The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-04-08

preparing the Address Of the Conventon-an
address filled with noble sentiments OF hostility
10 slavery dOmination-an address worthy OF
that magnificent aSsemblage of Massachusetts,
"abOlitionists and agitators' Then Mr.. Web
ster was with the men who represented the
voice of this ancient Commonwealth. Where
was the Senator from Suffolk then With
Mr.. Webster and the men who stood by the
Senator's resolution of 1888 against admitting
a slave State No sir. no The Senator was
then with "A class Of men who began at that
time to falter and WAIVER. Mr. Webster after
wards designated this class of men as "Optim-
lists and "Quietists,p with whom it was
always too early or too late to resist slave
holding aggressiOnsn Mr.. Webster then stood
upon the platform of Massachusetts Free
SOism, embodied in the resolutions of 1888
which the Senator from Suffolk and the Sena-
tor from Hampshire supported. We had not
then discovered the sectional character Of
the platform but the Senator from Suffolk,
being one of the trainers had begun to show
symptoms of enatonaltyn
At the Wing State Convention at Springfield,
in ls47, Mr.. Webster being present begging a
Presidential nomination, claimed patent for
the WilmOt PrOviso thunder on the plea of
priority of discovery" The Senator from
Norfolk (Alr. Keyes) will remember this paten-
tee process. That sagacious politician. Charles
F, Francis Adams, expressed his fears that the
patentee would lose the patent by "a non-user
About this time as my young friend and GO!
league from Middlesex Mr.. Burlingame) will
/, remember, several young Wings, not of the
"Optimist and Quietist school met Mr. Web
ster at the fremont House, where they receiv-
ed the most complete assurances that he was
ell fl,otr lplI
tionism In the spring of l84s, these enthu-
siastic young men formed Webster Club. |
believe was voted in a member of that club,
on motion of my friend from Middlesex, Mr..
Burlngame) These young men were enthu-
siasts of liberty and they looked to Mr. Web
ster as the giant of intellect that was 10 COM
bine and lead on the lovers of freedom He
was the apostle Of their faith. To use the elo-
quent language of my friend "these Young
men would have gone through fire and water
for his sake at his suggestion, they took an ad-
! yanced position in 1913. and held it, thank
God though he left them alone to be shatter-.
ed
As the day of the National Convention drew
nigh, it was apparent that the South aided bv
the "Optimists and Quietsts" of the North. in
tended to force Gen. Taylor upon the Wing
party, unpledged to the Wilmot Proyiso The
day left for the Convention. | met in Court
street one Of Mr. Websters friends who in
formed Inc that several of those friends were
assembled in Mr. Websters office. and were
anxious to see me- | accompanied him to the
office. where | found various members of the
Webster Club, among them my friend from
Middlesex, MIR Burlingame) and Mr. Web
sters son. These gentlemen were somewhat
excited. The AtiaS had limited that Taylor
might be nominated and the distinguished gen.
tleman who now represents the country at the
Court of st. James might be nominated for the |
Vice Presidency. Mr.. Lawrancc not only be-
longed to the school of the ''Optmists and |
Qmetists, but 1t was piece of assurance in |
him and his friends to dream that there could |
be more than one man in Massachusetts while |
the patentee of the Wilmot Proyiso thunder
lived They wished to know what and the |
" conscience Wings with whom | acted, in
tended to do. | told them had written to
Mr. Webster, that the section of the Wing
party with whom acted would not vote for |
Gen. Taylor unless he was pledged to the VIII |
mot Proviso-that could not vote for MIR. |
Webster, if he used his influence directly or in |
directly to aid Taylor's nomination | told |
them, if Taylor WIS committed to the Proyiso, | |
should vote for him. although STAKEHOLDER
but If he was forced upon the party unpledged
to the doctrine of Massachusetts, should leave
the Convention and go into opposition These
gentlemen assured me-my colleague will cor |
rect me If am wr0ng-that Mr.. Webster had |
SAID that he would never recommend the peo-
pie to support for President an ignorant swear
ing, frontier Colonel they assured me mir.
| Webster was with us told me ito 90 ahead
and they would back me
left the Office, and went directly to Phla
delphia, where | found note from Mr.. Web
ster giving me ample assurances, and referring
me to his trend-one Of the delegates from this
State-for his opinions. Having received am
pie assurance from Mr. Webster. voted for
hum, although | knew then as now. that his
chances were desperate.
But Sir, where was the Senator from Suffolk
them Not with Mr.. Webster, not with the
men who stood by the resolutions of 1888. He
was one of the chiefs of the "Optimists and
QWetists" Rumor said he made tour to the
Old Domlnon,' to secure the nomination for
his then friend, Mr., Lawrence. for the Vice
Presidency. Rumor also whispered that Mr.
Webster looked rather frowningly upon the
course OF the Senator. Mr.. Warren said that
rumor Led, then. | am glad of it, sir for the
lrowns OF the great Secretary are said to be
very chilling. My colleague will remember
|
Such. sir, was Mr. Webster's position in 1918
when voted for him Gen TAYLOR was nomi.
mated on the 9th of June-on the 2sth of that
month, one of the largest Conventions ever as.
sembled in Massachusetts, met at Worcester
There and then the organization of the Free
Soil party was begun, and their principles were
proclaimed. Many of Mr.. Webster's friends
attended-among them his son. They urged
us to speak kindly of Mr. Webster, assuring us
| that he was with us The Convention express
ed confidence in him, and called upon him to
| lead the friends of freedom. A few DAYS after
! called on Mr.. Webster, at his own request at
his olhce. He expressed his cordial assent to
the principles of the Convention, and his respect
br and confidence in the members of the Con-
yenuon. tie said, if we would make public
sentiment that would sustain public men in
being true to the sentiments of the North we
should accomplish everything for we had al.
ways been beaten by the treachery of North.
ern men. Yes sir, Mr. Webster stood with us
upon the principles afterwards embodied in the
Buffalo platform, and it was not until after
that Convention had selected another man to
embody its principles, that he came out for the
nomination not tit to be made
Then the Senator from Suffolk was not
among his list of friends but now after
MIR Webster has abandoned his former princi-
pies, and gone over to the Slave Power the
Senator leaves the "Optmsts and Quetists"
and follows the great Secretary He is not the
man to read me lectures about consistency.
Mr., Webster is the brain-thc heart, if il have
a heart-the soul, II it have a soul-Of Willard
tlllmores Administration, an Administration
OF which one of the most active Wings of the
country declared in speech in this city with
IN one year-"No Wing could have any influ.
eneo with IT. unless he was BATllED IN NE
GRoES BLOOD Surely, sir the dcclara-
lion OF the Senator that he was glad the au-