Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1852-05-18
LETTER FROM MR. wrpsrtp

LETTER FROM MR.. WEBSTER.
The Hon. Daniel Webster having been invited
tovisit the town of Plymouth, Massachusetts, on
the occasion of the visit of M. Kossuth to that
town, has returned the following answer to the
committee of invitation:
MARsHFIELD, May 10, 1859.
Gntle men Il had the honor to receive this
morning your very respectful and kind invitation,
In behalf OF the citizens of Plymouth to meet
them on Wednesday, the occasion of the visit
OF Governor kossuth to your ancient and distin-
gulshed town. l regret to say that the accident
to which you refer, though not likely to be attend
ed by permanent evil consequences, was yet such
as will necessarily oblige me to remain at home
for some days to come.
4our guest is an exile who has fled from his ma
tive land in consequence OF the results of poti-
cal struggles. As such he has been received in
this country by the constituted authorities of the
General Government, and many of the State
Governments, as well as by large masses of the
people, in those parts of the country which he
has visited 1t is doubt true, as you suggest
that he must feel strong emotions while standing
on the spot where our pilgrim fathers landed
They, too, were exiles, having left their homes
and all that dear to them in their native land
that they might enjoy, on an unknown shore, and
In the midst of a savage wilderness, tle blessings
VI upeIty, anu Ulllu anu Tree
of civil government. The landing itself, connect
edwith its object and the circumstances accom-
phying it, will not fail to excite his sympathies
and sensiblliJies the results which have flowed
from 1t IN the course of the two hundred and thr-
ty years which have since gone by, will be sure
to engage disregard and admration and his mind,
ardent and enthusiastic it is may yet we'll stag
ger under his view of the FUTURE if he shall allow
histhoughts to wing their flight into the midst of
ages and ages yet to come.
Nothing human can be absolutely certain of
long continuance; but if we, and those who shall
come after us, from generation to generation, shall
maintain the leading principles upon which our
institutions are founded and according to which
the Government has been administered from its
earliest days, we may hope for as much perpetuity
OF our political blessings may fall to the lot of
man. The first of these main principles I'M
doubtedly is the maintenance of public liberty and
equal rights and entire liberty of religious opin
ions, under weldefned constitution of civil
government. And, as essential to the mainte-
nance of such government, under the circumstan-
in which the Constitution of the United States
was formed, and which still exist there must be
an abiding and unwavering attachment to the
Union OF the States. accompanied always by eau
tlous and conscientious regard for all the rights
| reserved and secured to those States by the Con-
stitution ITSELF Providence has placed this coun-
try in political condition in which both liberty
and union are absolutely necessary for its happi-
ness, and in which it is difficult TO imagine how
either could subsist alone. A distinguished per-
| sonage of antiquity said that the world could not
bear two suns but in our political hemisphere it
appears to me that cloud and darkness would set
| tie upon us the moment we should cease to enjoy
the united light of the two mild, benefieent bril-
| liant and glorious orbs of Liberty and Union.
Another great principle upon which our system
is founded and which has characterized the ad-
ministration of the Government from the begin
ning is the absolute equality of nations. We hold
to this AS an elementary doctrine and while we
exercise our own independent choice in respectto
| forms OF government we concede the same right
OF choice to other organized political comlnuni-
| miles, Whether nations be larger or smaller, if
In fact they be nations, if they DO of the civilized
political communities ofthe earth, then are their
rights equal, and their title to respect from each
other equal. Each governs itself and has Just au-
thorlty to do So One star exceeds another star
In glory but they are still all stars moving each in
its proper orbit and all held together by the great
attractive power of the universe. But all this by
nomeans implies that we feel no interest or con-
Germ in questions which respect the forms of gov
eminent in other States We are attached to free
popular repre- entatlve governments, from the full
est conviction that such governments, established
over Intelligent communities, are most productive
OF human happiness; and the great duty we owe
the world IS, to show that these convictions are
well-touuded, and to prove by our example, in an
age OF progress and rapidly increasing light and
knowledge, that the masses of the people, if reli-
gious, moral, and well-educated, may be safely
| trusted with self-government.
GU are pleased, gentlemen, to speak of me as
Of one who has rendered some service to the coun-
try 1t is true that, in that service, great por-
ton ofmy life has been spent, and efforts have
been made by me, from time to time never
Trust, without patriotic purpose, never without la
Dor aid care, and sometimes not without the most
overwhelming anxiety If have ACCOMPLISHED
any thing Tor maintaining the institutions of the
country civil ndreigious, Irejoice at it: and YOU
may be assured, gentlemen, that so far as any
man may rely tor consistency, on his own settled
oplhlons ana most determined purposes, what
nave been, and what lam, I shall continue to be-
to the end.
Again thank you for your invitation and pray
you to assure MY neighbors, the citizens of Ply
itouth mat their pleasure in seeing me could not
surpass that which should feel in being among
them, on any occasion which is to call them to.
gether, and likely to afford them qualification.
Your obliged fellow citizen and humble servant
DANIEL WEBSTER.
10 John Russell, A. L. Russell, E. C. Sherman.
Moses Bates, jr., esqs., Committee, &c., Ply
mouth, Massachusetts.
EXT RAoRDINARY OPERATIoN.-Commercial circles
were highly excited by which took placeon
Tuesday last in which the fair dealing one of eur largest
dealers in Western Produce has been seriously
We torbear giving the of parties, prssuming
that the affair will in due time be made public in an an
tnentlc orm As far gather them from resnon
sols sources the facts follows The large Western
merchnt referred to- some months ago made written
contrast with firm in the city, furnish them with 6OoO
barrels OF pork at S4 so per barrel Since the contract
was made pork has gone SIT co. and the
found bad scrape On the day that contract
was 70 be performed he appeared however before mem
Der OF the firm fthe other party and made tender Of
ths PORK demanding the price Immediately to wit: the
Preuy sum OF $4,000 in cash. 1t then past the bank
nsu and the firm requested the contractor to wait until
they could step out and draw the money IL. anread