Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1849-1856, 1852-06-10

tsStiiihi w ~ iitSiH( tNu eulNulloii, HC
may be held TO be IA well-tried patriot
have, ! must confess, heard of one
objection to Mr.. Webster. have
heard IL rumored that he has been al
times more or less embau assed in his
pccuniary affairs, and that ahen in that
predicamcnl he has felt the inconvcn-
cnces Of poverty and pecuniary distress.
About this | know personally nothing,
and have not heard much. have no
disposition TO pry into the private affairs
OF others. Ii 10 IA matter with which we
have nothing TO do in the case OF MIR.
Webster uni IS perchance il may have
n bearing upon his merits as a candi-
date. The argument against him is
;his: II IA man cannot manage well his
own private affairs he ought not TO be
trusted with the affairs OF others. Adj
mItting the argument to be true. il re-
mains to show the truth Of the major
proposition as applied TO him. ls il true
that MIR. Webster cdHnt manage his
own affairs Or, on the other hand Is
il not true merely that he does not man
age them because his time has been de-
voted TO the public Interests, and in
great measure cngrossed with them z
When Mr.. Webster, in early life, left
the House OF Representatives and moved
to ostor. he determined to devote him
sell to his profession. But he WAS not
suffered TO remain there he was urged
and drawn away from il by the pressing
solicitations OF friends and political men,
all over the country, 10 engage again IN
public affairs. lie has consequently
been able only occasionally and as a
sort of bye-business TO pursue his pro-
iession. He may ever since be said to
have lived and breathed in the public
institutions of the country. To them all
his energies, all his reflections have
been devoted. How, then, could he
compete with others in the management
and acquisition Of private property 2
But Mr.. Webster does not stand alone
in this particular. Mr.. Pitt was en-
barrassed his country, after his death,
paid his debts was he therefore unfit
to manage public affairs ? Jefferson and
Hamilton were embarrassed who doubts
their competency? Mr.. Clay has been
embarrassed, and his debts have been
paid for him. Who W i'll stand up and
say that he is not an accomplished and
efficient statesman
There is similarity in some respect,
in the fate and fortune of these two
nen-CLAyNnd WEBSTER that 10 very
striking. They were born without any
pa,rilnonial estate. They inherited
from their parenisipoverty and good
honest name. They have devoted the
best days of their lives to the public in
tcrcsts. The highest and noblest aspir-
a,ions Of their lives have been to blend
their names with their country's history;
TO 90 down to prosperity in that history
rs their country's beneiactors. They
have filled public places which have
yielded but little emolumcnt-not SUI
lcient 10 give them comfortable sub
sisiancc, considering the position they
occupied and the expenses 10 which
they were necessarily subjected. Who,
then, will attempt to brand them, by
charging poverty upon them ? What
parallel Is here presented for our con-
temptation Must that parallel Con-
linue? Or will our Republic wake UP
and coniu,e the charge, so often made,
that republics are "ngrateiul
But this parallel is TO continue, MIR.
Webster, like Mr.. Clay, is to be thrust
aside. II the idea which has gone
abroad is TO prevail, tha, distinguished
talents and services are not 10 be re-
warded, what is the consequence p
Such men will seek other pursulls-pur-
suits which will enable them To accumu-
late wealth the want Of which is made
such a reproach. And you may have
hereafter Stephen Girards and John Ja-
cob Astors, but no more Henry Clays or
Daniel Wcbstcrs.
We are now brought to the consider
alton OF the subject Of availability. Dii-
/ ferent opinions are entertained on tins
subject. Some thing it ought to be dis
carded altogether others appear TO
look upon il ns entitled TO the most pro-
mirent importance. They scarcely look
at any thing else. Their only inquiry
is will he run Thus, mankind are al
ways inclined 10 run into extremes. lt
would not do utterly 10 disregard it; if
so, votes would often be merely thrown
away. Bu, it must certainly be consid-
! cred as subordinate TO qualification, and
it ought not 10 prevail at all, unless there
! is some clear and solid ground for sup.
! posing that a candidate wonld not be ac.
ccprable TO the people. Politicians, who
somcim undertake T. guide in this
matter. ought not TO set up their own
/ person Il preferences, much less ought
they to be actuated by sord.d aud selfish
motives This question OF availability
| is altogether premature al present. AT
This stage Of The business, every one has
voice IN the matter ought 10 consult
! his own virws OF what would be best
Tor the country under all the circumstan-
\ ccs, and what candidate wuull be the
! mos, likely 10 promote the true interest
OF the country. The proper time for
|, touching at all on the more subordinate
\ question Of availability would be at the
I, General Convention. Then, by con.
I pairing views, that question could be u
\ diclously adjusted. But to do this, il is
manifest that in primarily selecting the
members of The Convention the different
sections should consult and examine for
! themselves upon the subject oi qualiiica-
tion. II each section should act, not
uron is own views, but upon the prob
\ able conicctu-cs as TO what are the
A views IN other quarters, you would get
I, in the Convention. not the candid opIn-
I ions OF the different sections, but SIM
I! ply their conlectures as 10 what other
|, sections might think. The result would
], be an utter absence OF truthluness.
4 have induIged in these remarks,
however simply to place the subject IN
4 what ! consider It's true light. and not to
shrink from the investigation Ct the mat
\ ter now.
\ do not hesitate to declare my entire
conviction tina, Mr.. WEBSTER is at this
time decidedly the mos, available
candidate that can be selected fom any