The southern press. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-04-01
Mr.. Webster's Reception by the New Jersey
Legisiature.


EXTRAORDINARY SPEECH OF Com. STocKroH.
The reception of the Hon Daniel Webster,
by the Legislature of New Jersey, on Friday
last, drew forth a speech from Com. Stockton,
(who was present on the occason,) the sent-
ments OF which are attracting some attention,
from the fact that he has been spoken of as a
candidate for the Presidency. Of Mr. Webster,
he says:
Whenever | contemplate Mr.. Webster my
heart goes up in devout aspirations to Heaven,
that II has endowed one of our species with such
virtue and intellect. Ii is not simply for his
manly form, that noble brow which seems placed
there us a crown by the Almighty; but the vir-
tue OF the man. have known him for thirty
years ] have seen him sitting among the wise
and good in the councils of the nation; have
sat as boy and heard the words of wisdom
falling from those lips, which deemed inspired
And | say it before this assembly and before
the world, that if there is patriotic heart in
any man that. heart is in the body Of Daniel
Webster. have heard him at various times
discourse of public affairs in private, and have
never heard word that might be construed
against his country or her interests, or that
should not emanate from great and pure man."
But that portion of his speech which excites
most int, rest is where he refers to the tariff and
the old .feder'l party. SIZE king of the r, sour-
ces of New Jersey, he remarked
i" Her immense resources are inexhaustible.-
Her hills, filled with iron and copper, are lying
dead, and they have been dragging the money
out of your pockets in consequence of an eter-
nally 1uctualing revenue system. | shall not
be a beggar at their doors. shall not be mealy-
mouthed in telling them what we want. shall
nsist--that is good Democratic doctrine, at least
now days. shall Insist upon dragging the
iron out of our mountains and transporting it to
the sea coast / am aware that am about to
tread upon delicate ground, and hope that no
one will take offence, for mean none. | do il
on the principle that the operations of the gen.
eral government shall contribute to the develop
ment OF your re ou,cas as they have done for
other States. intend to get this of iron as well
as glass included in tariff system, if they will
pass it. The question of a protective tariff was
always Democratic measure in New Jersey.
"With al annual expenditure Of $50,L00,000
staring US in the face, is there anything more
ridiculous than to talk about the vagaries of
free trade! To raise this amount it wonld re-
quire 33I per cent. on al our imports, and when
we all know that this sum has been raised, it is
folly to talk about free trade.
"My poll les don't hang very heavy on my
shoulders and when the interests of my country
are at stake, can very easily get rid Of them.
hive passed the grand climacteric of life, and
can at the best have but few years to live, and
live but in my children. If were to consult
my own feelings only, and wanted to have
good time, would kick up row, and would be
more certain in the confusion to get into the
White House than | am now"
In conclusion, he thus defines his early po-
litical positions
"These may seem queer sentiments coming
from me- if did not belong 10 the young and
progressive school. ! was brought up at the
feet of Gamalel-I was brought up in the
straitest sects of federalism. NY father was a
Federalist, was one. He was the compeer of
Washington, and of Hamilton, and other grea.
men of those times. He loved them when they
lived, and loved their memory when dead, and
it was his religion to follow in the footsteps of
Washington, wherever they led If | had lived
in those days should have done as they did.
A purer band of patriots and more honest men
never lived. Perennial flowers shall ever BIOS
som on their grave. Those are the men whose
principles are my principles"