Marshfield, April 15,
1851.
MY DEAR SIR,—I was very glad to receive your letter last
evening, and to learn that there was nothing occurring of particular urgency at
Washington. Although the weather has been cold and wet, nearly all the time I
have been here, yet, I leave with regret, and should be tempted to prolong my
stay, if there were not to be an occasion likely to call me from Washington
again, soon. About the 10th or 15th of May the important suit between the
Methodist Church and the Methodist Church South, is to come on for argument in
the circuit court of the United States in the city of New York. I have been
long engaged in the cause, and drew the original bill in favor of the Church
South. I have been in hopes that the parties would be satisfied that Mr. Lord
should take my place, with Mr. Reverdy Johnson, but they are not so inclined.
Recent occurrences, perhaps, have contributed to lead to an undue estimation of
the probable value of my services on the occasion. The division between North
and South, you know, took place on the slavery question.
A suit, equally old, and of a similar nature, is on my hands
in Massachusetts, to be tried the middle of June. It is between the Old School
Quakers, and the Hicksites, so called, and the question is, which party is
entitled to the funds and property.
I hope nothing may occur rendering my attention to these two
things inconsistent with my public duties.
In the present state of our military means, it is to be
feared we shall have trouble with Indians in the southwest. And though it is
our duty to do all we can, with the means in our hands, yet it is necessary to
remember also that the government will be pressed to raise volunteers, mounted
men, &c., by those who would like the employment and the pay. I take it
that a mounted man on the frontiers is a person exceedingly well paid for doing
very little.
I go to Boston to-morrow, and expect to meet the people in
Faneuil Hall on Thursday.
I am not surprised at what you say about the course of Mr. ———
and his friends. They will probably attempt a denunciation of the compromise
measures, in some way, but I think they will find themselves less strong than
they imagine themselves to be. The case is a curious one. These gentlemen are
willing and ready to express a hearty and conscientious approbation of, or at
least acquiescence in, the compromise measures, provided only that certain
office-holders be not disturbed. And, on the other hand, they are equally ready
and willing to denounce these measures, heartily and conscientiously, if these
office-holders should be disturbed.
I lament most deeply this schism among the New York Whigs,
but I do not see how it could be avoided. At the same time, I think we have
friends who are not only not discreet, but who attempt to use all their
influence, whatever it is, to magnify themselves and to gain a triumph over
their enemies. They wish to be the administration, at least, so far as New York
is concerned. They require, in my opinion, sharp looking after.
I am, dear Sir, with true regard, always yours,
DAN'L WEBSTER.
SOURCE: Fletcher Webster, Editor, The Private
Correspondence of Daniel Webster, Vol. 2, p. 428-9
