Richmond semi-weekly times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 184?-1853, 1852-06-11

lives to tile public interests. The highest mud
noblest aspirations of their lives, have been TO
blend their names with their country's history
to go down to posterity in that history as their
country's benefactors. They have filed public
places which have yielded but little emolument
NOT sufficient to give them a comfortable sub
slstence, considering the position they occupied
and the expenses to which they were necessari-
ly subjected. Who then will attempt to brand
them, by charging poverty upon them? What
parallel Is here presented for our contemplation !
Must that parallel continue Or will our Re-
pubic wake up and confute the charge so often
made, that Republics are ungrateful
But if this parallel is to continue, Mr. Web
ster like Clay is to be thrust aside. If the idea
| winch has gone abroad, is to prevail-that dis
tlngulshed talents and services are not to be re-
warded. what is the consequence Such men
| VIII seek other pursuts-pursuts which will en-
able them to accumulate wealth, the want of
which Is made such reproach. And you may
! nave hereafter Stephen Grards and John Jacob
Astors-but no more Henry Clays Or Daniel Web
| sters.
we are now broughtto the consideration of the
| subject of availability. Different opinions are
entertained on this subject. Some think it ought
to be discarded altogether; others appear to look
upon 1t as entitled to the most prominent import
ance. They scarcely look at any thing else
Their only inquiry is,-wi he run ? Thus, man.
kind are always inclined to run into extremes
1t would not do utterly to disregard it; if votes
would often be merely thrown away. But it must
certainly be considered as subordinate to qualifi-
cation and ought not to prevail at ALL unless there
Is some clear and solid ground for supposing that
candidate would not be acceptable to the people.
| Politicians who sometimes undertake to guide in
! this NATTER ought not to set up their own perso-
nal preferences much less Dug int they to be actu-
atedby sordid and selfish motives. This question of
availability is atoge her premature at present. At
| this stage OF the business, every one who has a
voice in the matter ought to consult his own
views of what would be the best for the country
under all the circumstances, and what candidate
would be the most likely to promote the true in
! terests OF the country. The proper time for
touching at all on the more subordinate question
OF availability, would be at the General Conyen-
ton. Then, by comparing views, that question
could be judicously adjusted. But, to do this it
is manifest that in primarily selecting the mem
bers of the Convention, the different sections
should consult and examine for themselves upon
the subject of qualification. If each section
should act, not upon its own views, but upon the
probable conjectures to what are the views in
other quarters. you would get in the Convention
not the candid opinions of the different sections,
but simply their conjectures to what other sec
tions light think. The result would be, an utter
absence of truthfuness.
| have INDUCED in these remarks, however,
simply to place the subec in what consider its
true light, and not to shrink from the investiga-
ton of the matter now.
do not hesitate to declare my entire convic-
ton that Mr. Webster is at this time decidedly
| the most available candidate that can be selected
| from any party, to go before the people of this
country. wish every part of my proposition to
be distinctly regarded. By the People, mean
not the Politicians-the middle-men, as Mr..
| Burke calls them-but the rank and file, the real
| homo andc tba
ann prepared to prove it,
| Mr.. Webster, whenever and wherever he goes,
commands more attention and regard among the
people, than any other candidate. Whether in
the country OF the city, in this direction OF that
direction, they are always anxious to meet him,
to greet him. to hear him. There is no man in
this country, except Mr.. Clay, who so complete
| ly fills the public eye-who commands so much
popular attention. This has increased within
few years past; but it is not Of short growth-its
| OF long continuance.
Look at him in the South--at Virginia Springs
for instance-where the people congregated from
the distance Of manylmes to see and hear him.
| Follow him to Dunkirk, thence to Buffalo, when
| thousands assembled and stood for hours, not only
in the open air, but in a heavy shower of rain,
listening with anxious attention to the lessons of
wisdom which fell from his lips
L, sometime since, went to Metropolitan Hall
| to hear the warbling ofthat melodous Scandinavian
Nightingale who had lately visited our shores
That large buidingswas filled to overlooking al
were alive to the scene, and wrapped in breath
| less amazement All at once some one dscov-
cred that Mr.. Webster in the gallery. A
thousand voices made the vast hall ring The
songstress was motioness and still amid the shouts
and huzzas for Webster After some ten OF ff-
| teen minutes, he arose and bowed to the au-
dience. The melody was then again heard
| Now any man believe, that Mr.. Webster
was unpopular with that audience!
| Last winter, when he came on here to address
the Historical Society, he remained over Sunday;
a sermon to be delivered by popular pulpit
orator to the young men ofthe city, some pub
lie occasion Mr.. Webster was invited by al friend
| to accompany him to that Churcn he went late:
the Church was filled with young men collected
promiscuously from every part of the city; as he
was seen walking up the aisle, the whole audience
rose to their feet and 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
and impressive was the eloquence 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 mis- ht 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 classes-in our
cities-in the country-in every part and portion
of the whole country, wherever he goes, after,
admire, desire to hear, to greet, to pay him eve
ry degree of respect and consideration-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
er public speakers. He treats his opponents with
respect, and states their arguments fairly, and
thus his opponents are not turned into personal
enemies.
But altogether we have nothing to fear from the
| great body of the people, we must never