The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-10-28

THAT WEBSTER LETTER-WRITTEN, BUT " NEVER
SIGNED. When we gave notice to the public,
some days ago, that q committee from the Seward
Scott wings of this city had been to Marshfeld for
the purpose Of extorting from Mr.. Webster death.
bed approval of the nomination of Gen. Scott, we
did not speak upon mere rumor or conjecture. More
than this, it would appear that sort Of let
ter, by some desperate expedient upon the gene
rosity of the dying man, had been obtained. Nov,
we call the attention of readers to the folio
startling confessions from the Courier and Enquirer
of yesterday morning, in confirmation of all that We
have said, and something more.
First, our Wall street contemporary, while urging
the claims Of Gen. Scott, confesses to the lamensa
bic consequences of the heatless work at the Balt
more Wing Convention, in the following plain lam
guage:-
Mankind in the mass proverbialy uugrateful and
UNJUST and when in June last Daniel Webster made
the vic i'm this ingatude the part those whom
he had most served it would be idle it would be false
to pretend that he did not feedeeply eel-the injus-
tce which he had suffered. lis great heart pierced
by the ingratude Of those for whom he had lived
whose service he has died and the Almighty Ruler Of the
Universe alone knows how much his days short
ened by the events to which we alude.
The Courier then turns States evidence against
the committee of FIVE of the extraordinary and cruel
mission to Marshfeld, and, in the following direct
testimony, makes a clean breast Of its personal
agency in the business
But whatever the extent Of his suerngs rom the in
gratitude Of his countrymen such his devotion to
the constitution and to those great wbg principles
which he deemed essential to its support that but
days previous to his death he dictated letter of
his early friends of which recognizing The
obligations of the whg party to sustain the nominee OF
the baltimore Convention while he deprecated
he ever has done the too frequent practice Of elevang
military cheftans to the Presidencya practice which,
harmless yet is fraught with danger to the future;
and which therefore should not be perpetusted by pre-
cedents which will in time exercise dangerous influence
upon the stability Of republican institutions That 1t.
ter although dictated from what proved be bed Of
death, and in full view OF his responsibilities in this
world and that upon which he has speedily entered
was never signed Its binding influence. however
will dispute while Its wisdom. with Gods sanction Will
we hope be recognized in all future time.
Mark the words; &c A few days previous to his
death, he dictated letter to five olhis early friends
of which we were one" Gen. Webb was one. The
letter was dictated by Mr.. Webster How? Did
of the committee produce draft of the letter to
Mr.. Webster; and did he, upon the reading of it,
require certain notifications TO be made or was the
letter taken down, word for word as he dictated il
In either case it cruel operaton-cruel to the
last degree. Mr.. Webster wanted rest quiet, re-
pose, when he was besieged by that committee of
iyethose five self constituted inqusitors- and re-
quired to retract the sentiments Of his whole life in
regard TO military chieftains for the Presdeney--to
fall back from the stern and inaexible position which
he had taken against the military decree of the WING
party at Baltimore, and to surrender to Seward and
Company, after having been sacrificed by them upon
the altar Of the constitution. Was not that a Spec
tacle OF cruelty, and was it not calculated to prove
more painful to Mr. Webster, than all the physical
agonies which he suffered during his whole sick
ness! There can scarcely be doubt upon this me-
lancholy question.
But it appears that the letter s'was never signedn
Why ''never signedl' Perhaps the victim of the
committee Of five asked for little deay-a brief ar
mstice-a respite Of day or two, before signing
the heavy captulation II appears that he was al.
lowed to capitulate with of the honors of war
with his flag and his side arms; but alas, for the pa
triotic and magnanmous committee, Of which the
editor Of the COrltr was one-alas for the sehemes
Of trading politicians the letter ''was never signed,
1t appears that Mr.. Webster insisted in sdepreca.
ting military chiefains" for the Presidential Office
fraugbt with danger to the country, as sine ana
non even to an extor,ed scquiescence in the Balt.
more wing nomination But as the letter was never
signed, it is a nulity, nonenity, a thing withou.
existence, in any practical view. Perhaps he did
not intend to sign it. Who knows 1t only needs
now the publication Of that letter, "never signed"
to complete the sad record Of Mr.. Websters wrongs
Shall we have that letter Has not our neghbor Of
the Courier a copy Of it Why not give il to the
public that they may see the letter which Mr.. Web
ster never signed
THE MILFORD MONUMENT The corner stone oftbe
monument to he erected at Milford Conn to the me-
mory Of the Revolutionary soldiers who died Ia that
town of dssase contracted In the prison at New York.
~i be lad this afternoon 81 two o'clock