The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1855-11-16
What were Webster's Sentiments
Read, Conservative Wings.


tinually harping his name, and evidently
seeming to think that by so doing they are
at least, to be ranked among conservative
politicians, that we have thought an extract
or two from speeches delivered by him, at
different times, might not be altogether ill
timed, showing as they do, that il the Great
Expounder "still lived.' he would have lit
tie sympathy with this race Of politicians,
who would conceal their conduct behind the
name of one whose memory they desecrate
by their political acts.
Extract ron, a Speech ddirs,ef at Mos Gar
den, Nstc York, on the 10 Of March, 1897.
"0n the great question Of slavery, great
portion Of the community is already strongly
excited. The subject has not only attracted
attention as a question OF politics, but 1t has
struck Tar deeper-toned chord. 1t has ar
rested the religious feelings of the country
il has taken strong hold on the ronsciences
Of men. lie is, indeed, rash man, and lit
tie conyersant with human nature, and es-
pecially has very erroneous estimate oil the
character Of the people Of this country, who
suppose that feeling Of this kind is to be
triiled with or despised. II will surely cause
itself to be respected"
However appropriate these remarks OF Mr..
Webster may have been at the time they
were uttered, they are especially so at this
time yet tho Bangor Journal, and papers
Of that ilk, have devoted largo share Of
their columns for the last year, to the abuse
of this very feeling, "triiied with and despis.
ed it," taxing to the utmost extent their
vocabularies of blackguardism for epithets
sufficiently OdiOus to beapplied TO those hay-
ing such feelings. Nothing has seemed to
give the Hunkcr sheets more delight than to
scout and rail at that portion Of community,
who, from precisely the feelings mentioned
by Mr.. Webster, as deserving Of respect,
have gone into the great movement for free
dom and humanity. But these insane raw
ings Of IIunkerism will in time receive their
due appreciation, and those feelings, finding
sheir spring in the eternal principles Of RICH,
triH surely "causc themselves to be respect
cd"
In the Senate, August 18th, 1913, Mr.
Webster said
1.-THE question now is, whether il is no
compe,en, TO Congress, in the exercise OF {
fair and just discretion, considering tina
there have been five slaveholding States
added 10 this Union, out Of foreign acquisi
tons, and as yet, only one free State, Il
prevent their further increases That d
the question. | see no injustice in il. Al
to the power OF Congress, have nothing lC
add TO what said the other day. Congress
has full pOlrer orcr the subject. lT MAY IL
TABLlsu ANY SUCH GOVERNMENT, ANY suCI
LAWS, IN THE TERRITORIES, As IN ITS DIS
CRETIoS 1T MAY SIZE TIT. II is subject, o
course, 10 the rules OF Justice and propre'y
but IL is under no constitutional restraints
have said that | SHALL CONSENT TO NJ
EXTENSION or TIE ARIA OF SLAVERY UPo'
THIS CONTINENT, NOR TO ANY INCREASE OF
SLAVE REPRESENTATION IN THE OTHER HousI
OF CONGRESS. | have now stated my reasons
for my conduct and my vote. We, OF IN,
North, have already gone far beyond al
ina, any Southern man could have eXpec,e(
or dill expect, at the time OF the adoption o
the Constitution. repeat the statement o
the fact Of the creation of five new slave
holding States, out Of newly acquired ter
> titnrr W., ha-a .loo~ 'I,.,, .sLi.h, &c 81 49,
who had framed the Constitution, had fore
seen, they nerer v1uM hare agreed 10 SlGu
representation. We have yielded thus far
and have now in the House Of Representa-
tiyes twenty persons voting upon this verl
question, aud upon all other questions, wh'
are there only in virtue Of the representa-
ton Of Slaves.
| Let me conclude, therefore, by remark
ing, tina, while am willing TO present ,hi
as showing my own judgement and position
in regard 10 this case, and beg it TO be un
ders,OOJ ,ha, am speaking Tor no olhc
than myself, AMI while am willing TO offe
il 10 the whole world as my own jusiifica
ton, rest on these propositions: First
that when this Constitution was adopted
nobody looked for any new acquisitions o
territory 10 be formed into slayeholdins
States.
Secondly, That the principles OF the Con
stituion prohibited, and were intended t.
prohibit, and should be construed to prohib-
it, all Interference Of the. general govern.
ment with slavery Us it then existed, and
still exists in the States. And then looking
to the operation Of these new acquisitions.
which have in this great degree had the eff,
feet Of strengthening that interest in the
South by the addition OF these five States,
feel that there is nothing unjust, nothing oil
which any honest man can complain, il he
is intelligent. and feel that there is moth
ing with which the civilised world, il they
take notice Of so humble person as myself,
will reproach me when say, as | said the
other day, that have made up my mind,
for one. that UNDER no CIRCUMSTANCES will
] consent TO the further extension OF slavery
in the United States, or to the further in
crease Of slave representation in the House
Of Representatives"
The doctrine of the above extract is sim
ply tina, ofthe Republican party otfreedom.
Nothing more nor less, and yet, according
10 il, Daniel Webster, judged by the Sc
we're scrutiny Of the Bangor Journal, would
have been ga seciienalist." ga disunion,
ist," aud wors, ofall, a" Black Republican,
We defy Hunkerism 10 show in wha, essen
tial particulars, the Republican party enter
tains more radical or more sectional views
on the question Of slavery than did Mr.
Webster, when he said tina, under no cir
eunlstdnees would he consent 10 the extern
sion Of slavery in the United States. There
is nothing Of ambiguity or equivocaiion it
this declaration, nothing tina, can be miscon'
sirued. He does not say, tina, rather thar
see this Union dissolved, he would see
slavery extended. lie says nothing OF The
beautiful doctrine Of popular sovereign.
y,' but says under no circumstances would
he see sllrsry extended. This was the
,,a,, ovarx ha Inviny ilpa A nd pnipf.