" THE MOST HONEST, PATRIOTIC AND Dis
INTERESTED PEACE-MAKER AMONG THEM
ALL -
Now we think that the aforesaid sugges-
tons, or differences from his speech, do The
author great injustice, and are total misap-
prehenson Of the principles therein cx-
pressed, and of the measures therein de-
Tended. they were, emphaticaliy, so de-
nominated by the Hon. MIR. Webster, in his
recent speech at Boston. These four charges
constitute "the head and front of bis Of
Tending" The correctness Of his statements
on the antiquity ana precedence OF Slave
ry-the gradual change Of views between
the North and South on that suhject-the
manner in which Texas was received into
the Union-the consequent war with Mexi-
Gothic acquisition of a vast territory there
by and the sudden and unexpected forma-
lion OF new State on the Pacific, now
seeking for admission Into the Union, and of
the jealouses and heart-burnings AMI re.
examinations which have existed and do ex-
ist, and ought to be allaycd, all, ALL will not
be questioned by Wing press in the free
States
Why, then is he so unsparingly condemn
ed He opposed the anncxation'o of Texas
the Mexican war. and the acquisition of dny
more territory. Wherein docs his speech
contravene this opposition? He showed
how Texas proper, with the rotcer 10 ada
four slave States, if she chooses got into tn,
Union, through the influence OF Northern
political parties, and Northern votes, without
his influence, and contrary to his wishes
Did he extend slavery by any Of these meas
ures1 Never. Does he now violate forme
speeches and principles in maintaining thu
imperious duty of Congress to carry out The
provisions of the Resolutions by which Tex
as was admitted ? Then do all who admi
that Congress has no right to legislate oil
the subject of slavery in the States Texa
is in the Union, with high powers and priv
leges guaranteed TO her by cur government
by sacred slipulations, lie would no, ador
the revolutionary ground of Hon. w. ii
Seward, and now reject her and her claims
because the mode If reception was unconst
tutional. Neither would he deny or pervei
the plain meaning of that mart of the resc
l lutions that, -four States" of converter
size,"'' having sufficient population" "sha
be admitted into the Union with or wihor
? slavery, as the people shall desire" Trr
$ no State can walk into the Union wtho,
the voice or +" consent" of Congress. IIo
pueriie then is this objection. Congress sha
/ admit her when the aLoee provisions al
r complied with on her part, " with or witho,
slavery, as the people shall desire"
e
4 Now why is w eos'er condemned any MOI
than Taylor, or Clay, or Cas- tor TINS in'e
Prenng ms provision OF the resolutions
d lhelr views doubtless, harmonic on u
SUBJECT lhey are PROBABLY agreed iha' 81