Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1852-11-03

its full equivalent, and at the other in un
redeemable deprecated paper, were so con
elusive that no man ever attempted to an
swer them.
In 1916, the Federal party of New Hamp
shire were defeated in the Congressiona
Election, but we are not sure that Mr.
Webster had conse nted to run third time
In August of that year,h removed to Bos
ton, and devoted himself entirely to tn
practice of Law. He declined nomina
ton to Congress in 1918, and an election
to the Senate, which influential men offer
ed to canvass for in his behalf, at little
later period, but served as Presidential
Elector in 1920. and as member of the
Convention which revised the Constitution
of Massachusetts in 1921. In the fall Of
1922, was again pressed to represent
Boston in Congress House, )and SO urgent
ly that he did not feel at liberty to decline.
He was chosen by over 1000 majority and
returned to the Councils of the Nation. af-
ter an absence of six years.
Of his subsequent career, we may speak
more hurriedly, since its leading features
must be fresh in the minds of most citizens.
He distinguished himself 1929 by prop.
osition looking to an early recognition of
Greek independence. and a magnificent
speech in its support He favored also a
like acknowledgment of South American
independence. In 1924 he made his great
Free Trade Speech-the ablest ever deliv.
cred on that side of the question. Boston
was then the focus of Free Trade, and the
Federalists were its principal champions,
while the mass of the Democracy. counsel.
ed by Clay, Snyder, d. D. Tompkins,
Baldwin, II. Niles, Matthew Carey, &C.,
had for years been the ardent advocates of
Protection. The times have bravely alter
ed since Their; Mr.. Webster has seen occa-
sion greatly to modify if not entirely re-
tract his Free Trade notions; and Free
Trade is now said to be Democratic. But
we are DEPRESSING.
New England unitedly supported John
Quincy Adams for President in 1924, and
Mr.. Webster concurred, though never per.
sonally an aGmirer of Mr.. Adams. He and
John Randolph were the Tellers when the
House elected Mr.. Adams President-by
the vote of 1S States to land he became
one of the ablest and most influential sup
porters of the Administration of Adams and
Clay. Reelected in 1924 and 1926 with
scarcely show of opposition, Mr.. Webster
was in the latter chosen Senator of the
United States. Toward the close of 1927
his first wife died, while he was on his way
to Washington to take his seat in the Sem
ate. The next year (1828) was signalized
by the defeat of ]. @. Adams and the ac-
ression of General Jackson to the Presi-
dency.
During the session of 1829-90 occurred
the memorable debate on Foot's resolution
respecting the Public Lands, wherein Mr..
Webster, in replying to Col. Hayne, of S.
c., vindicated his right to rank first among
living debaters. 1t is hardly too much to
say of his great and lesser Speech on that
occasion that they rescued the Fedora!
Constitution from construction fast be-
coming popular, which once established
as correct, must have proved its destruction.
The constitutional right Of any State Of the
Union to nullify an act of Congress, ,wheth-
er BY its ordinary Legislature or by Con-
ventlon especially called, once admitted as
legal, would strip the Federal authority of
all Just claim to be considered a Govern
ment and throw US back upon the inefi-
cheney and semianarchy Of the old Conti-
mental Confederation. Yet that doctrine
of Notification, so frankly propounded and
ably defended by Col. Hayne in the debate
with Webster, claimed with much plausi-
blity to be based upon and clearly deduct
Bile from the Virginia and Kentucky resolu-
tions of 1898 and '99, which are knawn to
have been drafted respectively by Jefer-
SON and Madison, and repeatedly reaffirm-
ed as containing the Democratic creed re-
specting the powers of the Federal Govern
ment and their fightfhl limitations. Mr..
Webster inexorably demonstrated the in.
compatibility Of this doctrine with any real
power or force in the Federal Government,
and, admitting fully the right of Revolution
as superior to all Governments, showed that
State could not remain in the Union and
assume to nullify acts of Congress upheld
by the Supreme Court-that the contrary
assumption was condemned by the Consti-
tuition itself, and utterly at war with the
public tranquility and SAFETY. Mr.. WEBB
ster's speeches arrested the Jackson party
on the brink of committing Itself irretriev-
ably to the doctrine of nullifcation-a COM
initial which would have proved an act of
suicide.
Mr.. Webster remained in The Senate, ,ad.
vocating the recharter of the second Unit
ed States Bank, condemnIng the Veto by
which that recharter was defeated-oppos:
ing the reelection of Gen. Jackson, and
supporting Mr.. Clay in opposition to him
vigorously opposing notification when at
tempted to be put in practice in l833-op-
posing the Tariff Compromise of that year
the removal Of the Deposits, &C., ST.
He was candidate fot President in 1886,
but received the twelve votes of Massa-
chusetts only. He continued to serve in
the Senate warmly advocating the election
of General Harrison In 1910, until he was
called thence to take the first place In Gen
eral Harrisor's Cabinet, which he continu-
ed to fill after the untimely death of that
lamented patriot until long after John Ty-
ler's treachery to. ard persecution OF those
who had elevated him to the post whence
he accidentally reached his dizzy height,
rendered it proper that he should have left
the Senate Department and shaken off the
dust from his feet. An excessive tenacity
of Office has been blemish on the charac-
ter of Mr.. Webster. He remained in the
Cabinet until 1S43, having meantime nego-
tiated the Ashburton Treaty whereby our
long disputed North Eastern Boundary was
definitely settled, and returned to the Sem
ate on the 4th March, 1845. He there op.
posed the Mexican War as he had previ-
ously opposed the Annexation OF Texas, a.