Richmond semi-weekly times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 184?-1853, 1852-06-11
1 RpEEnif

mittec Of tie friends Of Daniel Webster, at Con.
st'tut'on Hail. Ncto York, on Tuesday euening,
4M May, 1852.
FELLOW CITIZENS:
You have just been told by our worthy Chair
man, that the object of the addresses this evening.
Is to arouse your feelings. l hope he did not al
Jude to myself, for | shall make no such attempt.
owing to my indispostion l have made no prep
aratlon, except to note down few heads, from
which shall submit to you some remarks with
out attempting to make a set speech.
The cause of our assembling, is. to consider the
propriety ofnominating Daniel Webster, as a can
didate tor the Presidency, at the general Wing
Convention, which is soon to asse mble. T think
very erroneous views are entertained by many.
as to the position of Mr.. Webster, before the peo
pie of the country, and I think it is high time
thattilose errors were removed. 1t shall be nv
endeavor this evening to present him in the true
light. In doing so, | shall not attempt to dspar-
age any of the other Wing candidates, whom I
hold in high respect | have some personal
acquaintance with most of the candidates on the
other side. shall say nought against them Ell
Their. My subject does not require it, and have
no disposition to do so.
| look upon the selection of high officer of the
government in very different light from that in
which it isgeneraly considered. It is usually es-
teemed and treated a privilege. That is the
point of view ia which it is held in the country
from which we sprung, where all power and au-
thority are presumed to emanate from the crown.
Hence an election is held forth as a grand gala
day-a festive amuscment-the subject of excite
men enthusiasm and enjoyment-sach as a set
OF slaves just emerged from bondage might in
dulge ill., | consider, on the other hand the cleo
tive franchise on the part of the people as an ex-
ercise of high political power as an important
function Of the Government Like all such pub
lie functions it is attended with high responsible
tiles, and should be performed under deep sense
OF duty. The making of Legislator or a Presi-
dent Is as important an act of political power as
the enactment of laws or the administration of
executive functions. 1t is part and parcel of our
system OF government, and no part of it ought to
be exempted from sense of duty. 1t is Just as
much the duty of those concerned in the seec-
ton of President, to look his fitness and quail
iicatons as It'll the duty of legislature to enact
good and wholesome laws, or of the President,
when elected, duly to administer them.
Ii we all viewed the sub Jet in this light and
acted upon it. how differently would our elections
be conducted.
We should not then be guided by mere person.
al predictions or preferences. What an admit
rable lesson we may take on this point, from the
history OF Cromwell. He is generally held up
ms tvranlcal usurper, who sacrificed his king that
iiO IISo Ou OF monarchy TO supreme
power as military dictator. When he took the
reins Of government his first effort was to select
the ablest and most efficient men for office He
looked around for chefjustice of England He
saw one who doomed largely above the heads of
all others as an eminent urist. 1t was the vene-
rabie Hale, the defender of Laud, the opposer OF
Cromwe's power. Cromwell urged him to take
the office; Lord Hale was observation-disclosures he
was opposed to him and was conscientious, and
could not sustain him. But Cromwell told him
he had selected him the "fhest man in the
country" and for that reason alone, and Hale fl
nally concluded to take office, though he was OPP
posed to the government for his country's good.
Will the free people of this free country be out
done by tyrant in performing the important
function of selecting the high officers of the gov
erment! | should hope not. Where two can
didates equal in point of fitness personal pre-
ferences may be INDUCED in. Not so, where
there is superior fitness especially when that su-
perority is clearand decided.
There are two topics to be specially consid-
cred when a candidate is proposed for popular
suffrage-qualifcation and availability. Quaif-
cation stands first in order and is of far deeper
Importance.
1t seems like work of supererogation to dwell
upon the qualifications of Daniel Webster He
is we'll known to be deeply versed in the Constitu-
ton Of his country; he is skilled in public law No
man is so extensively and infinitely acquainted
with the public history of this country, in all its
details. He is thoroughly acquainted with the
foreign relations of the United States His rep
utation for talent and requirement as states
man, both at home and abroad, is far greater than
that Of any other man. His talents have breadth
and comprehension, that have seldom been
equaled-never surpassed. His experience has
been great in all the departments of legislation
and OF executive government. To all this he
adds deep and extensive knowledge of the laws
of this country. | think [ may venture to say
that no other candidate would venture to compete
with him in all the elements of craftsmanship,
| and when we consider the high responsibility
and endowments of many of those candidates
it is saying great DEAL though not too much.
The only man in the country who would at
mpt to challenge comparison with him, would
be Henry Clay.
Mr.. Webster has been we'll and severely tried
in his patriotism. We have great deal of pro-
fession on that subject. am not disposed to place
much confidence in mere profession, and | have
generally found that those who deal the most pro-
usely in it are the most ready to sacrifice the ge-
neral good, when it comes in conflict with their
personal interest. But, when a man like Mr..
Webster has deliberately shaped his course and
pursued it at the imminent risk of his personal
popularity, and with the prospect of losing all his
hopes Of preferment, in order to promote what he
considered for his country's good, and essential to
its integrity and salvation, he may be held to be
a we'll tried patriot.
have, must confess, heard of one objection
to HIr. Webster. | have heard it rumored that
he has been at times more or less embarrassed in
his pecuniary affairs and that when in that pre-
dicament he has felt the Inconvenience of power
ty and pecuniary distress. About this, l know
personally nothing, and have not heard much. l
have Ia DrV into the nliyata affair
of others. 1t "a matter with which we have no.
thing to do in the case of Mr.. Webster, unless
perchance it may have bearing upon his mer-
its as candidate. The argument against him is
this. If man cannot manage well his own pri-
vate affairs he ought not to be trusted with the
affairs Of others. Admitting the argument to be
true, it remains to shew the truth of the major