The republic., 1851-12-15

Us CHoATE-delivered at Faneull Hall Con
ention fortnight snce-as revised and cor
ected by him for the Boston Courier:
Mr.. CHoATE, after acknowledging the kindness
# his reception, said he did not mean to abuse il
~ much speaking. II docs not to me, he
aid that the occasion requires speech. Certain
y it requires none from me TO you. You have met,
not 50 much to deliberate as to act You have met,
because you have deberated, and for yourselves
decided to act and how 10 act You assem-
bled, not to make comparisons of men, not to find
out, by disputation, and the reading OF biogra-
iphies, and the reports of committees, whom Of all
'tho eminent living Of this generation Of public
service you best love, most admire, deem tttest
for the general needs-all that process with you
has long terminnted--but to present 20 the good
people Of these United States illustrious
tryman. on whom you are completely agreed, for
the vast duties and arduous glory Of the Presi-
dency and to declare it. in ali soberness, and with
all earnestness, as your adopted and unaltersbic
conviction, that n view of the peculiar and
large qualities which ought always to meet in
Chief Magistrate of this nation-oI view OF the
emergent circumstances of this time, all things
around, and amidst, and before us, utter, as by
the designation of superior warning voice, one
name, for the highest and most awful trust which
man in society may confer on man.
TO seek to persuade you TO take this step to seek
20 impress you the wisdom OF tins foregonc,
fret fast and constant choice, would be to tribe
with the occasion and with your state Of mind
Surely surely il is not here, it is not in this Massa
chusetts OF his adoption, it ia not among Us, his
neigbbors, his guests, us who had 50 large expe-
Tence OF his foelfiy ZEAL and steadastness, our
immediate representative, before he had found his
true and adequate constituency in the whole peo-
Pile OF our America; il is not among us, whose
labors he shares whose soil he tills, before whose
of a n al
incomings OF q yhoe 6sc from early manhood TO
this autumnal fulhnent, and onluence of fame
aad wisdom have been beheld daily; it ID not In
Eaneuil Hall, opened 10 him again, its gates on
golden hinges turning, this theatre OF 30 many
years of his counsels; il 10 not at The base OF his
own statue, not here, nor now, nor IN this State
ever can il be necdful TO repeat why or how un-
doubtngly we hold him, if may repeat the just
quotation Of your eloquent President to-day, The
foremost living man Of all this world"
1t must be admitted, however, that the nomina-
ton of citizen for this Office, by convention
such as this, assuming to represent State, and to
engage State 10, according TO our customs, an act
of some solemnity and some responsibility 1t l5
not 50 much the expression Of private icelings and
individual judgment, as an appeal to the nation 10
approve and cooperate. To the nation we turn
then, and we propose Daniel Webster, worthiest
among lho most worthy, TO carry on for his term
that series of eminent men, Presidente, which
began when the nation began with the greatest
name Of earth-Goorge Washington.
1t has sometimes seciaed TO me that VIC, whose
ATTACH ment TO Mr. Webster, and yhose apprecla-
ton of him have been the growth Cf inuny
vears. aud have become so much habit, passion
an article of faith, sentiment garnered up, TO be
no mo @ reviewed, or questioned, or quallhed are
in danger, in thus presenting him, to overlook, IN
the and in.plicitness OF our re-
gard, certain specfc grounds on which, perhaps,
his claims may be with more effect submitted TO
others.
Are there not certain reasons over and above the
general aggregate of these qualities and services,
nve ny nj distinct
of intellect, that trained and uniailing wisdom,
that patriotisIsi which thought 1t little to give
long life TO the countryover and above what com
prises his admitted reputation, and is brought 10
every mind by the mention of his name, are there
not certain specific and distinguishing reasons on
which he may seem to present n case, no living
man beside can do, for the approving Judgment oil
the people?
Is there any injustice 10 others in asking this ma
tion-fr fone in il has given proof so strong
in circumstances so trying and peculiar. that he
possesses, the one hand, the civil wisdom which
discern, the things that pertain to the domesiic
peace, and the continued existence of this country
as a unit, as a whole, and On the other the civil
courage which dares to carry that wisdom INTO
action?
know very well, that in that conflict of unex.
ampled violence and danger, which has just passed
before US, and has not perhaps ended, between
the great classes Of States for the partition 80
10 speak, OF the vast territory which policy, and
yalor, and fortune have recently appended to our
western aud southwostern bosdsr-along with any
quantity Of folly, madness and desperation-thcre
has been a very splendid display aiso, by pubic
snen, of wisdom and firInness, which entities them
to the eternal honor of grateful country. To the
President to the Cabinet, TO the Congress OF Com
promises, be that honor forever accorded But Is
there any injustice TO any man in asking Tho oil
them all periIled what he perilled, or brought TO
the crisis the power he brought, of doing good and
averting evil? Is there any injustice in asking.
when on the 7th of March, 1850. after profound
and anxious survey of the time, after studying
deeply the proper sources of evidence, the state
and tendencies of public opinion everywhere after
weighing in the balances OF that equal justice and
that capacious intelligence the relative claims and
complainings OF the antagonisIic regions, he
adopted the conclusion that the whole Constitution
Inuet be executed, we had no more assurance OF
country; who OF them encountered civil hazards
tremendous IA he encountered, and knew that
he encountered, when he stood up 10 declare that
conviction, and 10 devote hinself to its practical
enforcement Who knew better than he how easy
that day il had been for far less than his abilities
and weight Of character to organize and fire, and
head free State and frecsoil sectonalism, and
t1rn il to his own account?
Had he not talents enough for demagoguism, if
ne could stoop TO go low trade! Who Of all that
Congress represented such constituency? Who
had such public sentiment to apprehend and
change by enlightenng, to stand or fall beforef
Was be not northern man by every tic and every
title? Did he not know the northern opinion on
the quality CT slavery-on the enlargement OF is
area-on the constitutional provisions for the re-
clamaton of fugitives? Did he not know that we
ana OtDcT lIee cldtCs sought Tue lFst
law Of 1893, not on little technicalies but hos
tihty to the clause it framed and assumed TO
execute? Who better loved the immediate locality
of his birth and adoption, and its New England
yicinage, than he. There he drew his first breath;
there the foundations of his mind were laid From
that kindness and that discernment he had had the
patronage of his earlier and later professional life
and all his opportunities of public service By that
whole region he was not only idolized, only not
worshipped
In that earth were garncred up the lost treasures
OF his heart-thcre he was looking for his grave
to be made. On what motive but The nobest
which the patriot breast may own in what hope
but of serving and saving men in spite Of them
selvcs-could he have calmly encountered such a
local opinion in such hour? Was it not with
full and vivid foresight not merely Of the oulncss
OF detraction, which has been brcathed on his fame
by fanaticisIn, and the wounded vanity and low
envy Of little mnds, but Of the possible and proba-
bic grief, suspicion, alienation, and distrust of
many-many whom he loved, valued, and cult
va,ed-pcrhaps of a whole community disposed to
follow his lead and to guard his fame and fortunes,
but whoee re-occupation ofjudgment and distance
from the scene, and whose view of the exigencies
OF the time, less wide and lees accurate, from
less commanding stand point, would dispose them