The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-06-11
From the Nao York Commercial -4doertisT.
Wcbster Meeting.

.
Notwithstanding the severity of the storm; and a
feeling pervaded all that gave good presage OF the
future. After brief remarks on the object of the
meeting, MURRAY HoFFMAs, esq, eloquently adj
dressed the audience, and was received with much
cheering. The Courier gives The following report
Of his inspiritng remarks:
FELLOW. CTrizEHs When | was requested by an
old friend 10 address you at THE time recalled to
nm my long absence from public meetings, the
want OF the habit OF addressing them, and my I'M
iegned consciousn IS OF inability 10 say any thin
worthy OF your acceptance, or OF the cause, " as
told that might rely upon your indulgence, and
that indulgence now solicit.
come not, gentlemen, TO claim your attention
as a tribute to political public services. | come
not o. win your attention hy Lessons of wisdom or
experience, nor to kindle your hearts for your
work with the fires of glowing eoquence. come
before you rs the humble representative of Il body
of men, who. from the shade Of private life watch
with deep concern the fluctuations of party sway,
II they rarely minglo in the struggle; men whoae
success and hopes are identified with the prosperity
and fame Of the country; lovers Of republican CON
si.utiona liberty, and advocates of The institutions
Of the nation in their noble and Coneerv alive
character. (Applause.I
When the country 10 ON the eve OF great event
when an election OF the chief OF empire rouses
into energy every element Of party strife, and all
the ardor Of honeat patriotism. the hearts of such
men parake OF the general spirit, and are stirred
with unusual life. They feel the importance of
the crlslsi they know the vast results depending;
they aware that this rests the course that the
country IL to tread, whether for danger or for
peace. for rest!essness or stability. Thus estinat-
ing and thus feeling the occasion with deep ankle.
ty, they seek for u leader. They look abroad upon
the cloudy, perhaps tempesuous, sea OF the future
and they cali for skill and courage at the helm
W here shall they find them-wherc will they
where do they look, but to that pilot Who has wen
thered go many storm; that statesman, patrot.
UnionIst, who has guidei the State in her direst
pers, and guided her to safety; where but TO Dan
iel Webster Great npplause.l
Gentlemen, came not here 20 pronounce \
eulogy upon that distinguished man. That euory
ID 10 be iound III the pcrmancnce Of the Constitu-
ton. the Union Of the States, and the prosperity OF
the land. But when we are asked reason Of the
TAI that ID In uS-when We are asked what has
hred him for the great station Of President of hese
United States, let US point to his abors the en-
during monuments of his qualifications, and the
unans~erable vindcation of our adherence. Ten.
thusiastic cheers.
We would have u great LAWYER upon great sub-
jects, yindcator oi chartered rights, and vested
interests, even against the might and usurpation of
a State, we turn TO that noble argument in the
Dartmouth College case which, it is not unjust TO
any to say, WAS the parent Of that famed decision
We would have u luminous, comprehensive and
consistent interpreter Of the Constitution; and we
dwell upon that matches exposition of its truth,
"the Constitution not a compact of States -
We seek for EN- undaunted devoted champion of
the Union. and We find him shivering to atoms the
sword OF secession, though evoked from its scab.
baTd by the mightest Magician OF the South. We
ask great statesman to uphold our name and
rights with foreign powers, and treaty after treaty
attest his consciousness OF the strength of the ma
tlon, and the lofty tempered dignity with which
ne asserts IT, we crave an unwavering supporter
OF the laws OF the land in their integrity and we
zee him unfinchiDg when even the cry of denun-
CATION arose In the home OF his affections and the
cradle o! his fame--when even Massachusetts,
seemed ready to abandon him. Prolonged cheers
Sir, will not attempt to cxhaust the record OF
his qualifications and deserts. | point to those
have stated not merely, not chiefly the fruits of
the noble intellect and expanded soul 0. a man
and patriot, but becauso every one of them 10
identified with some great question upon which the
preservation OF the public peace the vindcation Of
national honor, or the cause of constitutional truth
has largely depended. What then is his demerit.
Where ID his disqualification?
The cry has gone forth--the cry of disguised
hostility, of bewildering preference for others or
of unhappy delusion-that he is not available We
are told that with Daniel Webster as u leader We
snail struggle despalrlng OF success, and that de-
spar 10 the mother OF defeat. Gentlemen, there is
despair which, looking only upon the might Of
the foe Is the prophet OF dark tidings, but which,
when II turns lt5 gaze upon the Cause and the
champion, starts forth into indUmitable resolution
and triumphant strength. So teaches us the
greatest OF poets and keenest of human OBJ
servcrs On the eve Of the battle Of Agincourt the
English hosts sal
" Like doomed sacrifices, by their watchful free,
To ruminate the mornings danger"
rang over the field OF "God for Harry, England,
and st George" the storm OF English archery
swept away tie proud chiyalry OF France, and
pennon and banner and the orifamme itself went
down before Its resistess, victorious strength
Tremendous cheers We have the cause and
we have the man. The cause is that Of the Whie
party-a party whcee success has been perpetualy
identified with the dignity and prosperity of the
prostration has ever teen followed
by peril, and whose restoration has ever been ac-
companied by peace
What omens have these uiterers Of dark ssyings
have these augurs inspected 20
warrant their predictions! Have they consultcd
the understanding Of the people and found them
stognant' Have they looked into the hearts OF the
people and found them iileless! Wheresoever
Daniel Webster moves throughout this land he Is
met with an outpouring OF warm congratulation
and manly Irsise The unbought honors of the
Tree garland his path. [Appause. Who, then,
will be bold enough and calumnious enou gh 10 say
that there will be found one Wing throughout the
land who will not stand by the banner OF the par
ty if. when IL 10 unioldcd Tor the contest you find
inscribed upon it, oil radiant with the lights Of re-
nown and presage. OF victory, the name of Daniel
Webster?
Where will there be traitor or a lnggard then?
Not among the followers Of that eminent states- !
man, and the man now at the head of the Govern
ment, who is himself shining example of party
truth. Not among the bands who rally at the war
cry OF the gallant soldier and cOnsummate gene
raj whoso path from Chippewa TO Cherubusco ia |
Frightened With fidelity az well fame They
will come together with resoute hearts and
devoted zeal to struggle who shall bear the Wing
banner the fnrihest to the ranks of the foe. but
v ho is to be the opponent of the Wing candidate?
We do not meet here to depreciate, much lees to
traduce; but If that opponent succeeds, the people
OF the United States are TO be governed by one
whose only positive qualification 10 that he 10 un-
knorn.
Yet one thing OF him ia proclaimed. He is put
forth as the representative Of bigoted prose riptive
Democracy, arrhycd against the whole system Of |
Whig doctrines. Meet him. them on that ground |
BE that the issue. II must be the issue-the enemy
VIII make II 80. Go 20 the contest on that great
question:; utter your old cry of the battle be-
tween Whig conservatism and radical destructive
ness Fight the old 6ght-'uugglo for law, for
union, for true freedom Your feet will then be
upon your native henth--lhe long-tried weapons
will be in your hands, and you viii be invincibc.
But II we are to combat against the impersona-
ton OF radicalisn. let II be under the mpersona-
ton of republicansm; let ii be under chieftain
tried and tested in thousand fights for the Con.
sitution and the country, and triumphant in them
all. fGrcst applause Butit la said that the De.
mocrocy Of New England is to DO aroused to pre-
ternstural strength and carry New England for an
eastern Democrat What Do they suppose the
w hon ini nd