ter 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.

"The open manner in which disunion, secession, or a separation of the
States, is suggested and recommended in some parts of the country,
naturally calls on those to whom are confided the power and trust of
maintaining the Constitution, and seeing that the laws of the United
States be faithfully executed, to reflect upon the duties which events
not yet indeed probable, but possible, may require them to perform. In
the Northern and Eastern States, these sentiments of disunion are
espoused principally by persons of heated imaginations, assembling
together and passing resolutions of such wild and violent character as
to render them nearly harmless. It is not so in other parts of the
country. There are States in the South in which secession and
dismemberment are proposed or recommended by persons of character and
influence, filling stations of high public trust, and, it is painful to
add, in some instances, not unconnected with the Government of the
United States itself. Legislatures of some of the States have directed
the government of those States to reassemble them in the contingency of
the passage of