The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-03-11
MR.. WEBSTER AND THE SOUTH.

1t is not for us to pronounce judgment upon
the motives which led Mr.. Webster to change
his position in relation to questions of Slavery.
on the 9TH Of March, 1S49. Whether he was
actuated as he claims to have been, by fra
ternal feeling for the South, and an apprehen-
sion of danger to the Union, growing out of
continuance Of agitation, or whether his object
was to promote his prospects for the Presidency,
or whether his aims were of mixed char
acter partly personal partly patriotic, are
questions on which People will entertain differ
ent opinions. But on one point, there can be
no doubt. The new position of Mr.. Webster
involved sacrifices such as no other of his CO
temporares at the North have ever made He
has suffered and labored more than all of
them in the cause of the South. Cass, Blu
chanan, Dallas, Douglas aud their party asso-
ciates in the free States only followed in the,
line of safe precedents, did nothing but what
they had been trained and accustomed to do,
hazarded little or nothing But, Mr.. Webster
went against all his antecedents his own
sentiment, the sentiment of nneteen-twen-
tieths of his friends, the great majority of
whom were in the free States, was anti-slayery;
his political strength was dependent to a great
extent upon this sentiment; and yet in the
great controversy between the enemies and
supporters of Slavery, he took a position
which while acceptable to the latter, was in
direct antagonism to the former he sacrificed
! his position at the North, forfeited all hope of
support from the anti-slavery sentiment, and
then. with zeal exhibited 10y no other North
ern man, went to work to conquer the preiu-
dice- " Of his own section.
Without his unexpected aid, it is not too
much to say, that the Compromise would never
have been carried against his opposition, the
Fugitive Law could not have passed without
his services, the Administration could not have
secured acquiescence in its enforcement No
public man has been so urgent, in season and
out of season, in intoxicating obedience to the
laws and reverence for the Union; none has
shown so much willingness to sunder all party
to maintain those measures which the South
generally deem of vital Importance In short
Mr. Webster, in losses, in suferings and la
bors, undergone in the effort to arrest the agita-
ton of Slavery and secure acquescence in the
demands of the South has exceeded all his CO.
temporaries. If ever n statesman deserved the
gratitude and support of this section, he is the
man.
Now. what are the factsl He is forgotten
by the South. The Compromise Democrats
here never allude to him except in terms
of dstrust; the Wings scarcely mention his
name. In their primary assemblies in their
State Conventions, in their addresses and reso-
lutions in their newspapers, Willard Fillmore
overshadows all competitors, and even a compli-
ment to Mr.. Webster is of rare occurrence
His great services are aforementioned his claims
to their confidence and friendship unrecog.
Missed In reference to the movement on foot in
New York for the nomination of Mr.. Webster
the New Orleans Commercial Bulletin of the
I'd instant closes a long article in which il
praises Webster, but prefers Fillmore, as fol
lows
"ltisnot strange, then, in view of the re -unior
of the Silver Grays and 'Woolly Heads,
that New York Wings are not regarded b,
their friends elsewhere as of the true grit -
sans peur, sans reproehe-dnd their endorsement
looked upon wifh suspicion. II is for these goo,
and substantial reasons that the opposition O
New York Wings to Mr.. Fillmore will no NOR
prejudice him in the estimation of the Wing
; of the Union than their support Of Mr. Webae
teW benefit The latter. We p'H not brook d,cta
; ton from any quarter and, least Of all, iron
, the unstable, unreliable Whigs Of New York.
, The truth is, Southern politicians seek So,
, cess, not mdHydom They are willing enoug
that Northern men should sacrifice themselve
for the South, but have no notion of gon
with them to the stake A man from the Mort
! who loses his life there, must not expect to fin
it among them. lie who would win their SUI
port must sacrifice enough to secure their iait
in his loyalty, but not enough to destroy thei
|, confidence in his political strength. Their cor
duct towards Mr.. Webster affords pregnan
lesson TO all Northern statesmen.