The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-08-27
From tie Boston Daily Aauertisev.
Tho Wobsfer Hr0vement.

From tie Bo.ton DsIy Aauertiser.
The Webster Movement.
1 Frequent allusion Il made in some of the papers
to what 10 called "the Webster movement" We
have seen ample proofs, not only among our own
citizens, but in various parts Of the country of the
existence of sstrong and widely prevailing "Web-
ster feeling" which would have exhibited itself in
action, or "movement," had the opportunity been
presented Of doing SO with any prospect of coop
GRAFTON so extensive as could render that action
available to any useful purpose But no assurance
OF such CO operation has yet appeared. The great
majority, we believe, Of the friends OF Mr.. WEE
srER, here well elsewhere, from the date of
the decision against him by the convention in
which they were represented, although their desire
that he should be the candidate remained I'M
changed, deemed 1t useless to make any further
effort to obtain his nomination. They were per-
suaded that any such effort could be productive of
no other result, so far the public would be con-
cerned in 1t, than fatal division If the Whig
party. Such result it in their power to pro-
duce at any time, but they were not only indis.
posed TO be instrumental in promoting it, but
the strongest motives impeled them to guard
against it.
There was undoubtedly at one time an impression
on the minds Of many persons that, so strong was
the conviction of the mass of the people in many
pars of the country Of the peculiar fitness of MIR.
Webster for the Office Of President Of the United
Ststes that to ensure his election II that it would
be necessary 10 do was to place before the people
lists of electors in the several States pledged to vote
for him, and that he would be chosen by spon.
taneous movement of the people, even in opposi-
ton to the party candidates previously nominated.
This was opinion formed without due conside-
AZ fha lima md MI
Of political movement in this country. People do
not commit themselves to course of action of this
sort without previous concert, and in the sup
posed il was impossible to obtain this concert with
out the concurrepQe of persona who imagined that
they had an interest in different course, or who
felt pledged, directly Indirectly, to the support
Of one Of the other candidates previously nomi-
mated. a.-sa..'. .a.-. t.. a.sr .
To set up another candidate, after the two great
and long established parties had already made
their respective nominations, was to attempt to
establish third party. The futility and folly Of
such an attempt has been too often demonstrated
to admit the possibility of its success. at least
der circumstances like those now exciting. The
suppositon was, that the movement might take
place without any regularly organized party, and
not only without the aid of party organization, but
in opposition to the influence of complete organi-
cation for the support of the existing parties,
throughout every part of the country. a#
Although these considerations do not at once
occur to the minds of every one. they are so OBJ
vious on reflection that they account fully for the
fact that there has been no movement" in any
part Of the country of any of the masses Of the
people in favor of the election of Mr.. Webster to
the Presidency. II is because those who would
have been disposed to move have convinced them
aplv hat Mt mn ant ho
less, but mischievous. unless they could zee some
sure augury If its success in an actual strong
movement in some other quarter No such move
nent has yet been exhibited, and it is becoming
every day less probable Mr.. G. T. Curtis, in his
lately published letter. expresses what has been
very prevalent opinion when he says: "lt has
been my opinion all along that tho friends Of MIR.
Webster in Massachusetts ought to wait for some
other action Of decided character out of the State
before they made any movement for his nomina-
ton as an Independent candidate" He was con.
fdent that such action would come here as well as
elsewhere; but the fact that it has not come after
it has been so long expected seems to have demon.
stratcd the wisdom of not moving alone.
1t is understood that a paper is in circulation,
which has received q large number of signatures,
expressing an opinion in favor of measures for the
nomination of electors by the friends of Mr.. Web
ster in this Commonwealth. These signatures
doubtless afford SAD factory proof of the wide pre-
vacnce of the feeling to which we have alluded,
and they are expressive of desire that Mr.. Web
ster may be brought before the public as candi-
date. But we cannot suppose that it was the in
tention of most Of the sgners commit themselves
to such proceeding, until they shall see some
further demonstration than has yet been made of
such a movement in other States as is alluded to
by Mr.. Curtis, and as is obviously necessary to
give any efficiency to a movement in this State.
The proposed meeting may take place, but at the
meeting (should one be held) the question must
come up for consideration whether any good re-
suit can come from proceeding to nomination of
electors.
In this state of things, hope it will be decided
by the committee to whom, if we mistake not, this
question has been referred, that the wisest course
will be to dispense with the meeting altogether.
1t surely cannot be the desire of those friends of
Mr.. Webster, who have sgned the paper recon-
mending public meeting, to advocate the nomi-
nation Of electoral ticket in this State, unless
there should appear to be fair prospect of electing
that ticket and also Of choosing electors pledged
to the object in other States. In the present
state of information, we cannot suppose that the
greater part of those signers believe either of
these events in any degree probable; or that the
OJ
half the friends of Mr.. Webster in this State, or in
any other State. IL it not apparent that an at
tempt under such circumstances to choose = Web
stcr ticket would be doing great injustice not only
to the Wing party, but to Mr.. Webster himself,
by dividing the Wing votes between the two and
thereby reducing the apparent number of his sup
porters to so small body as will give their vote
for such ticket
New Book.
The reading public will thank Harper s. Bro
thers for publishing "Lotus Eating-A Summer
Book By G EoRaE WILLIAM CURTIs."
The author has chosen for his amusement a Ia
miliar highway Of the fashonables and tourists of
our country, seen and known to the many thou
sands who throng its line and it's dottings, and the
theme of authorship for many clever minds. But
they have been rather sketches than paintings,
and such they have been less than the subjects
and less than the taste of the times re.
quired.
This our author felt and knew and, relying
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