Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1852-06-10

That large building was filed to overtlowing all
were alive to the ene and wrapped In breath
less amazementl All at once some one discoy-
cred that MIR. Webster in the gallery. A
thousand voices made the vast hall ring The
sonsstress was motionless and still amid the shouts
and huzzas for Webster After some ten fif-
teen minutes, he arose and bowed to the au-
dience. The melody then again heard
Now can any man believe, that Mr.. Webster
was unpopular with that audience
Last winter. when he came on here to address
the Historical Society, ne remained over Sunday;
a sermon was to be delivered by popular pulpit
orator to the young men ofthe city, on some pub
lie OCCASION Mr. Webster was invited by afriend
to accompany him to that Church; he went late
the Church was filled with young men collected
promiscuously from every part of the city; as he
was seen waking.upthe aisle, the whole audience
rose to their feet aud continued standing till he
took his seat. There were, of course, no shouts.
That solemn stiffness which the influence of re-
ligion can inspire, reigned. And yet, how deep
aud impressive the eoquenee OF that silence
in developing the emotions of the soul Would
those young men, thus regarding him, refuse to
support him for the highest office in the gift of
our Republic
have adyerted to those few instances. among
the vast number that might be cited if we had
time, in order to illustrate my argument. | has
ten to give you the result The public man
whom the people ofall ages-of all casses-in our
cities-in the eountry-in every part and portion
of the whole country wherever he goes, run after,
admire, desire to hear to greet, to pay him eve
~ degree-of respect and consderation-that man
cannot be unpopular. There is one trait in the
character of Mr.. Webster, in his public inter-
course and debates, that deserves particular no.
tice, and which distinguishes him from most 9TH
err public speakers. He treats his opponents with
respect, and states their arguments fairly, and
thus his opponents not turned into personal
enemies.
But altogether we have nothing to fear from the
great body of the people, we must never
theless admit that there are serious difficulties in
the way. [ shall now endeavor to point out
where the real difficulty lies.
Our constitution places the elective franchise
in the hands of the people. But it is not so in
practice. The body ofthe people exercise only
branch of the elective power-usages, in the
course of time, rise up and become connected
with all law, whether municipal or fundamental.
They form what is called the unwritten common
Law. When they become engratted upon the
constitution, they form what may be called con-
stitutionai common Law. lfthey do not acquire
the same kind of legitimate force, which the con-
stitution possesses-they are often like manners,
quite as potent in their operations. We are di-
vided in this country always into great parties,
which parties have generally been considered the
bane of RepubIics-5ut an idea now prevails
extensively in this country, that they are essen
tia to liberty. | shall not discuss that matter
now. But in the actual workings of our insttu-
tons through these parties, the candidates for
high offices, are selected by active politi-
cal partizans, whom Burke calls the middle
saem. They have regular course of machinery
to move-and woe be to the candidate, who at
tempts to escape the application of their engi-
neering. By means of this, they prepare the re-
spective candidates. who are laid before the peo-
pie, to be voted for. In this respect, there is q
resemblance between these movements, in re-
gard to the elective franchise, and the proceed
ings in the ancient Republics, in matters of Lee
gisaton, where Senatorial, other body
prepared the laws, and thus prepared, they were
laid before the people, for their enactment by
vote.
TO CnNCIunEn.l