Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1852-06-10
A SPEECH

Deliueredb By GEORGE WooD, ESQ, before a CON-
mitee Of the friends Of Daniel Webster, at Con-
stitution Hall, New York, on Tuesday, euening,
4h May, 1852.
FELLOW CITIZENS
You have just been told by our worthy Chair
man, that the object of the addresses this evening
is to arouse your feelings. | hope he did not al
Jude to myself, for shall make no such attempt
Owing to my indisposition | have made no prep
aration, except to note down a few heads, from
which shall submit to you some remarks, with
out attempting to make set speech.
The cause of our assembling, is. to consider the
propriety ofnominating Daniel Webster, as a can
didate for the Presidency, at the general Wing
Convention, which is to asse mble. l think
very erroneous views are entertained by many.
as to the position of Mr.. Webster, before the peo-
pie of the country, and I think it is high time
that those errors were removed, 1t shall be my
endeayor this evening to present him in the true
light. In doing so, shall not attempt to dispar-
age any of the other Wing candidates. whom |
hold in high respect. I have some personal
acquaintance with most of the candidates on the
other side. shall say nought against them Ell
ther. My subject does not require it, and have
no disposition to do so.
look upon the selection of high officer of the
government in a very different light from that in
teemed and treated as privilege. That is the
point of view in which it is held in the country
from which we sprung. where all power and au-
thority are presumed to emanate from the crown
Hence an election is held forth as n grand gala
day-a festive amusement-the subject of excite
ment, enthusiasm and enjoyment-such as a set
of slaves just emerged from bondage might in
dulge in | consider, on the other hand, the cleo
tive franchise on the part of the people as an ex-
ercise OF high political power, as an important
function of the Government Like all such pub
lie functions it is attended with high responsible
tiles, and should be performed under deep sense
OF duty. The making of a Legislator or a Presi-
dent is as important an act of political power as
the enactment OF laws OF the administration of
executive functions. 1t is part and parcel of our
system OF government, and no part of it ought to
be exempted from sense of duty. 1t is Just as
much the duty of those concerned in the selec-
ton OF President, to look to his fitness and quail
icatons as it is the duty of legislature to enact
good and wholesome laws, or of the President,
when elected, duly to administer them.
If we all viewed the subject in this light and
acted upon it, how differently would cur elections
be conducted.
We should not then be guided by mere person
al predictions or preferences. What an admi-
rab!e lesson we may take on this point, from the
history of Cromwell. He is generally held up
as tyrancnl usurper, who sacrificed his king that
he might rise on the ruins of monarchy to supreme
power as military dictator. When he took the
reins of government his first effort was to select
the abest and most efficient men for office. He
looked around for chief Justice of England. He
saw one who doomed largely above the heads of
all others as an eminent jurist. 1t was the vene-
rnble Hale, the defender of Laud, the opposer of
CromwelFs power. Cromwell urged him to take
the office; Lord Hale was Observation-Disclosures he
was opposed to him and was conscientious, and
could not sustain him. But Cromwell told him
he had selected him as the "fttest man in the
country' and for that reason alone, and Hale f.
nally concluded to take office, though he was OPP
posed to the government for his country's good.
VIII the free people of this free country be out
done by tyrant in performing the important
function of selecting the high officers of the gov
erment! l should hope not. Where two can
didates ale equal in point of fitness personal pre-
ferences may be INDUCED in. Not SO, where
there is superior fitness, especially when that SUI :
periority is clearand decided
There are two topics to be specially consid-
cred when candidate is proposed for popular
sufirage-quaifcation and availability Qualii-
cation stands first in order and is of far deeper
Importance.
1t seems like work of supererogation to dwell
upon the qualifications of Daniel Webster He
swell known to be deeply versed in the Constitu-
ton Of his country; he is skilled in public law No
man is so extensively and infinitely acquainted
with the public history of this country in all its
details. He is thoroughly acquainted with the
foreign relations the United States His rep
utation for talent and requirement ms a states
man, both at home and abroad, is far greater thnn
that of any other man. His talents have breadth
and comprehension, that have seldom been
equalled-never surpassed. His experience has
hAAn n all the danort,,ap+, &c
and of executive government To all this he
adds deep and extensive knowledge of the laws
of this country. L think may venture to say
that no other candidate would venture to compete
with him in all the elements of craftsmanship,
and when we consider the high responsibility
and endowments of many of those candidates
it is saying great deal, though not too much.