The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1852-11-09
RICHMOND, VA.
GEOGRAPHICAL NOTICE OF DANIEL
WEBSTER.
ICON TIN Ed.

Continued
In the month Of November, 1886, Mr.. Van
guren was chosen President of the United
States. In the succeeding February, Mr..
Webster, in the course Of an address delivered
before large popular assemblage at Nibio's
Saloon, foretold the crisis impending over the
country. That crisis was FASTENED by the ia
nous Specie Circular, the object of which was
to draw the public depostes from the State
Banks in which they had been placed. An i'm
mediate suspension Of specie payments was
the consequence, and Mr.. Webster, who, in
the spring of 1887, for the first time, made the
tour Of the Western States, amid unusual de-
monstrations Unpopular respect and adm'ra-
lion, had the melancholy satisfaction of every
where seeing the fulfilment Of his prediction.
To such a height had the public distress
risen, that one of Mr.. Van Buren's first ofilclal
acts was to call an extra session OF Congress,
10 be held in September, 1887. In his mes
sage, he recommended, for the first time, the
fnanc al plan, known as the "Sub-Treasury
System" which required rigid exaction of
specie for all sums due TO the government
Regarding this as impossible of accom-
plshment, in the then existing condition
of the country, MIR. Webster opposed it with
all the zeal and eloquence Of which he was
master, and being ably seconded by other
great men of the party TO which he belonged,
they succeeded in defeating it by large ma
iority. To the surprise of the whole country,
Mr.. Calhoun, who HAD sustained the Bank of
the United States with great zeal, and had de-
nounced, in unmeasured terms, the whole
financial policy of Gen. Jackson's Administra-
ton, appeared now as the champion CT the
"Sub Treasury System" He not only ex-
pressed opinions favorable to it, during the
extra session, but after its adjournment, elabo-
rated them in a letter to his constituents. Still
more at large, he expressed himself in its favor,
in a speech delivered during the regular SEES
sion of 1887 -'38, wherein he maintained that it
was no more than an attempt to carry out the
Joint resolution Of April 30th, 1876 which had
been introduced by Mr.. Webster in a crisis
like the present, and had been the means ofre-
storing specie payments. This allusion called
out Mr.. Webster, who, on the 18th of March,
made the most elaborate speech he had ever
TO show, and completely succeeding in show
ing that there was no analogy whatever be-
tween the two measures. He argued the con-
sttutional right of the General Government TO
use convertible paper in the transaction of
its business, and to employ Banks for the
- e. tno,
the case, from contemporaneous expositons Of
the constitution, and from the practice of all
preceding Administrations, including that OF
General jackson himself. He said that the
opinion of every leading statesman of the
country, MIR. Calhoun not excepted, had been
declared in its favor, and he reviewed the
course of that gentleman in such way, as I'M
avoidably TO suggest the idea of inconsistency,
though he did not make the charge in direct
terms. A few weeks after, Mr.. Calhoun re-
reply, dwelt with extreme severity upon Dir.
Websters course during the war of 1912. As
this is the only occasion on which these two
great men ever INDUCED in anything approach
ing mutual recrimination, we shall be excused
for inserting the rejoinder of MIR. Webster to so
much Of his opponents speech as was person
al. |: exhibits a true history of his whole con-
gressional career during the war, and is the
best correction of the numberless misrepresen-
tations of his enemies, some of whom huve en-
deavored to implica,e him in the Hartford
Convention treason.
"But, Sir, before attempting that, he GMr.
Calhoun has something else to say. He had
prepared, it seems, to draw comparisons him
self. He had intended TO say something, if
time had allowed, upon our respective opinions
and conduct in regard the war. If time had al
lowed! Sir, time does allow, time must al
low. A general remark of that kind ought not
TO be, cannot be, left to produce its effect, when
that effect is obviously intended to be unfavo.
rable. Why dd.ihe gentleman allude to my
votes or my opinions respecting the war at all,
unless he had something to say Does he
wish to leave an underlined impression that
something was done, or something aid, by me,
not now capable of defence or Justification
something not reconcilable with true patriot
ism? He means that or nothing. And now,
Sir, let him bring the matter forth; let him take
the responsibility of the accusation let him
state his facts. l am here to answer [ am
here, this day, to answer. Now is the time,
and now ID the hour. ! think we read, Sir
that one OF the good spirits would not bring
sgainst the Arch-enemy of mankind railing
accusation what is railing but general re.
proach, an imputation without fact, time, or
circumstance? Sir, | call for particulars. The
gentleman knows my whole conduct well in
deed, the journals show it all, from the moment
came into Congress till the peace. If have
done, then, Sir, any thing unpatriotic, any
ming which, as far as love to country goes,
will not bear comparison with his or any man 9
conduct, let it now be stated. Give me the
fact, the time, the manner. He speaks of the
war; that which we call the late war, though
il is now twenty-five years since it terminated
lie would leave an impression that opposed
IT, Howl l was not in Congress when wa,
was declared, nor In public life any where.
was pursuing my PROBES sion, keeping como,n,
with judges and jurors, and plaintiffs and de-
/ iendanis. If had been in Congress, and had
enjoyed the benefit of hearing the honorable
gentleman's speeches, for aught can saw.
might have cOncurred with him. But | wa,
not in public life. never had been for singls