The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-11-27

The onlv way 10 prevent its being made sectional
question is TO prevent its becoming sectional mo
nopoly.
But il is not merely as one of their number that
the election OF Mr.. Webster would crafty the peo-
pie Of this part of the country. They have long
regarded him their fret citizen-first in talent,
frat in eloquence, first in influence, first in public
services. first in all the high qualities of statesman
ship. They have delighted 10 honor him. No one
is disparaged at the prominence given TO a name
whose superiority all acknow ledge.
The South may well accept the nomination of
Mr.. Webster. Admitting that candidate is to be
sought beyond their own limits, to whom can they
turn their thoughts, all things considered, with
firmer confidence that their constitutional rights
and Just expectations will be respected, and that
the Government will be administered in the spirit
of Cancellation, in which it was originally framed
There is another portion of the couhtry-thc
growing West-iar too important 10 be overlooked
in this reference TO the different sections of the
Union. OF all the leading statesmen of the day,
who il there that has evinced clearer perception
than Mr. Webster Of the important relations of the
West TO the rest of the Union? VINO has more
uniformly supported line of policy more favor
able to its growth! Who has more resolutely COM
batted the error that the benefits of the Constitu
ton are limited 10 tide water? Who has more
strenuousy demanded for the West full partici-
patton in all its provisions for the protection inn
provement, and advantage of the whole country
We feel warranted, fellow citizens of every part
OF the country, In proposing Mr.. webster as a
candidate for the Presidency the of merit.
"Let it be given 20 the worihiest," is not only the
great principle Of moral justice. but one of the
fundamental laws of republican government. In
what is elective government superior Us system
to hereditary government, If 1t be not In the APP
plication Of this principlei Let not the highest
office in the State 1--WE wont to say) be held
by the accident of BIRTH which is but another form
of chance. But why not be bestowed by chance or
birth, lift is to be given 10 any one but the wor
theetl There is no other principle on which cleo
tive republican government be defended.
Shake the public faith in the great idea that, by
virtue of the elective system, the hlghest trusts IN
the State to be conferred ON the most wor-
thy, and you open the door 10 intrigue, 10 fraud,
and eventually TO violence. There does not exist
a grosser mockery of free popular government,
than the employment or lite great organic agen-
eies, to confer the highest honors and trusts on
any but those best qualified and most worthy.
Do we wish to convince the world that we are
republicans in deed as well as by profession; that
popular elections are, what they claim TO be, sys-
TEN by which intelligent people designate their
wisest and best citizens for places OF influence and
power, let them be bestowed merit distln-
guished that all will feel the justice Of the choice.
We make these remarks, fellow citizens, with
out intending the slightest disparagement oil other
honored names in various parts OF the country.
We are proud TO acknowledge our respect and ad.
miration of them. We feel grateful to Providence
that, at momentous iuncture of affairs, so many
able and patriotic men have been raised up for the
public service We especially acknowledge the
deep obligations which the country owes TO the in
telEgcnt and patriotic members oi the last Con-
gress, both in the Senate and House of Representa-
tves, who, forgetting party divisions and looking
only TO the general good, united their exertions to
allay the dangerous excitement then prevailing.
But it remarked by western Senator, on
yielding the floor to Mr. Webster the 7th of
March, 1885, for the delivery of his great speech in
favor of the Union, =" that there was in his udg-
ment but one man capable Of bringing together
the vast assembly then convened" May we not,
without being deemed invidous, say, that in the
came individual are united at the present time
claims TO support, in all parts of the country, not
possessed in the same degree by any other person
The limits of this address will not permit us to
engage in a detailed review of Mr. Webster's ca
reer. TODD this would be to write the political
history ofthe country for more than quarter of
century. We may, however, refer to the all
important services rendered by him in 1890 That,
fellow citizens, was eurely an eventful period.
theory of the Constitution brought forward, in
of the southern States, and sustained with
great ability, by distinguished statesman lately
deceased, which, if ii had prevailed would have
turned admirably adjusted political system
into ill-compacted league of petty sovereign
tics. Destructive as this theory appears to of
the vital principles of the Constitution, it was not
without friends in several of the States, and that
among men eminent as lawyers and politicians.
Had il been successfully maintained in the Senate,
and finally established in public opinion, the Con-
stiution. az bequeahed to US by fathers, could
have retained but nominal existence. AT this
crisis Mr.. Webster appeared as its champion and
advocate, and established the true theory of the
Government on basis not to be shaken The PEG
pie were the tribunal which he addressed, and the
public mind fully graaping the question, settled it
forever.
Two years afterwards these constitutional here
sies were revived by the same eminent statesman,
whose brilliant has but recently closed and
the country was threatened with an example OF
practical, direct, and probable belligerent nuli-
cation Against this proceeding General jackson
raised the strong arm ofpower-a necessary resort,
he thought, in the critical condition OF affairs.
But even his overwhelming popularity might not
have maintained him in the principles of his pro-
ton had how hRara nynH
popular mind and heart by Mr. Webster's speech
two years previous; when, according to Chancel
Tor Kent, the true theory of the Constitution "was
rescued from the archives of our tribunals and the
libraries of our lawyers, and placed under the eye,
and submitted to the judgment, of the American
people" When called upon second time TO put
forth his full energies in reply to the great Carroll
Man, il done with vigor and effect not infe-
rior to those displayed in the former debate. OF
tue power OF ths effort, and its potent effect the
public judgment and public feeling, the history Of
that day has well assured us. The people of the
United States proclaimed their estimate of his
ertions by hailing him as the defender of the
Constitution"
But these Senatorial services however important,
form but one of the titles of Mr.. Webster to the
public confidence and gratitude. Noone can have
forgotten the extraordinary ability with which, in
1871 and 1892 he filled the chief place in the Exc
cutive Government as Secretary of State We were
at that time involved in controversy with Eng
land relative to boundary, which dated from l7S3
and which with every year seemed more difficult
OF adjustment 1t had bsfled the skill of the ablest
Secretaries of State and the strength of the most
popular Presidents. In addition TO the embarrass-
ments arising from this question, the affair of the
Caroline" and the arrest of Mcleod, and the de
tention of American vessels the coast of Africa
and between our shores and the Bahama islands,
all accumulated in 1912 upon the hands Of the
Department of State. So imminent the dan
ger of Just before the accession of General Har-
rison, in March, IS4l, that the American Minister
in London had deemed it his duty to make a com
munication to the commander of the United States
squadron in the Mediterranean, that he might gov
ern himself accordingly. British troops had been
poured into the Canadas, New Brunswick and
Nova Scotia, to the number of seventeen regiments
Mr.. Webster filled the Office of Secretary of State
but little more than two years, and all this time
under circumstances of peculiar embarrassment.
In that short time, however. the boundary question
was settled honorably and advautsgeously Tor both
parties; the affairs OF the Caroline and Mcleod sat
sfactorily disposed Of; and arrangement entered
into for suppressing the slave trade without endan
gerng the independence of our flag, which has put
stop TO all complaints the coast Of Africa, and
has been adopted model for treaties on the came
subject by the leading powers of Europe
The Oregon question was still in rescrye, and was
rapidly becoming urgent. Mr.. Webster had
tired from the Department before it could be adjust
ed. The country and Congress- had become i'm ma