The New England Magazine Volume 1, No. 6, June, 1886, Bay State Monthly Volume 4, No. 6, June, 1886Various
History
The New England Magazine Volume 1, No. 6, June, 1886, Bay State Monthly Volume 4, No. 6, June, 1886
Various
New England -- Periodicals
Webster's course has satisfied the country that the great depth of
motive, prescience of danger to the Union and in fact, purpose of that
speech, was, in the highest sense, proper and patriotic, and in no way
at variance with the interpretation of either the old or new
Constitution as now understood. The occasion was seized upon, having
failed in their first effort to denounce and defame him, in the hope of
thus building up an influence with some candidate for President, whom
they could control for their own selfish purposes. It will be remembered
that some of Mr. Webster's friends, or, at least, those who claimed to
be such, took occasion to forsake him at that time. He, however, went
into the Cabinet of President Fillmore after the death of General
Taylor, where he remained until his death. The bill pending before
Congress when he left it, was altered after Mr. Webster's speech, and he
stated to his friends that he should have proposed amendments to it on
its final passage, if he had been in the Senate. It was at this time
that he prepared the following paper, which I have always designated as
"Webster's Vindication." This document, as shown by the endorsement, in
the handwriting of Colonel Fletcher Webster, was proposed to the Cabinet
by Mr. Webster, in October, 1850, who intended it as a mandate to the
United States officials in all the States, but it was rejected by
President Fillmore, who did not wish thus to be committed. There is no
doubt about the genuineness of the document itself. It was found in
looking over Mr. Webster's papers before the Webster mansion was burned,
and was presented to the writer by Mrs. Fletcher Webster, some years
before it was made public, at the Webster Centennial Celebration at
Marshfield in 1882, where it was first read in the presence of President
Arthur, who was at the meeting. It speaks strongly for itself, and is
all that will be needed, at this late day, to convince every
dispassionate lover of justice and truth, of Webster's sincerity and
singleheartedness of motive, and his unswerving loyalty to the
Constitution and the Union.
[Illustration: DANIEL WEBSTER.[1]]
"PROPOSED
"CABINET CIRCULAR OF DANIEL WEBSTER, OCTOBER, 1850.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account