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

disunion to rouse a national feeling and TO pros
trate the hopes of those who, acting on opposite
principles in different parts OF the country, mar
monized only in the endeayor to destroy the Con-
stitutiVnY
Few persons, not at Washington at the time, are
aware of the height TO which sectional excitement
and auimosites had risen. To those who are we'll
Informed as TO the real state OF things II Is known
that condition of affairs Of the most formidable
nature existed. The disruption of the Union was
an event which stared men in the face. Had that
session of Congress passed over, with nothing done
calculated to allay the discomfort Of the Southern
States, and to check the progress Of extreme opln
iona in other parts of the county, it may be doubt
ed whether another session of Congress could have
been held
In a word moment of imminent peril had
rived, and MAN was needed for the crisis 1t
necessary that he should be one OF the highest
standing and character, of the most commanding
eloquence and influence, fearless at once and Pru-
dent, and ready TO risk favor and fame IN the DIS
charge of conscientious duty to the country. such
man was found in Mr.. Webster; and, cordially
as acknowledge the merit and services OF many
other distinguished individuals, we ask with con-
fdence whether another could have been iound
uniting the qualities in the same degree, and
go oircumstanced as to perform with equal success
the arduous duty required by the critical condition
of the country? Does any one now see, or can any
one now point out another member OF Congress,
fitted by local position, by character, talent, and
political association, TO discharge the duty which
performed by Mr. Webster on the 7th OF March.
1880?
His speech of that day is to be regarded not more
as parliamentary effort than event in the
history of the country. Everywhere at the South
il welcomed with enthusiasm and gratitude,
and produced an instantaneous and powerful erect
on public sentiment. Rejecting men at the North,
who had been not only doubtful, but ieariully anx
ious in regard to the preservation Of the Union,
found in it the exposition of those principles, on
which this greatest OF blessings might be hoped
| for II cannot be denied that II presented views
! repugnant TO the preconceived opinions OF large
number of well disposed and patriotic citizens OF
! fta Nnrth htat "a hplt
| opportunity of further reflection have convinced
many even of them that the doctrines OF the
speech those of the Constitution and the laws
and that, il these departed froIn separation OF
| the States is inevitable.
The influence of this speech throughout the
country manifest. Letters and ad
dresses, signed by hundreds and thousands OF per-
sons of the highest respecability, poured in upon
Mr.. Webster from every quarter, plodglng the
support of their signers and cheering him onward
in his career. II was impossible that he should not
have been aware of the hazards he was about TO
run, or that the duty he had undertaken was no
pastime. But he has been nobly sustained, and
often from quarters the most unexpected Mean
time his strength seems TO have increased with the
labors and exertions demanded by the condition OF
affairs His various address cs TO public meetings.
and his answers to letters received by him through
out the remainder of the year 1850, have displayed
energy OF thought, power of writing and OF
speaking, and general vigor and activity OF
mind, such as he had never evinced In his ear
her years This occasion has seemed to call forth
triotic feeling of his heart In the midst OF the
excitement incident to the state of affairs, while
called upon to address tho people on public occa-
siopH of every description, with an overwhelming
correspondence, and under the burden OF the cur
rent duties of the Department OF State, he found
time 10 write the letter to Chevalier Hulseman Tor
which Legislatures have returned him votes OF
thanks, which has gratlted every American heart,
and which has been printed, translated, and read,
at home and abroad, moro extensively, we pre-
sumo, than any other American production
Nor did his labors cease with the immediate oc-
casion which called them forth. Public opinion
seemed still to demand the continuance OF his ex-
ertions and who has not witnessed with astonish-
ment his speeches and letters during the present
year. especially those speeches which were deliv-
cred by him in New York, from Lake Erie to the
sea, following each other with unexampled rapid,
ty. and exhibiting power of reasoning, force oil
eloquence, and an ardor OF patriotism never sur
passed, unless by himself in his great and crown
ing effort occasion of laying the corner stone OF
the Capitol on the 4th of July.
Let US not be thought to claim exclusively Tor
Mr.. Webster the praise of great and patriotic eff
fort in which others participated. We freely ana
cheerfully admit that, in order to accomplish the
great work of national Cancellation, the patriotic
cooperation of other distinguished men and lead
ing statesmen, in various parts OF the country, was
ndspensablv necessary. Such co-operauon was
rendered with tho warmcst zeal and the highest
ability too large measure of praise cannot be
accorded to the patriotic statesmen who without
distinction of party, contributed their efforts TO
rescue the country from the Impending catas-
trophe .;,u..
to the wisdom and frmness of President Fillmore,
and to the seadiness, prudence, and courage with
which he has administered the Government, In
season OF unexampled difficulty.
II Is quite evident, however, to any one VINO VIII
attentively consider the state of opinion in and
of Congress in 1850 that all other influences,
however important, would have been unavalllng,
but for the afforded by the speech OF Mr.
Webster that the persons of the greatest influence
and highest standing at the North might be de-
pended on as firm friends of the Union, and ready
10 carry the Constitution faithfully into effect, even
when its provisions least in accordance with
the public opinion of that part of the country.
Who can doubt that the speech of Mr.. Webster,
and his subsequent efforts, have been chiefly IN
strumcntal in exposing the baneful effects OF sys-
tematic agitation, in impressing upon honest and
patriotic citizens of constitutional duty,
and in reaesurng good and faithful men through
out the country that the Union of the States is des
tined to endure? We believe that all persons who
take an impartial view of our politics will concur
in the opinion that while the existence of this agi
tation formed the chief source of danger to the
Union in 1850, the speech of Mr.. Webster, more
than any other cause contributed to avert the ca
tsstrophe. II may be left to the intelligent and
candid to decide whether the recent auspicious re-
suit of the southern elections is not mainly owing
to the belief that Mr.. Webster's course this &C
casion, has been sustained by the mass Of the two
great political parties in the non slaveholdlng
States, with whatever violence il may be denounced
by the third party recently formed on the basis OF
anti slavery agitation.
Inc conduct OF Mr.. webster, as puDnc man,
for full generation, is now before the public. The
greater part of that time he has passed in Congress-
with what honor to his immediate constituents, and
what benefit to the country at large, need not be
said. Twice he has been called to an important
executive position as Secretary of State. We have
already spoken of the manner in which he per-
formed the duties of that Department in lSfl and
1872 We have pointed out the success with which
he disposed OF controversies alike inveterate and
embarrassing, and preserved the peace Of the coun-
try on honorable terms, at moment when 1t
seemed all but hopeless to avoid On the la
mented decease of General Taylor he was again
invited to the Department of State by President
Fillmore. We are confident that the whole coun-
try will bear out in saying that when, in the ex-
tremely difficult crisis of affairs which then exist
ed he took charge of the Department, there was no
Of the leading atesmen of the country clear
ly indicated by public opinion for the office. That
this Administration has greatly won upon the con-
fidence of the country, il is superhuous to say
The people satisfied that If the Union ia to be
preserved it is on that platform upon which the
Administration has placed itself; the platform laid
down by MI. Webster in his speech of the Tth OF
March. They not lees satisfied that the honor
of tIe ma he aafely cd the