The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-06-11
SPEECH OF A. III. LAWRENCE, ESQ,
at Meeting Of Yhigs. in Warrington Oily. May
1852

Ma. CHArRmAa: Very serious alarm is begin
ming TO be felt here TO the course If the Southern
Wing party In regard 10 the nomination and cleo
ton Of President.
IL 10 thought, by many Of our best and wisost
men. (and the opinion Id fast gaining ground.)
that we are upon the eve OF great political dan
ger, which has not until very recently nttra cted
much notice. danger which is not the less, but
rather The more alarming, that il is not be seen
in any very violent outbreak OF popular feeling,
nor in any measures oil Legislative Executive
encroachment, but will rather be felt tho silent
and secret alienation of one portion of our Union
from the other, and an introduction OF sectional
rather than national parues--the inevitable result
OF which will be that ichdteper measures may be
hereafter proposed, however offensive or hostile
they may be to other than the locality where they
originated. however rCpugnant 10 existing laws
or 10 the Constitution, or to good iaIth, NO MAN
uiH again be found reckless of his own quiet. 30
purely and dlainterestedIy regardless o! all person
al considerations stand forth, in opposition TO
the sentiments Of his constituency in supporto the
true interests OF the whole country. Sir, tear
that the Northern Conservative, Compromise
Webster Whigs, have some apparent reason to
complain Of their Southern Wing brethren as TO
the manner in which Mr.. Webster has been treated
in the meetings and assemblies at the South; and
yet am most happy to believe that the supposed
negerL has not arisen from any ungratefui forget
fulness Of Mr.. Webster's services to the whole
country, and especially 10 the South, or from any
want OF appreciation OF his great abilities his com
preuepeiye craftsmanship, bis truly national and
conservative and patriotic principles, far less from
disposition 10 overlook ana pa65 Dy tnOec cxCei-
lencics because they were found in a northern
man. but from mistaken impression that Mr..
Webster was hardly considered an dcailable can
didate for the Presidency among the Wings Of the
North themselves.
! believe that there ia no disposition in the South
TO overlook or depreciute the eminent services OF
Mr. Webster; that there ia felt for his self sacri
fcing and patriotic conduct ON the Compromise a
lively and profound respect and gratitude; and
that were Mr. Webster placed before them az a
nominee OF the Wing party, he would bring to
his support the entire strength OF the Whige OF the
South. And yet IL i5 nevertheless true, that In
almost all the resolutions Of southern meetings for
the choice Of delegates to the National Conven
ton, whilst the Compromise measures as :" final
ity are set forth az The single qualification 10 be
never lost sight Of in the choice Of q cand-
date. Mr. Webster ia rarely mentioned by name.
There is apparently, and judging only from the
resolu ions total forge,lulness Of Mr.. Webster
in the dispo siton - do honor to the present Pre- 81
dent. Our northern friends told, and We O.
lieve it to be 3d. that these resolutions have been
framed in compliment to the head OF an able and
distinguished administration; that they Indicate
no pereonai preferences and that in fact Mr.. Web
has the fullest and broadcast confidence OF the
S ,utheTn Wings. While we cordially concede to
Mr. Fillmore the high praise of having fearlessly
done his duty TO the Constitution and the country
in the hour of danger, feel that the effect which
this apparent neglect is producing on the feelings
Of the North is perhaps the worst indication OF the
times 1t is to be dreaded and avoided even more
than the excitement which preceded the passage
of the Compromise measures. IL viii DO more 10
undo those measures as a final settlement OF the
fearful questions then agitated than all the efforts
OF all the abolitioniss and socialists and rhapso
diets in the country IL Will DO more to weaken our
faith In the policy OF patriotism; It will do more to
sectionnlize parties il will do more to keep down
and repress broad and disiuierestcd views OF pub
lie afltts than all the objurgatons Of fanaticIsm
which have been hurled at the head Of the Secre'
tary .! State.
Even now il is said that Mr.. Webster ia the last
sat.siIan Of the North who will ever sacrifice him
10 has, al
Even already we tear that an abatement o! feeling
has al resdy begun 10 be felt amongst those who
have ihus lar gwen check to abolitiUpIsfn. Ihey
say already, il Daniel Webster is not TO be trusted
by the South, il is in vain expect hereafter any
support TO my northern man. II tbs services
Which be has rendere DO not entie hun to tho re-
GARD oi the whole country, no man can ever look
for il in time 10 come. IL was fearful crleis when
the Comps olnise was under discussion The dan
ger which was hanging over our country was
more imm nent than bad ever before threatened 1t.
Both parties were contending for extremes. The
Union itself was eli aking on Its very foundations
Good men, intelligent men, patriotic men, were
trt mbling for its safety. Clouds and darkness
were hanging over our country, and mems hearts
failing them for fear. In his crisis, the Sen
ator from Massachusetts s,ood forth. and it is not
too much say that he held the fate of this Mon
in the palma OF his hands. Had he given encour-
ngeuent 10 the Wild spirit of abolitionism which
was raging at the North--had he turned the infiu
ence o his great intellect and great name against
the constitutional rights of the South; or had he
made Of that theoretical rcpugnance to slavery
ia The batTact which IL general at the North, and
hnnod IL into consuming fire. the days OF this Re
pablo would have been numbered. This IS not an i
meaning grouDdless assertion. IL 10 susceptible
almost Of demonstration. Who docs not know
that took all of Mr. obster's great influence at
the North 10 carry with him even bis most devoted
tricnds' Who does not know that he has incur
red the rapcorous hatred of very considerable
portion Of the Wing party in the North Who
Does not know that Mr.. Webster not only haroyd-
cd, but that, for time. he actually ost that posi-
tion--1iaf proud posit on-which he bad up to that
time maintained undisputcd in the hearts OF the
people of Massachusetts, and TINT the doors u that
Cradle OF Liberty, which had been often the scene
of his triumphant displays OF eloquence and patri
otism, were actually closed against himl Thank
God! he has since been in FaneuiI Hal "opEN"
Every one knows this that knows any thing Of the
events which have transpired within the last two
years. II. then. such was The struggle which was
required to maintain the position even Of Daniel
Webster, in the State of Massachusetts, when taxi
ing the stand which he did al the demand OF lofty
national patriotism v no does not that the in
fucnce OF bis name, when thrown into the same
scale with the sectional feelings of the free States,
would have carried them in body against any
measures which looked like compromise with
slavery?
Now, IL is not too much TO cay that 10 Daniel
Webster more than TO any other man belongs the
credit Of having avcrtcd this awful calamity. To
him more than TO al other public men 10 TO be as
cribed the check which WIS given TO that danger
progress Of Rhotionsm in the free States,
consequences have alluded TO. For bis per-
sonaI popularity in his own section OF the country,
it wac truly hazardous proceeding. But he did
not regard his private fortunes in the public cause.
He SOW that his country in danger, and he
saked his all for that country. At that fearful
crisis ne knew no North, no Sou h nothing but the
UNroN. lie trusted that future times would do
justice to his moiives though the present might
cover him with uboquy.
Mr. Chairman. the only mode by which The con-
sttutional rights of the South can ever be pre-
eerved, is by the maintenance Of constitutional
conservative party in the nun slavehodng States.
OF course nrn not speaking now OF violent and
revolutionary measures, rosorcd TO in seIf-do
fence, against aggressive acts but of laws regu-
lsrly passed, aud which should not cndsnger tho
perpetuity If tho Union. ] repcat then, thof me
only mode consfentIy ,oh the safety " the Union by
sc, he cooss,f,osoi right, Of The South ,ciH Be pre-
s0ped, is by the encouragement and maintenance
OF consovaf,re Union party IN he free stale III
political abolition should ever become the prevail
sing policy Of the free Stntcs IL needs no prophet TO
foretcl that Aggressive measures would be
commenced upon the institution OF slavery.
1t necds no prophet TO forotsll that such ag
rreAsions would be resisted. And that would