The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-07-07

tional deoorun, snd the Eammels ofpropristary
considerations.
conservative statesmen of the republic regard, at
this moment, with intense anxiety and alarm, the
anti slavery agitation at present in progress
throughout the republic. There can be little doubt
gered by it and there be little doubt that tn
disruption of the Union would not only lower the
republic in the scale of nations in respect of politi
cal power, but would in all probability retard the
developement of the national resources, and diminish
the security of life and property.
This sufficiently accounts for the vehemenoe with
which Mr.. Webster is at present playing the part
of an tinerant apostle of union in the State of New
York. Prevented by the illness of his son from
taking part in the presidential demonstration at the
opening of the Erie Railroad, an the progress to
and from that solemnity, Mr.. Webster. has en-
braced the first moment of his SON. TO
commence supplementary progress on his own &C
count. The burden of his song at every place
where he has addressed the assembled citizens. has
been the duty Of loyalty to the constitution and the
folly and criminality Of the incorporating anti
slavery agitators, who perlng the existence of
the Union. So well has he play his part that the
gories Of the presidential Office have paed before
the glowing oratory Of the Secretary OF State, aud,
In so far as the wings of New York are concerned,
Mr.. Webster apears to have better chance of
being the partys candidate for the presidency at the
next election, than Mr.. Fillmore.
Upon who read Mr. Webster's orations in
stead of listening to them, and who moreover read
them some weeks after their delivery, and with
great tracts Of and land intervening, they have
not produced quite SO overwhelming an effect as
they appear to have done upon his Immediate
dtors. There is too much Of special pie aiding, and
too much of exaggerated emphasis about them, to
be entirely satisfactory. Mr.. Webster's arguments
are not of nature to be perfectly convincing to
mind so acute as his, and his violent and frequent
appeals to the Supreme Being as witness of his
sincerity and good faith, weaken rather than
strengthen our confidence in both.
Mr. Webster takes up his stand upon the Fugi-
tive Slave bill as the only means of preventing a
breach between the slave and the free States lie
seeks to palliate that measure by alleging that its
provisions are less stringent than those OF the law
passed for the me purpose under the ausp ces OF
Washington. In reasoning thus. Mr.. Webs.e for
gets that the hostility against slavery, both the
part of slaves and impartial freemen, has become
much more inveterate and incorporating since
Washington's time. The conservatives of the new
world, if Mr.. Webster is TO be taken fair
specimen Of them, commit ting the same error
as the conservatives of the DID, they look only to
the letter Of the old law compared with that of
the new, and leave out Of account the altered feel
iDgs and convictions of the generation for whom
the new law is framed. There is danger, doubtless
for the United States in attempting to abolish
slavery, but there is infinitely greater danger in
shrinking fro the enterprise.