asreeoH 
DELIVERED er eaoaeE'woaD,Esa,

BEFORE A. COMMITTEE OF THE FRIENDS OF

 

AT CONSTITUTION HALL.

NEW—YO1?tI§'.,

020. Tuesday Evaieaeteug, men May, 185%.

FELLOW Crr1;z1:cNs :—--— y

~ You havejust been told by our worthy chairman, that the
object of the addresses this evening, is toarouse your feelings. I
hope hedid not allude to myself, for Ishall rnake no such attempt.
Owing tomylindispositionI have made no preparation_., except to
note down a few heads, from which 1 shall submitto you some re»
Inarks, without attemptixig to rnalte a set speech.

iThe cause of. our a.ssembli1ig, is, to consider the propriety of
niominating DANIEL VVE.I3$.%'1‘E1”t, as :71. candiclate for the Presidency, at
thei‘g‘eneral Whig Convent,,ion, which is soon to assemble. I thinl:
veryierroneous viewstare entertained by many, as to the position of
Mr; ’W1«:esTa:a, before the people of" the country, and I think it is
high time that those errors were removed. It shall be my endeavor
thisevening to present him in the true li,qht. In dciing; so, I shall

not attempttotdisparage any of the other Wliig candidates, Whom I

Hold in higli respect. I have some personal aequaitttanee with
most of the candidates on the other side. i» I shall say nought against

them either. .l‘/lyisubject does not require it, and 1‘ have no disposi-

tion to do so.’ . i , V
T Iloolcupon the selection of a high ofi‘ieer of the government in a

very different light from that in which itis generally considered.
It isuusually esteemed and treated as a ywzlvilege. That is the point

of . View in which it is held in the country from which we sprung,
whexreall power and authority are presumed to emanate from the

4 .

crown. Hence an election is held forth as a grand gala dayé-—-a
festive amusement-—--the subject of excitement, enthusiasm and en--
joyment——-such as a set of slaves who had just emerged from bondage
might indulge in. I consider, on the other hand, the elective fran-
chise on the part of the people as an exercise of high political
power, as an important function of the Government. ,Like all such
public functions it is attended with liigh responsibilities, and should
be performed under a deep sense of dut.y. The making of a Legis-
lator or a President is as important an act of political power as the
enactment of ‘laws or the administration of executive functions. “It
is part and parcel of our “system of government, and no part of it
ought to be exempted from a sense of duty. It is just as much the
duty of those concerned in the selection of a President, to look to“
his fitness and qualifications as it is the duty of a legislature to enact
good and wholesome laws, or of the President, when elected, duly
to administer them. i.

If we all viewed the subject in this light and acted up to it, how
differently would our elections be conducted.
_ ‘We should not then be guided by mere personal predilections or
preferences. What an admirable lesson we may tal.-te on this point,
from the history of Cromwell: He is generally held up as a tyrani-
cal usurper, who sacrificed his king that he llllgllt rise upon the
ruins of monarchy to supreme power as a military dictator. Wlien
he tool; the reins of government his first effort waste select the
ablest and most efficient men for office. He looked around for a
chief justice of Eiigland. He saw one who loomed largely above
the lieadsof all others as an eminent jurist. It was the venerable

I-Iale, the defender of Laud, theopposer of Cro’mwell’s power. Crom-

well urged him to take the office; Lord I-Iale was reluctant-—-——because
he was opposed to him and was conscientious, and could not sustain
him. But C1‘Ol'l.iVV€i‘ll told him he had selected him as the ‘fjittest man
in the country,” and for that reason alone, and Hale finally concluded
to take the otlice, thougli he was opposed to the Government, for his
country's good. ‘Will the free people of this free country be out-
done by a tyrant in performing the important function of selecting
the high officers of the government? I should hope not. Wliei'e
two candidates are equal in point of fitness, personal preferences

i may he indulged in. Not so, where there is superior fitness, especi-

ally when tliat” superioity is clear anddecitded.

it . ._,Thcre are two topicstto be specially, considered when a candi~
. date is proposed for popular stiffralge———-qi,ialification and availability.
Qualification stands first in order and is of far deeper importance. ,

It seems like a. worl; of supererogation to dwell upon the qualifi~
iCEl.i.lOI1S of DANIEL ‘Wnssrnn. He is well ltnown to be deeply versed
in the Constitution of his country, heis skilled in public law. No man
isso extensively and minutely acquainted with the public history of
this country, in all its details. He isthoroughly acquainted with

5

the foreign relations of the United States. His 1*eputatie%r1 for
talent and acquirement as a statesman, both at homeland abroad, is
far greater than that of any other man. His talents have a breadth:
and comprehension, that have seldom been equalled--——neversur-

passed. His experience has been great in all the departments of '

legislation and of executive government. To all this, he adds a
«deep and extensive knowledge of the laws of this country. I think
I may venture to say that no other candidate would Venture to com-
pete with him in all the elements of st-atesmanship, and when We
consider the high respectability and endowments of many of those
candidates it is saying; a.» ggreat deal, though not too much.

The only man in the country who would attempt to challenge a
comparison with him, would be I-Elnnrtr CLAY’. ,

Mr. Wnssrnn has been well and severely tried in his patriotism.
‘We have angreat deal of pro nssion on that subject. Iam not
zdisposed to place much confidence in niereprofession, and I have
generally found that those who deal the most profusely in it are the-
most ready ,to sacrifice the ,g.re1'ieral p;oo»d, when it comes in conflict
with their personal interest; But, when a man like Mr. VVnas'rna has
deliberately shaped his course and pursued it at the imminent

I risk of his personal popularity, and with the prospect oflosing all his

hopes of preferment, in order to promote What he considered for his
country’s good, and essential to its integrity and salvation, he may
be held to be a well tried patriot. i

I have, I must confess, heard of one objection to Mr. Wnnsraa.
I have heard it rumored that he has been at times more orless em-
barrassed in his pecuniary affairs, and that when in that predica-
ment he has felt the inconveniences of poverty and pecuniary dis-
tress. About this, I know personally nothing;, and have not heard
‘much. Ihave no disposition to pry into the private afl'airs of others.
It is a matter with which We have iiritlitinpg to do in the ease of Mr.

W/Vnesrea, unless perchance it may liave a l3ezi.1*itig upon his merits

as a candidate. The a1*guz*i*ienta,gai1riist him is this. Ila man cannot
manage well his own private axflairs l'1eliou,;rht not to be trusted with

the affairs of others. Adrriittinp; the arrrurnerit to be true, it re-~

mains to show the truth of the major proposition as applied to him.
Isit true thatMr. Wnesrnn ccmnot niana.ge his own afl"ai1*s? Or
on the other hand, is it not true merely, that he does not manage:
thembecause his time has been devoted to the public interests, and
inta.l‘gi*eattme‘asnre 'eI]g1‘0SSed‘Wlll1 them. ‘When Mr. Wsnsrnn, in.
early life, left the I-Iouse of Ilepresentatives and moved to Boston,
he determined to devote lhimselti' to his profession. But he was not
suffered to remain there, he was ur._s_2;erl and drawn away from it by

the pressing solicitations of friends and political men, all over the

country, to etigtige again in public afl’-airs. He has consequently
been able only occasionally and as a sort of bye-business totpursue
his profession; He may, ever since,” he said to have lived and

tit

ihreaithed in the public institutions of the country. To them all his
«energies, all his tliotiglits, all his reflections have been devoted. How
then could he compete with others in,,_tl"1e management and acquisi-
tion oftprivate property? lint l‘~nlr. W'1«:ns're'n “does not stand alone
in thisparticular, M1‘. Pitt was embarrassed ; his country, after his
death, paid his debts; was he thereliore untit to manage public
-'afil31l.lfS_? Jetiierson and lf‘:l2%-ttTllltOl’l were embarrassed; who doubts
their competency? Mr. CLAY has been etnlsarrassed, and his debts
have been paid for him. "Wire will stand upand say that he is not
an accomplished and efficient statesman ?

There isa similarity in some respects, in the fate and fortune of
these. two ITIBD--—CLAY and T/VE.t3STtEtt.~—i.lt£tt is very str'il<ing_.;'. They
were born Without any patrirnonial estate. They inherited from

their parents, poverty and a grind honest name. They have devoted“

the best days oftheir lives to the public interests. The highest and
noblest aspirations of their lives, liavepbeen to blend their names with
their country’s history-—--~to go down to posterity in that historypas
“the'ir.country’s benefactors. They have filled public places which
havep yielded but little ernolument----not‘ suliicient to give them a
comfortable subsistence, considering the position they occupied and

the expensestoiwhich they were necessarily SLtl1lj8Ci<°3t“l. Vi/"ho then

Willi attempt to brand them, by cl'iarg;it1g poverty upon them ‘P
Wl1at.a parallel is here presented for our contemplation l Must that

-"ipsrallel continue? Or will onr lilepuhlic wake up and coniute the

cliarge so often made, that Republics are un;gi‘atel'ttl.? ‘ y p

 But iithis parallel is to continue, llllr. ‘We ~::;-rren like CLAY, is to
bethrnst tiside. lithe idea Wll1lCl"l has gone abroad, is to prevail---—
that d«istiiigLiislied talents and’ services are not to the rewnrc:lecl,
"What is the consequence? Eiueli men will seei: other pursuits-—-pur-

suitswhich will enable them to accumulate Wealth, the want of

which is made such  reproach. And you rnay have hereafter
«Stephen Girards and John Jacob Astors————-but no more.l~l.nN1tY CLAYS
-0I‘g;.DjA.NIEL VVnns'r1::«ns. ‘ .

 ‘We. are now broup;ht to the consideration of the subject of aVaiI~
ability. iDiti'erent opinions are entertained on this subject. Some
thinlt it toutrght to be discarded altog_jether; others appear to look upon
it; as entitled to the most. proniinent importance. They scarcely
look at.tti1.ytl1itig else. Their only inquiry is, will he rim? Thus,
manltind are always inclined to run into extremes. It would not do
.11;tttepi'ly to disregard it; if so, t?;0iZ~<:‘.S Woulizl often be merely thrown
away. But it must certainly be considered as subordinate to quali-
fication, and it ought not to prevail at all, unless there is some clear
andsolid ground for supposing that a candidate would not be accept»
able to the people. Politicians who sometimes undertalte to guide
in this matter,“ ougltt not to set up their own personal preferences,
pmucli less ougl'it they to be actuated by sordid and selfish motives.

This‘ question of availability is altogether premature at present. yAt.

"3’

this,'stage of the business, every one who has a voice in the matter‘

ought to consult his own views of what would be best iortliie country
under all the circumstances, and what candidate would be the most

likely to promote the true imerests of the country. The proper time ‘

for,it.ouching; at all on the mcw1'e subordinate question of aVailability,.
Weuldtbelat the" General Convention. Then, by comparing viewed,
that question could be judiciously adjusted. But, to do this, it is
manifest that in primarily iselectinp; the members of the Convention,
the difierent sections should consult and examine for themselves

upon the subject of qualification. If each section should act,”not

upon its own views, but upon the probable conjectures as to what
are the views in other quarters, you would get in the Convention,
not the ‘candid opinions of the different sections, but simply their
conjectures as to what other sections i1'iigl1t think. The result would
be, an utter absence of t1‘uthl'L1l11ess. , 4 ,  j j ,

I have i1’1CIltilg€dl11i.l'16S«’Ei‘ rcmarl~:s, however, simply to place the
subject in what I consider its true ligltt, and not to shrink. t'ron;_1 the
investigation of the matter now. , ‘

I do not hesitate to declare my entire conviction that Mr. 'Wnnsrnn
is at this time decidedly the most available candidate that can be
selected from any party, to go belbre the people of" this country. i I
wish every part of my proposition to be distinctly 1‘e,g;arded. it 

the People, 1'mean not the PoZtit‘icrz'(m.s—-tl’1e middle-men, asMr.

Burke calls them—-—-but the ranlt and tile, the real bone andsinew,of
the country. i T T to l

I am prepared to prove it. . i   j, y y y j

Mr. Wnnsrun, whenever and wherever he goes, commandsmcre
attention and regard mnong the people than any other candidate.
Whether in the country or the city, in this direction or that direc-
tion, they are alvvays anxious to meet him, to greet him, to hea1f‘hinfi.
There is no man in this country, escelpt Mr. Cnsr, wl1ofiso“c"cim»

jpletely fills the public eye--—vvho commands so much popular atten-j
tion. This has increased within a few vears past; but it isnot of

If

ishort g_rrovvth—-it is ot'lo1tg continuance. ‘B y

 Look at him in the South—-=“-ia.t "Virginia Springs for instance-—
' where the people co11g1'e;gated fromthe distance of many miles to
“see and hear ‘him. Follow him to Dunkirk, thence to Buffalo, when
thousands assembled and stood  hours, not only in the openjair,
”i,bu,t,,in.,‘,a,,heafvy sliower of rain, listen~in.g with an:rious‘attentiio‘n”to

I»

“the lessons of wisdom ‘vvhich fell from his lips.

I, sometime since, went to Metropolitan Hall to hear the. warbl-

' , ing of that melodious Scandinavian iglttiitgaleiwho l1adi;latelyvisited
, ourshores. That large building was filled to OV'e1‘flOWing.l—~all‘VVo1je
alive to the scene, and wrapped in breathless amazement ! ” "All at

once some one discovered that Mr.‘ ‘S/Vnssrnn was in the gallery{7 A

[thousand voices made the vast (hall ring! The songsti*e'ssvv,as
T motionless and still amid the shouts and huzzas for Wsssrai: ! After

8

some ten or fifteen minutes he arose and bowed to the audience.
The melody was then again heard. Now, can any man believe,
that Mr. Wnnsrnn was unpopular with that audience?

Last winter, when he came on here to address the Historical
Society, he remained over Sunday ; a sermon was to be delivered by
a pop-ular pulpit orator to the young men of the city, on some public
occasion ; Mr. Wnss1'ea was invited by a friend to accompany him
to that Church; hevvent late; the Church was filled with young
men c-ollected promiscuously from every part of the city ; as he was
seen walking up the aisle, the whole audience rose to their feet and

it continued standing till he took his seat. There Were, of course, no
shouts. That solemn stillness which the influence of relrgion can

inspire, reigned. And yet, how deep and impressive was the elo-
quence of that silence in developing the emotions of the soul 1 Would
those young men, thus regarding him, refuse to support him. for the
hicrhest oflice in the gift of our ltepu.blic’!

ill have adverted to those few instances, among the vast number
that might be cited if we had time, in order to illustrate my argu-
ment. I hasten to give you the result. The public man whom the
people of all ages-—----of all classes—-~—--in our cities-——-in the country~——--«in

I every part and portion of the whole country, wherever he goes,

run after, admire, desaire to hear, to ggeet, to pay hirnbevery
decree of respect an consideration--——t at man cannot e urn.-
popular. There is one trait in the character of Mr. Wrnnsrnn, in
his public intercourse and debates, that deserves particular notice,
and which distinguishes him from most other public speakers. He
treats his opponents with respect, and states their arguments fairly,
and thus his opponents are not turned into personal enemies.

But although we have nothing to fear from the great body of the
people, we must nevertheless admit that ,there are serious difficul-
tiefg in the way. I shall now endeavor to point out where the real
di culty lies. T M T

Our Constitution places the elective franchise in the hands of the
people. But it is not so in practice. The body of the people exer-

cise only one branch of the elective poVve1'—usages, in the course of

time, rise up and become connected with all law, whether rnunic,i'-
pal or fundamental. They form what is called the Unwritten Com.-
mon Law. lWhe11 they become, engrafted upon the constitution,
they form what may be calldd Constitutional Common Law. If
they do not acquire the same kind of legitimate force, which the
constitution possesses--—-they are often, like manners, quite as potent
in their operations. We are divided in this oountryalvvays into
great parties, which parties have generally been considered the
bane of iRepublics——-—but an idea now prevails extenpsively in this coun-
try, that they are essential to liberty. I shall not discuss that

. lytrnatterunow. 1But, in the actual vvorltings of our institutians thyrough

tyhese p parties, the candidates for high offices, are selectedby iactfllre

9

political partisans, vvhoui Burhe calls the m‘ici’dZe-Amen. Tliey have
a regular course of machinery to move—-—and woe be to the candle
date, who attempts to escape the application of their engineerino‘.
By means of this, they prepare the respective candidates, who are
laid before the people, to be voted for. In this respect, there is a
resemblance between these movements, in 1*e,s;at‘d to the elective
franchise, andthe pi~c>ceedinp;s in the ancient Republics, in matters
ot"Legislation, where some Senatorial, or other body prepared the
laws, and thus prepared, they were laid before the people, for their
enactment by vote. t '

It is in this common law branch of the constitution, among these

middle-men or political partizans, that the real difliculty lies. I do
not mean to insinuate, that they are actuated by any sinister motive
-~-«but they are mistalszen in their views. it‘ you tall: to these men,
you Will find them all in favour of Mr. W'n;ss'.rsn, but they sl11‘ug
their shoulders and say “ it is impossible--—-he will nottrun with the
people and therefot'e We otiglit not to talte him up. It would be a
glory to this country, to have sucli a chief tna,g1st.t*ate-—it would add
to our respect abroad-——-——but we cannot elect him-~——-it will not do.”
, Thus we find that every body is in favor of Mr. 'Wnssrnn, but,
all this class seems to think that every body is £t,g‘£1l,l'lSlZ him.
Have you not all witnessed this state of thiiiigs. It is passing;
strange, and I was unable to account for this Sl1’0.11gepE1.1‘&ClOX till I
looked into it a little more closely. On inquiry ofthese people
the reason for their opinion, I found invariably they expressed the
apprehension that Mr. W1arzs'rntt was too great at man to run with
the people. That the people had no sympathy with ggreat men and
would not vote for them. . t

N ow this I do not hesitate to pronounce a most claznvzable political
Zrere.t‘_z/!———(Loud cheers.) A heresy of the most dangerous conse-
quence. One which it behoves us, as we value our political exist-
ence and prosperity, to put down. If for no other reason, than to
put it down, we ought to use our utmost exertion to prevent its
application to this case, and have Mr. Wnnsrnit nominated. Wliy
such a principle would discou1'age all e‘fl"orts on the part of great
minds to acquire distinction. It would destroy all stimulus to sweat
exertion. , Like the Upas it would blight eve1~ything' which ap-
proached it. t - t i , . y
» .l,.Itis, as false too, in fact, as it is datigerous and destructive in its con-
sequenlces. “*Itis'not true that the people do not sympathise with able
and efiicient men. On the contrary, mankind are so constituted as
to admire such»men, and to be disposed to support and encourage
them; this is natural. , The gi‘eat masses of the community actout
their natural feeli1i,<2,'s,,and give them fair play. . It is a Wise provi-
sion of nature. ‘When mankind admire abilityand efliciency it
encourages minds, gifted by nature, to become by industry able and
effici,e,nt,..and thus useful to the community. A

2

10

People triever object to a man becausehe is great. Pride, vanity,
and osterrtation constitute objections, and they are objectionable to the
people wh-ether they appear in great men or in pretenders to great-
ness. Here is also a wise provision, for such qiialities destroy all
=syiripa't-thy with the common class of manl~:ind—~—-all disposition to con-
sult the=ir interests and promote their happiness: A

Is My-tr. WEBSTER one of that description’! Let the mechanics of
Boston-——--the farmers of New Hampshire---or the farmers and fisl ~
ermen efMarshfield answer that question. I have hea.rd it said that
Mr. Whrssrnn was taken up as acandidate’ in this city by the rich
banlters and -merchants of Wall street. And this has been said with
a view -to blight his prospects with the people. You know better,
you lniowp,vei'y well that where there was one of that description,
there were a dozen bossmeclianics who joined in brin,g‘ing him
forward.

'1‘he people can distinguish between pride and ostentation, and
that kind of retired habit which results from diffidence or deep reflec-
tion. Some of the most retired men I have ever known have been
the freest from vanity and pride. ‘Witness the late Dr. Alexander,
of P1‘lI1.p6t0n, one of the most modest men that ever lived, and yet

i no one ever approached him without the conviction that he was a

truly great man. Wliy, we have among our own citizens a distin-
guished merchant whose munificent philanthropy has carried an
entei'prise, so honorable to our whole nation, into the very frozen
seas; and yet this gentleman, from a retiring disposition, modestly
declines the public testimonials laid at his feet. Do you think, how-
ever, that if Mr. I‘“IENRY Giiiwivnnr. should be proposed as a can-
didate for an honorable public oflice, that unpopulczrity could be
Lirged against his availability’! (Great applause.)

it Mr. Wnssrnn is a man of deep reflection, and therefore often
retired-—-—bLit that profound reflection has served to impart those
qualifications which ought to be his passpoi*t‘throiigh preliminary
political conventions to the people, who, if he once gets fairly be;
fore them, will soon show you that he is the most popular candidate
that can be presented for their sufirages, by any party, or any set of
men. ' i

' ‘But, from some strange cause or other the notion has, within ‘a
few years past, among politicians, become prevalent in this country,

that very gifreat men will not run before the people. They may not

always run. -There €t1‘e“Me‘XceptiO"11S to all 'genei'a1rules. A great
man by his peculiar courseof conductmay have made many warm
friends” and many bitter enemies. He may be violent and arbitrary

in hisviews, iinconciiiatingi and bitter in debate when opposed.

Mr. Wsssrna is l{110‘WI1’1:O be exempted from that objection. A

[ It is time this notion should be discarded. It has no solid founda-
tion to rest upon. No country ever did or ever will risettoigreiat»
ness or glory without master minds. Look back at Greece or

M

Rome. The .Lrmdo7z Times has lately broached the idea that Mr.
VVsss'rna could not be made’ President, because he is too great a_
man. It is not surprising that the editor of‘ that distinguislied pa-
per should think so, because he is prejudiced a,gains‘t' Republican
institutions and knows but little of the tvo1~l:ing of ours. In him, it
is asneer at us, fey; he knovvs very Well that England has been
clistirigttisliecl for hergalaxy of grelat men-——that from Cecil, under the

lofty and imperial Queen, down to Lord Derby in the reign of the

pure and virtuous Vi'ctoria,  long line of statesmen, able, distin-
guished, of large views, have pguided and regulated English affairs,
and have raised Etigland to the heiglit Where she now stands.
Wliat could have git*et1 rise to this stra.n,r,.g'e infatuation in this coun-
try? is there any tinting; in our example cliflerent from the example
of otlter ,great countries? We started into existence but yesterday,
speaking in reference to the age of nations. "We rose up uridenthe
auspices of Vl7ASt}ITNG'I‘ON---l'.l”1e man of the largest and most compre-
hensive mind of" his age———and surrounded with men of great and
distinguislted ability. We now stretch from the Atlantic to the shores
of-the Pacific. The Commerce ofthe ‘World is within ourgrasp-—--our
Mines are inexltaustible—~—---our territory, unparalled in extent and fer-
tility, is to be filled up. What a prospect is here presented for fu-
ture glory and greatness. Are we to" rise to this glo1*y and greatness
Without the lead and ,c;11it:la.1ice of master mivztds? If We are, then

the laws ofhuman conduct in our case are to be reversed. And if

not reversed, We must, if we dttempt it, dwindle into insignifica.nce.
A European philosopher once renflarlted, that every thing in this
country was on at {great scale, but its men. It is to be hoped that
the politicians in this country, under this strange infatuation will not
Vetfify this remark.

l\i.anl«;ind are often misled by the use of terms. A sort ofhazy idea.
is often attached to the epithet of a great man. It is sometimes said
there is no 1'l’1:].glC in words. It is true there is no magic in them to
elicit truth-———-but they are often magical in leatlimg us into error.
There are various kinds oi”,greatness often referred to, and in such
a Way  to cause confusion. The man of wealth, accumulated by
great industry, jL1t,'l,gmt31lt, and attention to business, is sometimes
and very properly called a guest man, tlitnugli it may not be of the
very liighest order. No one accuses Mr. Wsnsrsn of being a great
man inthat sense. i y 4

In some countries they have a body of great men, whose main
distinction, consists in their descent tlt1'ot1gi1 a long line of distin-
guished ancestors--—ennobled- by titles---emblazoned by stars and
ribbons, and ga1~te1*s..” Mr. Vlfnesrzstt has no such distinction, He is
the i;'iapsbt1rg'lt of his own family. His root is in the earth--amidst
the roclts of his own New Hampsliire. He sprang from the people.
'1‘hou,<,__»;h his intellect is elevated far above them by culture, yet true
to his origix;i, his heart is in the midst ofthem. l

1:23

There is another kind of greatness to be considered. It maybe
called legitimate ,greatness—---such as the head of man approves, and
his heart recognises. It is in short czZ)z'Z*2'2fy and eflZcienc;ty for great
employments. To the reproach of this kind of greatness, ifin the
eyes of his countrymen it be a reproach, Mt‘. "Ii/VI~‘JBS'J.‘E'I‘t must
bow in silence. By natural intellect combined with Vast acquire-
ments, long experience and profound reflection, he is the ,greatest
statesman of his country. ‘Will any politician go bet'-ore the people
and inake this objection to him? Yet this is the objection, itfthere
be any at all. Substitute for the name of'g7t'e.ct man, the terms, an
able and’ Qflicrtient man Tot’ great employment, and the objection
vanishes. IilVet'y rnan becomes ashamed of it.

It is  plain maxim of political economy----it is a dictate of com-

mon sense, that it’ you Want an ap;en't to transact any busin<~:»ss great or ,

small, select a man who is the ablest and most tit to do it. Is this
dictate iotcomrnon sense and sound political economy to he discar-
ded in melting a I’resident C’ Manl~:int:l are sotcons-tit.iut.ed, as to ad?-
mire ability and etlficiency, for the pe'rfo1'n'ia.nc:e of any honest and
praiseworthy employment. I would rather see a good shoemalter,
than a poor politician.

If by some magic power, I should have the authority conferred
upon me to select public oflicers, I would endeavor to be :Q:l-lifltiefll by

V this plain maxim I have stated. IfI wanted a COI’t'1t“I]£tl.”l(;lG‘l' to lead our

army to the field, and to raise our standard upon the loltiest battle-
ments of the enemy, I would select GnNnr._«,'t., Sco'r'r. IFI wanted a
naval officer to conduct our fleet over the mountain Wave, and un-
furl our flag to the battle and the breeze, CC)M‘M0.D01ftft"£ f§3'1rc>os';roN,
should be my man. If'I wanted a Chief Executive C)tii’it:-.e1* of the
Government, to carry the country safely tlii*t>t.1g'li all political com~
motions and diflictilties at home and abroad, and by his profound
statesmanship, elevate the glo1'y or his country among the nations
of the earth, and ,give them assurance of a man, I would presen““t
you WithI)aN1nL VV.nt3s'.r1:=.:n. (Immense cl1eet*iiig.) ,

Ihave now gentlemen, pointed out the ditliculty. The remedy
will at once sttgpuest itself to all ofyou. It is to remove that ditfi-
culty---let the notion be discarded, that the people ofthis country
cannot ciistinggtzisli and apifireciate their greatest public man. Ifthis
isdone and he is presented as a candidate before that people, his
election  sure. Every efiiirt should be made by every tight thinl -
ing? man torput down this gross and dan5,3;erous heresy.

There are some furtlier topics which, to my mind, are otfg1~eat im-
portance, to be considered, but Imam a“li'aid Ihave already trespussect
too long upon your patience. (Cries of “‘ go on”)

I "I‘lie considerations i I am going; to present have, I must confess,
operated very powerfully on myself, in lead,iiig me to the course I
have talaen; for, as I have told you, I discard all personal consider—
zations in a matter of this ;_;;ra;Ve and irnportant charact:er to the
country.

13

T Whoever has attentively viewed the course of public affairs among
usrmusit have perceived that the standard of qualificationvfor high
offices has been gradually lowered. It has been seen and felt,~an.ct
deeplydeplored. The natural consequence has been, that the bonds_
of Government are relaxed, and are becoming more and moreloose.»
Treason is no longer, in public estimation, what treason was some
thirty or forty years ago. ~ It certainly is not owing to any prejudice
on the part of the People against the most able and efficient men, ‘for
the reasons I have already explained?” a l 7 5‘

But, whatever may be the cause, every good man must be im—‘
pressed with the importance of furnishing some adequate and speedy
remedy.‘ T r T  ,

There is a tendency under allwfiee Governments to a great variety’
of opinions, especially on public affairs. V/Vhen, men are freeto‘ speak
and thinlt, they willthinlt differently. Myanymyen will have many
minds. Where there is one man of it la.rge and comprehensive
grasp ofmind, there are a hundred active, sharp, subtle, but narrow
intellects. The pride ofopinion in these men is always the strongest;
They look only at one side, and hence they see no ditiiculties. As
Sir VVilliam Temple says, “Their own reason they make the certain
standard of Truth, and their own knowledge, of what is posssible in
Nature.” ‘ y y
r In all free Governments, the central power must be more or less
"weakened, and that of thelocal municipalities increased. This is
requisite, in order to spread aznong the people a practical ltnowledge
ofpublic afiairs, andto prepare and fit them to watch over ‘their
liberties. But the natural result of it is, to multiply indefinitely

amongithe people, divisions of opinion upon public atiairs. ‘ Partyk

spirit is thus engendered, and it becomes continuallytmore andmore

prevalent. Patriotisnp, which is supposed to be the great andtesseni-r

tial element of Republicanism, yields to the influences of these

divisions, and men give up to party what lielongs to theirlcountiryg

Hence the maxim so often met with in political writings, that fact:
tion and discord are the bane of all itepublics. These political
diyisions lead to general licentiousness, and men oF‘pro‘priety, of
character, of peaceful and conservative dispositions, become ready

to_ take refucre in some stronrr Government. We seeit iexem ilified
2:: as q . . l 3 _

inthe late French Republic.” ,3 , y i i t p     It
” But when this popularldissension assumes via lsectional characttetgt
the danger isincreased and brought nearer. Sections are enlisted
against sections. It is not only a contest between parties, but be-
tween parties occupying separate and la1'§jelte1‘1*itories of the country,
Animosity is hence doubly increased, and responsibility in the same
ratio diminished. If this Government should fall, it will more prob-
ably break up into sectional fragments long before party licentions-
ness prepares the public mind for the introductiouyof a st1'onger

govern men t.

14

l,Wliat is the remedy? We are unwilling to increase the power
of the general Government. aflut we may increase its moral power
and influence-——-and that is to be done by i*aisina' 1_ns.tead of lowering
the standard of qualification fcii*liigl1 oflict-3s.~ 1 his is not to be done
by ditfusiiig the ideathat the man best qualified is too great for the
people. Act in public: atliiurs as everyprudent man does in his pri-
vate afi”airs. Employ those best qualified and fitted for the business
to be done. This remedy will he founc_l efiectual. "We have only
to look back upon our past political history. Wheiieve‘r a great
mind has been at the head of this Government he has been able to
carry on the Government with most eli'i_cienVcYa 1}0iWlihSt‘mdln§f-f.‘
party dissensions. Such was the case with Wasliiiigtoii and Jet-
fersjon.

Does any one believe that this remedy, or that any 1'-em;edy at all
is not.neecled? ‘We have, I am aware, been accused  a_people
of being a little vaiii-g;;loi'1oLis——-of thinking we can do anything and
everytliiiig, and yet, that under the influence of our niaiiifestqdestiny,
all will be safe. Let no one suppose we are exempted lrom the
common lot ofhumanity. Let no one take that flattering‘ unction to
his soul. i

There is but one further topic and on that I will detainyou but a
very short time. And that is in _rel'e1‘ence to our Foreign ltelations.
Society in Europe seems to be in a transition state. New classes
are Spl‘l1"JglI"ig up in society out of the old, and acquiring influence
in the state. This causes, from time to tinie, a general upheaving
of the moral elements. Has it ceased? Lei'tiiinly not. It will
continue as it long as manltind continue t.o advance in wealth and
knowledge. They will advance thus, while improveinents and new
facilities of intercourse and commerce continue to be opened up.
Rziil roads, can:-.ls, magnetic telegrapl'is are great revolutionists.

Changes in gOV’@1‘I]m€l”1lL l3eC,Ot.'11l11g necessary by the increase and
ezttension of knowledge and wealth, cannot be eilected without
coinniotioii and conflict. There is a speclt. of war in the European
horizon. It may not burst forth this year or the neXt~—--and it may
the year after. Wlieii it shall come, what will be our condition?
If_.we avoid intervention with them, can we prevent their inter-

yention with us? We could not do it in the long wars which devas-

tated Europe in the days of the great Napoleon.-———Our proximity
has since changed from forty to ten days. Suppose difficulties
-should arise, we must prepare for the exigency. If they threaten
to sweep our commerce from the ocean as theydid before, we may
ward oil‘ the threatened blow by appeals to their justice, by point-
ing out in clear and strong language the falsity of their views, and
the gross violation of international law, which their conduct
would involve. A clear and powerful exposition of the real atti-
tude in which we may stand, may be of immense value both in
t‘eference.to them and ourselves. “ t

15

Let me suppose such a case to arise, and that the very panic crea-
ted, shouldglirow our business in confusion, threaten a general bank-
ruptcy and paralyze all operations, and that youshould be collected
here as you now are--that in place ofthe chairman and myself‘, this

latform should be occupied by all the present candidates for the
lE)’1‘esidei1cy, and you had time to hear a speech from some one, and
one only, of them-—setting forth our real position, the dangers and
difficulties We had to apprehend, the best means of avoiding them,
or the best mode of’encoti1ite1'inp: them, whom would you call out ?
Whom would you ‘wish to hear? (Cries of Wsssranl Wnssrna l I) Is
there a man in the country, who would not want in such an exigency
to hear him in preference to any other? Yet, We are told the people
would not put him in the appropriate place, from which his opinions
should emanate, because forsooth, he is too great, a man. It is time
that this senseless objection should be abandoned. (Mr. Wood sat
down amid long and loud Cll6G1’ll7lg)

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