Boston, April 21, 1851.
MY DEAR SIR, I have
noticed with surprise and regret, in common, I doubt not, with a large portion
of the citizens of this commonwealth, that some of the aldermen of Boston have
refused the use of Faneuil Hall to a number of highly respectable citizens, who
had intended giving you there a public welcome. The grounds of that refusal
seem disreputable to their discernment, or to their patriotism.
Because the public
safety required them to refuse that hall to those who proposed to devise means
to disturb the peace of the country, to violate and trample under foot
paramount United States law, to resist by force or fraud its execution, who
designed there to fan the flames of discord and civil war, to plot the disunion
of the States, and the overthrow of the constitution; that hence, to mete out
even-handed justice, they must refuse this public edifice to those who desired
to assemble to uphold the laws of the land, to sustain the union of the States,
to pay a proper respect to one of the ablest, boldest, and most patriotic
champions of the constitution and the Union, is to confound all ideas of
propriety, and to leave a doubt in regard to the intelligence or patriotism of
officers so voting. It is fortunate, however, for the credit of the city and
State, that but four or five men have placed themselves in this equivocal
position. The common council speak more correctly the voice of the country, and
have given a fitting rebuke to the aldermen.
Feelings of deep
regret at this pitiful outrage upon popular rights and public sentiment, and a
high respect for your public services, have induced me to address you this
note, and, as a citizen of Massachusetts, to assure you of the satisfaction
your able and patriotic course, in aid of the compromise measures of the late
congress, has given me. I have always been, as you are aware, on the opposite side
of politics to yourself, but the old issues that long divided parties have
mostly passed away, new ones have arisen under new combinations. Difference of
political opinions never prevented my just appreciation of your long public
services, of your political foresight, of your enlarged and comprehensive
patriotism, so prominent in your efforts to carry through the compromise
measure.
It is quite evident
that Massachusetts, for a long while, impaired her just influence in the Union
by a sectionalism at war with our condition and progress as a nation. In our
country, now extending from ocean to ocean, embracing thirty-one independent
States, independent in regard to their local legislation, but confiding to a
general government the control over their affairs, in which it is supposed they
have a common interest; a strict regard to the terms and conditions of our
national compact, a complete non-interference of the States with each other in
their local legislation, and with their State institutions, and a liberal and
fraternal spirit towards all, are necessary to hold so vast a fabric together.
Those who opposed
the extension of our national bounds by the purchase of Louisiana, and who
predicted such dire calamities from that acquisition, lived to see the error of
their judgment, and have now mostly passed away. But the spirit of opposition
to our national progress seems to have remained in some minds, and in fact to
have increased in force, with the party of the abolitionists, and with the
ultra-slavery men of the South, until they have become open and avowed
disunionists; disunionists, unless they can rule the Union.
If the views of the
abolition party are to control the course of this good old commonwealth, I fear
Massachusetts will sink in influence to a level with South Carolina; the one
State would seemingly seek her welfare and glory under the palmetto banner, the
other under the flag and tomahawk of the Indian; and both perhaps, in the event
of this dire disruption, might display their philanthropy by cutting each
other's throats. From your elevated position, long experience, and political
forecast you perceived what the crisis demanded, and promptly and boldly gave
your efficient aid to restore harmony to the nation You fearlessly indicated to
those you so ably represented, that they should exhibit less sectionalism, and
more of elevated, liberal, and fraternal nationality. I have faith that
Massachusetts and the whole country will profit by your example. The whole
Union pays homage to your patriotism and your public services.
The pitiful attempt
of a few city officials to annoy you, but arouses the patriotism of the country
to sustain you; and it is this act, as I before remarked, which has led me, as
a humble citizen of this State, to bear to you in this tangible form the
expressions of approbation, and of gratitude, for your invaluable public
services in the alarming crisis through which the country has passed.
SOURCE: Fletcher
Webster, Editor, The Private Correspondence of Daniel Webster, Vol.
2, p. 432-4
