The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-06-02


suts-pursuis which will enable them to accumu-
late wealth. the want of which is made such
proach. And you may have hereafter stephen
Girards and John Jacob Astors-but 10 more
Henry Clays or Daniel Websters
We now brought to the consideration of the
subject of availability. Different opinions en-
tertained on this subject Some think il ought TO
be discarded altogether; Others appear to look upon
Il as entitled to the most prominent importance
They scarcely look at any thing else Their only
inquiry is-w he ran? Thus mankind al
ways inclined to run into extremes. II wou'd not
do utterly to disregard it; if 80, votes would often
be merely thrown away. But il must certainly be
considered subordinate to qualification, nd il
ought not to prevail at ALL unless there is some
clear and solid ground for supposing that candi-
date would not be acceptable to the people. Poll
icians who sometimes undertake TO guide ia this
matter ought not 10 set up their personal pre-
tcrences, much less ought they to be actuated by
soriid and selfish motives. This question Of await
ability is altogether premature at present AT this
stage OF the business, every one who has a voice in
the matter ought to consnt his own views of what
would be best for the country under all the circum
stances, and what candidate would be most likely
to promote the true Interests OF the country. The
proper time for touching at all on the subor-
dnate question OF availability would be at the
General Convention. Then, by pairing views
that question could be judiciously adjusted. But
TO do this, it is manifest that in primarily selecting
the members OF the convention, the different sec
tons should consult and examine for themselves
upon the subject Of qualification. If each section
|
probable conjectures 10 what are the views in
other quarters, you would get In the convention,
not the candid opinions OF the different sections
but simply their conlectures as to what other sec
tions ght think. The result would be an utter
absence Of truthfulness
/ have indulged in these remarks, however, sim :
ply place the subject in what consider its true
light, and not to shrink from the investigation OF
the matter
| DO not hesitate to declare my entire conviction
that Mr.. Webster is at this time decidedly the mos,
available candidate that be selected from any
party to 20 before the people OF this country. /
wish every part of my proposition to be distinctly
regarded. By the People mean not the POi'ti-
ciGns-the middle men, Mr.. Burke calls them
but the rank and file. the real bone and sincw Of
the country.
am 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 city, in this direction that direction
they always anxious TO meet him, TO greet him,
to hear him. There is in this country, ex-
ccpt MIR. Clay, who so completely fills the public
eye-who commands go much popular attention.
This has increased within few years past; but il
ID not OF short growth-it Is Of long continuance
Look at him in the South-at the Virginia
Springa for instancc-wherc the people congregat-
ed from the distance al many miles to see and hear
hm Follow him to Dunkirk, thence 10 Buffalo,
hen thousands assembled and stood for hours, not
only in the open air, but in heavy shower of rain,
listening with anxious attention to the lessons Of
wisdom which fell from his lips.
come time since went to METROPOLITAN Hall TO
hear the warbling of that melodious scandinavian
Nightingale who had lately visited shores.
That large building filled TO overflowing all
were alive to the scene, and wrapped in breathless
! amazement! All ut once some one dice covered
| that Mr.. Webster was in the gallery A thousand
voices made the vast hall ring The songstress
was motionless and stiil amid the shouts and -huz
zaa for Webster After come ten or fifteen minutes
| he arose and bowed to the audience. The meod y
was then again heard. Now, can any man believe
that Mr.. Webster was unpopular with thai au-
, dIencer
Last winter, when he came on here to address
the Historical Society. he remained over Sunday
/ n sermon to be delivered by n popular pulp,
orator TO the young men Of the city some public
/ occasion Mr.. Webster was invited by friend tc
accompany him 10 that church; nc went late TIE
church was filed with young men collected pro
miscuously from every part of the city as he was
seen walking up the aisle, the whole audience rose
to their feet, and continued standing ull he took
his seat There were, Of course, shouts. That
solemn stiffness, which the influence of religion
can inspire. rcigned. And yet how deep and i'm
Iprt ssiye The eloquencc OF that silence in devel
oping the emotions OF the soul Would those
young mon, thus regarding him, refuse To support
him for tho highest Office in the gift of our Re-
public
have adyerted to those few instances anon
the number that mi ght be cited If had time,
/ IN order TO illustrate my argument. hasten to
\ give you the result The public man whom the
people of all agcs-ot all classcs-in our ctics--ln
the countryin every part and portioa Of the whole
country, wherever he goes, run after, admire dc.
sire TO bear, to greet, TO pay him every degree OF
rcspect and cousideration--that man cannot be un
popular. There i5 one traitiu the character Of Mr.
Webster, in his public intercourse and dcbatc5
that deserves public notice and which dist'nguishC.
/ him from most other public speakers. He treats
ms opponents with respect, and states their argu
ncnis fairly; and thus his opponents arc not tutn
! ed into personal enemies.
But although We have nothing TO fear from tho
] great body Of the people, We must nevertheless
admit that there serious dic ulties in the way
shall now endcavor to point out where the real
difficulty lies.
our Constitution places tho elective franchise in
the hands OF the people. But il is not so in prac
! tice. The body oi the people exercise only one
branch oi the elective power usdges. in the course
/ OF time, rise up and become connected with al!
I law, whether municipal or fundamental They
/ form what j. called the unwriitcn common law.
/ When they become engrnhod upon the Constitu-
ton, they form what may be called constitutional
common law. II they do not eCqui-e the same
/ kind Of legitimate force which the Constitution
! possesses, they often, like manners. quite as
potent in their operations. We divided in this
country always into great parties, which pnrtics
have generally OcCu considered the bane OF rcgub-
lice; but an idea now prevails extensively in this
country that they essential to liberty. ! shall
1 not discuss that matter now. But, in The aCtulI
workings Of our Institutions through thcsc pat rtios
toe candidates for high offices selected by active
/ political parnsans, whom Burke calls the middle
men. They tavcn regular course Of machinery 90
move, aud voc be TO the candidate who attempts ta
cscnpc thc application Of their engineering ny
mcans VI this, they prepare The respective caudi
dates who iiu before the people to be voted Tor
| In this respect. there is resemblance between
| these movements in regard 10 the elective fran.
Chisc, ard the proceedings in the ancient rcpub.
hCs in matters Of legislation, where SOME Scna to-
! rial. or other body, prepared the laws, and thus
! prepared, they were laid before the people, for
! their enactment by vote.
! Is in this commpu.aw branch OF the Constitu-
| ton, among these middlc-mgu. ,r political parti-
sane, that the real difficulty lies ! DO not mean
TO iusinuatc that they actuatcd by any sinister
/ mOtiyc-but they arc mistaken IN their We've. /.
you talk 20 thcsc men you will find them all IN "a
vOr of Mr.. Webster, but they shrug their should.
ere, aud cay "It is impossibie--ho will not run
/ with the people, aud therefore We ought upt 90
take him uP. IL would be glory 10 this country
| 60 have such Chief MagisraicaaIt " ould add o.
our respect abrooG--but We canuUt Circt hint
WIll not do'
Thus VIC find that everybody s in favor uf MIR.
Webster; but oil this class rccms 81 think that
everybody is agliust him. Have you mot all VII
ncssrd tins stutc Of thiugs2 Il is passing strange;
and was unable % account Tor THE strange pata.
dox ill looked into il a little more Clgsciy ON
INJURY Of these pronlp tho TCa srn fr tltir pp po