The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-08-01

The Hon. JOHN j. CRIrrENDEE and Col.
PERsIEE Err F. SMITH arrived recently at Louis
vile, KY.
Invitation 10 MIR. Webster 40 Visit Cape Cod.
The citizens of West Dennis, Massachusetts,,
on learning that it was the intention OF MT.
Webster TO spend some time at Marshfield dur
mo the present summer addressed an invita-
ton to him, requesting visit at such time as
would be convenient 10 him. The correspond
ence appears in the Barnstable Patriot. The
following is the reply of Mr.. Webster;
WAsHINaToN, July Ia, 1851.
| GEsTLxMES: have received your friendly letter
of the 4th of this month, and am highly gratihed
with the patriotic sentiments expressed therein.
Indeed should have expected nothing else, be-
cause such sentiments are worthy Of those pilgrim
fathers from whom you descended, as well as OF
the general character of your community.
IL will give me much satisfaction, if circum-
stances should allow to accept your invitation to
pass day among you.
In the mean time shall be most happy to send
to each Of you such productions of mine as may
fully explain my sentiments in respect to the great
questions of the present time.
With some Of you have the pleasure of being
personally acquainted, | have often been in
your good town OF Dennis, well rs in all the other
towns on the Cape see also attached to your let.
ter many names not personally known to me, bun
belonging TO families with which have had &C
quaintance in former times. have always found
the air of your county delightful in summer, and
! there are many views remarkably hne; and
suppose ought to confess, also, that in these my
pleasant visits / did not entirely neglect the
streams, 30 highly estimated by the anglers who
have thrown the fly in them.
Gentlemen, the nature of your population is
somewhat peculiar. ! have often been struck by
the very great number of sea captains as we'll
other mariners, which the county of Barnstable
and the neighboring islands furnish. On the cape
and on the islands have frequently conversed
with persons who seemed well acquainted with
the Galapagos Islands, the Sandwich Islands, and
some parts of New Holland, as with counties
| Of Hampshire and Berkshire.
was once engaged in the trial of cause in
your district in which question arose respecting
| the entrance into the harbor of Owhyee, between
reefs of coral rock guarding it on either side. The
counsel for the opposite party proposed to call wit
nesses give information to the jury concerning
this entrance / at once saw emile which
thought understood; and suggested to the judge
that very probably of the jurors had seen the
entrance themselves; upon which sevensout Of the
twelve jurors rose and said that they quite
famiarly acquainted with it, having seen it often
| The occurrence, dare say, is remembered by
that most worthy and eminent Judge, now
! living, as am happy to know, and enjoying in
advanced LIE the affection of his friends and the
respect of all who know him mean Judge Put
nam. This incident shows the nature of the en-
Payments pursued by your neighbors and your
selves
he el derlv of
| ty, have had the pleasure of frequent
tons concerning early revolutionary times, and
especially respecting that extraordinary man,
James Otis. i have been where he lived, and ex-
amined such of his papers as could find; but in
the latter part of his life he destroyed most of his
correspondence. Mr.. Tudor has written very
good history of his life; and you all know the en-
phaiic eulogy pronounced on him by the elder
Adams, viz: that it was James Gals who set the
ball of the Revolution in motion Warm, eloquent,
and highly impassioned in the of liberty, his
brilliant life was terminated by stroke of light
ming.
None earlier to begin, more perse-
vcringly maintained, more zealously struggled to
maintain the cause OF the Revolution than the
people on the Cape. All the region about James
Otis, and the Thomases, and the other true hearted
patriots of those times, il to sort of classic
ground; remote, without large cities, scattered
along extensive coast, there yet, think, in
part of the country a more fervent devotion to
the patriotic cause than manifested by your
ancestors.
| Gentlemen, am sure you ascrbc quite too
much merit to my efforts in behalf of the Union
and of the Constitution. only say, have
done what could, and all that could; and that
shall not slacken my hand. Perhaps it is natural
| that you should be attached to free and regular
! constitutions Of government, since all know that
the first written constitution in the country was
COMPOSED and signed on board of the Mayhower
while she was riding at anchor in one of the har-
bors of the Cape. Your prosperity, gentle
men, the success OF all your leading pursuits, the
prosperity of your county, and of the whole State
of Massachusetts, are, at this moment, living mon
uments of the benefits conferred by the Constitu-
ton of the United States and the administration Of
government under it,
| Your soil has always been free soil; such
you and your ancestors have cultivated it for
turies; it needs no new christening; but what the
| people of Massachusetts wanted, and your county
among the rest, before the adoption Of the present
Constitution, was FREE sEAs-free on which
their industry could be displayed. and their ma
tional rights protected.
| BY the blessing of Providence they have enjoyed
this freedom, and thisprotcction, for long course
Of years, and have fourished and prospered under
them beyond all former example.
| What if your il be not Of the richest quality,
what if it be not fertile like western New York
and the western States, still hardly know part
of the country in which the people enjoy more
substantial comfort. ! have traversed the whole
from the "outside" in Provincetown 10 the line Of
| Plymouth without seeing instance of ragged
| poverty or of absolute want. Your labors on
the sea. In emphatic sense than can be
said of any other people. your home is on the
| deep. Nevertheless the home Of your families;
| the home of your affections the home to which
you return with SO much gladness Of heart, is in
the various towns on the Cape "where all your
treasures be-
! trust that there is not a man among you who
does not feel and that the prosperity of his labor
is mainly connected with the administration of the
Government of the United States; and, therefore,
trust that the political air of the Cape will always
remain as healthy "a its natural atmosphere, and