The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-06-02
T H e R E 7 u BLIC.
Speech Delivered by George wood, Esq,
before Committee of che Friends OF

our worthy chairman that the object Of the address
this evening is to arouse your feelings ] hope he
did not a,ludc to myself, for | shall make no such
attempt. Owing to my indisposition have made
no preparation, except To note down few heads,
from which shall submit remarks, without
attempting to make a set speech
The cause Of our assembling ia. to consider the
propriety of nominating DAHiEL WEBSTER, as
candidate Tor tho Presidency, at the General Whig
Convention which Is soon to assemble i think
very erroneous views are entertained by many as
to the position of MIR. Webater before the people of
the country, and think il is high time that those
errors were removed. Ii shall be my endeavor this
evening TO present him in the true light. In doing
60 shall not attempt to dsparagoany OF the other
Wing candidates, whom hold in high respect.
have some personal acquaintance with most Of the
candidates on the oth,r side. | shall say nought
against them either. My subject docs not require
It, and have no disposition to do
look upon the selection Of a high officer Of the
Government in a very different light from thu [ in
which 1t is generally considered. Ii ia usaally
esteemed and treat ed as a privilege That ID the
point of view in which it is held in the country
from which we sprung, where all power and au-
thor!y are presumed TO emanate from the crown.
Hence an election is held forth a grand gala
day-a festive amuaement-the subject Of excite
mept, enthusiasm, and enjoyment-such as a set
Of rlaves who had just emerged from bondage
might indulge in. | consider, on the other hand,
the elective franchise on the part Of The people a5
an exercise of high political power, as import
ant function Of the Government. Like all such
public functions. it is attended with high RESPONSE
biltles, and should be performed under deep
sense OF duty. The making OF a legislator or a
President 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 10
be exempted from sense OF duty. 1T Is Just as
much the duty of those concerned IN the selection
Of President to look 10 his fitness and qualifca-
tons as II is the duty Of Legislature TO enact good
and wholesome laws, or of the President when
elected, duly to administer them
ii all viewed the subject in this light and
acted up to it, how differently would elections
be conducted.
We should not then be guided by mere personal
predictions or preferences What an admirable
lesson may take this point from the history
OF Cromwell! He ID generally held up o tyran-
nical usurper, who sacrificed his king that he
might r:e upon the ruins OF monarchy to supreme
power a military dictator When he took the
rens Of government, bis first effort was to select
the ablest and most efficient men for office. He
looked around for chief justice OF England. lie
saw one who loomed largely above the heads Of all
others as an eminent jurIst. IL was the venerable
Hale. the defender OF Laud, the opposer Of Crom
well's power Cromwell urged him to take the
office; Lord Hale WAS reluctant, because he was
opposed TO him, and wac CONSCIENTIOUS, and could
not sustain him. But Cromwell told him he had
selected him as the 'tffst man IN the country" and
for that reason alone; and Hale finally concluded to
take the office, though he was opposed TO the gov
crnment, for his country's good. Will the free
people OF this free country be outdonc by tyrnnt
IN performing the important function OF selecting
the high officers of the Government? should
hope not. Where two candidates equal in
point of fitness, personal preferences may he in
dulged in. Not SO whore there is superior fitness,
especially when that superiority is clear and de-
cided.
There are two topics TO be specially considered
when acandidatc is proposed for popular suffrage
qualification and Availability. Qualification stands
first IN order ard is Of for deeper importance.
# a d NCc o
upon the qualifications Of Daniel Webster. lie
is well known 20 be deeply verscd in the Consiitu-
ton o! hls country; he Is sSilcd in public law. No
man is extensively and infinitely acquainted
with the public history of this country IN all its de.
tails. He ia thoroughly acquaintcd with the for
eign relations OF the United States Ills reputation
for talent and requirement as statesman, both at
home and abroad, is far gr, ater than that Of any
other man. iIis talents have breadth and com
prehension that have seldom been equaed-n never
surpassed. Iii. experience has been great in all
the departments OF legislation and OF executive
government. To all this he ndds deep and cx
Iensivc knowledge of the laws Of THE country ]
think may venture to say that no other candidate
would venture to compete with him ia oil the elc-
moBts OF statesmanship; and when We consider
the high respCciaoility and cndowmcnts Of many
OF those candidates, a. is saying great DEAL though
not too much.
The only man In the country who would attempt
to challenge comparison with him would be
Henry Clay.
Mr. Webster has been well and severely tried in
his patriotism. We have great deal Of profession
on that subject. am not disposed to place much
confidence IN mere profession; and have general
u found that hUsc who deal the most proiuftly in
Il are the most ready TO sacrifice the general good
when IL comes in conflict with their persona! in
terest. But when man like Nj. Webster has
deliberately shaped his course and pursued IL at
the imminent risk OF his personal popularity, and
with the prospect Of losing oil his hopes OF prefer
mcnt, IN ortcr 10 promote " hat he considered for
his cOuntrys good, and efscutial TO its integrity
and salvation, he may be held to be well-trcd
patriot
have. must confess, heard Of ono objection TO
Mr.. Webster have heard il rumorcd that he has
been nt times more or lces embarrassed IN his itcu-
mary shairs and that when IN that prcdicamcn, nc
has iolt the nconvenionccs Of poverty and pccunia-
~ distress About this know personally nothing,
and have not heard much. ! nave 10 disposition
10 pry into The private affairs OF othcIs. IL is a
matter with which We have nothing to 90 la the
case OF Mr.. Webster, unless pcrcharcc Il may have
bearing upon hs mcrits az a candidate. The ar
sument against him Is this II a man cannot man
age well bis own private atIairs, be ought not TO be
trusted with the otlairs Of othcrs. Admitting the
argument 10 he iruc, II remains 10 show he truth
OF the major proposition applied to bim. Is IL
true thot Mr.. Webster cannot manage his own Of
iart? Or, the other band, is il not true merely
that he dos not manage them bccausc his time has
been devoted to The public Interests, and in grca;
measure CngrossCd with them. When MIR. Web.
stcr, in carly life, left the Housc OF Rcprcscr-
tatvcs, aud moved to Boston, he determined 90 de-
vote himself 10 his profession. But hc not sui
fercd 10 remain there; he urged and drawn
away from IL by the prCssin solicitations of friends
and political men, all over the country, TO engage
ngain IN public affairs. He has consequently been
able only occasionally, and sort % byc-bu5i.
ness, to pursue hs profession He may ever since,
be said to have lived and brcathed In the public in
stitutons OF the country To them all bic energies,
all his thoughts all his reflections have been dcyot
cd. How, then. could he compete with others in
the management and acquisition Of private pro.
pcrty' But Mr.. Webster does not stand alone IN
this partlCuar; Mr. Pit wac embarrassed; his coun-
try, after his death, paid bis dcts; he, there.
tore, unfit 70 manage public aiIair.s Jefferson and
Hamilton were embarrassed; who doubts th,ir com
potency? MIR. Clay has been cmbarrass,d, ani h g
debts have been paid for him; who viii stand up
aud say that hc ls not an accomplished and oth
cieut statesman2
There Is similnrity, in some respects, IN the
fate and fortune Of thcsc two mcu-C5y and
NcJsicr-that is very striking They we're born
without any patrimonial estute They inherited
from their parents poverty and good honest
name. They have devoted the beet days Of their
lives to the public interests. The highest and no
bcst aspirations Of their lives have been TO blend
thcir name with their cOuutry's history-to 20
down 70 pUstCrity IN that history their cuuutry's
bcuciactors. They have filled pubic places which
tavC yielded but little cnOlumcnt-BOt sufficient
hon