Speech at Bowdoin Square
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Good day, In my capacity of a member of a body of congress, it is not my duty nor my place to speak out on the issues of the day to crowds in the public. However, I have been compelled to do so at Bowdoin square a great many times and I take comfort in informing my fellow man.
As we speak today, our country is engaged in a great many crises. Our current president has chosen to expand our nations borders through the Texas territory resulting in a great war at our southern border. These actions have not been in the best interest of the United States. In my judgement, a leader must come to the conclusion in any given situation, what will best serve our nation's future and protect our citizens. What Mr. Polk did flies directly into the face of any semblance of this principle. We have lost countless men and resources to this bloody war. We must move forward as leaders and not make these same mistakes again.
We also face an impending crisis on the domestic front. We have Mr. Polk's cuts in tariffs. These seem to have only been passed for the sake of appeasing the states which sought to nullify many of these tariffs years ago. The government has an obligation to resolve on sound economic policy. Not capitulate to the needs of states which seek to undermine our laws. Mr. Polk's policies are all the negatives of Jacksonianism, without any of the compromise Mr. Jackson showed.
We must return to a form of Whig government in this next election and I will stand in support of whoever the nominee of our party may be.
After Webster's speech in Bowdoin, he formed a committee to begin a campaign for the presidency. Consulting with his closest advisors and family, he decided to put his name into the running. He returned to Washington over the next week and made a number of speeches denouncing the policies of the president. Shortly after arrival, received the pamphlet from the Whig National Convention in which he was to answer.
1. What is your stance on chartering a third National Bank?
While yes, many years ago I did oppose the formation of a national bank. Times have changed. Our country is a much larger and more economically diverse nation than it was in 1816. We require stability in our financials in these turbulent times. This is why I stood vehemently against Andrew Jackson's brutal attacks on our national bank and it is why I believe we must charter one anew.
2. Do you believe more harm or good came out of the Mexican American War? Why?
The Mexican American War has been a moral, tactical and devastating loss for our nation. Mr. Polk should not have attempted to craft policy out of slogans he used to win the election. Mr. Polk's only attempt to reach over the aisle on this war, was to provide my fellow Whigs with false and misleading information on this conflict's necessity. And for all of our efforts to seize this land, we have lost thirteen thousand men doing it. And for what? To expand the slave territory? To further exacerbate the divides in a further and further fracturing nation? Mr. Polk's action's on this front have been those of a tyrant.
3. What are your views on our current tariff rates?
I have always been a tariff man, through and through. The Walker tariff was one of the most ill-conceived bills I have ever seen pass congress. Already we are seeing decreases in business activity, which I attribute to as a result of this tariff. I support a return to the Black tariff of 1842 which will lead us into a more prosperous future.
4. What is your stance on further expansion of the United States?
I stand steadfast against the acquisition of any new territories. Further expansion will only further center the national debate around the issue of slavery. This is tearing our national identity apart and it pains my soul greatly to see so many politicians egging it on. Already we are seeing long standing agreement such as the Missouri Compromise being called into question. I will not blindly abandon our principals in this way and will not seek the admission of any new territories at this time.
5. What is your overall view of the Polk Administration and what do you view as his biggest failure?
The current president unfortunately has not worked in the best interest of our nation in his time in office. He foolhardily rushed us into a war with Mexico with his insistance on the annexation of Texas. He did not seem to weigh his options and use his best judgement as all great leaders should. Instead of relying on facts and information, our president used campaign promises as a way of governing blindly.
Furthermore, his opposition to any form of internal improvements has been so extremely misguided that it feels he would rather the nation suffer under Democratic ideas than prosper under Whig ones. If we are to re-take the White Hosue in 1849, we must do it by contrasting our ideals with that of Mr. Polk's.
After announcing his campaign and responding to the Whig Pamphlet, Webster began to seek the support of the delegates by using his decades long connections in congress to influence their decisions. As he performed his duties in the senate over the course of the next months, he scheduled several private meetings with his fellow members of congress to win over their support.
