The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1851-05-28
Mr.. Webster and the Wings of Yer
mont

The last BraftieL0ro Phnnir has a
very sensible article on the course two
ur three Wing papers of this State have
pursued with reference TO the ablest
statesman of the Wing party, and prom.
inent and important officer of the Ad-
ministration. We copy portion Of these
remarks, not because we approve of eve-
ry step Mr.. WEBSTER has taken, but be.
cause we deem it essential to do Justice
(if we can go no lurther) 10 a man who
has done so much to reuder his country
illustrious, and to whom, as party, we
are deeply indebted II Mr. WEBSTER
has been guilty of error, why should we,
as Wings, exaggerale that error. know
ing we must be more or less responsible
for his acts unless we separate from him
entirely Z Whatever his faults, this
country has no greater intellect than
DANIEL WEBSTER, and his fame will I've
a lasting inheritance to the Nationality
him now as we may. For one, we de-
sire to treat this great statesman fairly
thonrh we cannot claim to be his special
advocate, nor are we prepared to throw
Up our hat for him as The next President,
But to the article of the PhGnir:
"Ii has seemed The chief object Of the
Waterman and Free Press, for some
time past. to bring obloquy on Mr.. Webs
sier: TO hold him ss responsible for ev
erything that is odlous in the Fugitive
Slave Law, and to direct the hostility OF
the Wings OF the State against him,
rather than their political opponents.
"The fact, that Mr. Webster is singled
out, of all the Wings of the Union, for
attack, that all those, who, as members
of Congress, approved. and voted for the
Compromise, and who have sustained II
by their speeches in Congress and out Of
Congress, should be passed by, to reach
one who took no part in its passage, had
no vote 10 give upon it, and who now as
an officer of the Government simply
doing his duty in enforcing obedience.
and respec. foi the laws of Congress,
| lustifies suspicion that motives, other
than condemnation of the Fugitive Slave
| law, or the best interests Of The Wing
party, lie at the bottom of it. 1t is quite
certain To us, that if the natural aud leN
ultimate fruits of this course were TO fol-
low, and the strength and zeal of the
| Wing party be diverted from political
issues aud political adversaries, to per-
suual warfare upon Mr.. Webster, these
two papers will accomplish what our
enemies have been unable to do, the
overthrow of the Wing party of the
State.
Mr.. Webster, although not free from
faults. has done the State some service.
and he has some friends warm and zeal
Gus lriencs, among the Wings of this
State aud ont Of its 1t not the height
of folly to stir up bitter aud hostile feel
iugs between y higs who do, aud who
do not wholly approve of his course p
Shall we be better prepared for the Fall
Campaign, by exciting mutual dIstrnst,
jealousy and i'll feeling among ourselves
And yet, if th, is moi the only probable
result aud tendency Of this iucessant
warfare upon Mr.. Webster, what is it
{" Mr. Webster yielded. as he avows,
a reluctant assent to this obnoxious law,
as The best that could be obtained at The
time, - as containing in the admission Of
California, abolition of the slave trade,
aud other provisions, some substantial
concessions to freedom, and as an alter.
native to secession and civil war. We
have seen no reason to impugn his mos
tives, or to question the integrity or pat
riolism of his conduct. On the contra
ry the present attitude and conduct Of
South Carolina, now in open treason
against the Union, and the fierce strug>
giles of disunionisls in other States. prove
that the apprehensious Of Mr.. Webster
were well founded, and that something
evincing willingness, on the part Of the
| North, to observe in good faith the Com
| slilutional obligation 10 return fugitive
slaves was absolutely necessary TO
strengthen and supper, The sincere friends
Of the Union at the South. He may
| have erred. and in some respects mis-
judged, but in one thing he is right, and
IN il shall have our feeble support and
| that is, in a determination that the laws
| of the land shall be fairly executed"