Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1826-09-08
Gbe Constitutional gatnt0.
MIR. WEBsTER,s EuLoGY.

X
RESIDENTS JoHN ADAMS, and THOMAS JEFFERSON;
ana we nave risen hom the intellectual enjoyment fully i'm
pressed WIN the convection which APPEARS universal
,ha suStas the high reputation its author. aud may
DO recorded as among the eleiious EXAMPLES of Anne
cal eoqnence, not only which the occasion itself bu,
W'eh the history of age can produce W., ,n NOT
"" mat TINS admirable elusion extend, or render
more brilliant, the fnme uf Mr.. WEBsTru but ~ m irr
uy urged to the conclusions, that it will be received by
e pure oi taste III this and country as an v
"ence that our short but eventual history is rich with the
materials OF oratory and that lack no, ma
fraiihed to seize upon ticrp give 10 them tho
perfection oiom and finish We have been told by Gem
eman who present tho SION that the orator ,,
'e"ea To throughout that continued aud bcahless
"ue.oh winch IS only the privilege OF the highest order
OF talent to Create; and the easily to be cr.di
ted when those who have only caught of his
coqucue, stamped upon the plastic PAGE have cxess
" W '''o" III terms OF Such warmth and unanimity. |
Nat. JOs,r.
The following extract contains the cxordium-
Fins is an unaccnstu,ncd spectacle For the first !
Tune, tellow-crizcns, badges of mourning slroud the
columns and overlapg the arches of this hall These
walls which were consecraed, So long ago, 10 the cause
OF American liberty, which witnessed her infant su
giles, and rung with the shouts OF her earliest victories
proclaim now, that distinguished friends and champions
OF That great cause have fallen. 1t right that should
De thus The tears which dow, and the honors that are
paid when the Founders OF the Republic die, give hope
that the Republic itself may be immortal. Ii is fit that
by public assembly and solemn observance bv anthem
aud by eulogy, commemorate the services OF nation.
al bcneactors, cxtol their virtues and render thanks
10 God for eminent blessings, early given and long con
tInucd To our tavoured country.
Adams and Jefferson are more; aud arc assem-
bied citizens, tie aged. the middle aged and the
young by the spontaneous impulse of all, under the
nunlciInl government, with the presence of the Chief
Magistrate of the Commonwealth, and others lis official
representatives. the university, and the learned
ties, to bear part in those manifestations OF respect
and gratitude which universally pcrvadc the land. a.
dams and Jefferson Ga our Fiiiic,h An
nrcsary the greatday of National ublce in the very
hour OF public rejoicing, III the midst of cchong and
ccloIng voices OF thanksgiving while their own names
Inert,
world of spirits.
Ii il he true that can safely he pronounced
happy while be lives; if that which terminates lie
can alone crown its honours and ss glory, what felicity
here The great Epic OF their lives how happily con
ciGd5d Poetry itself hes hardly closed ustous Iv es,
and finished Tic career of earthly rcnown by such
contamination. Ii had tie power we could not
wish to the dispensaion of the Divine PIovi.
dence. The great objects Of life accomplished
the drama ready 10 be closed il has closed: our
patriots have fallen; but fallen, al such are with s.o
coincidence, such day that cannot nationally
lament that that end has come, which knew could
not he long deferred.
Neither of these great men, fellow citizens couII
have died. at any tune, without leaving immense old
III our American society. They have been so Intimate
ly, and for long time. slcnied with the history of
the country, and especially united in our thoughts
and reCOllCctoDs, with the events OF Tie Revolution,
that the death of either would have Touched Strings
of public sympathy. Wesliould have fell that one great
link connecting with former times, broken; ta
we had lost something more il were, the presence
OF the revolution itself, and OF the Independence
aud were driven by another great remove from the
days Of couutry's eaiy distinction meet POSTER
! ~, and to mix with the future Like tie mariner
whom the ocean and the winds carry along. til he sees
the stars which have directed his course and lighted his
painless way descend, one by one beneath the rising
horizon, we should have felt that the stream time had
borne us onward, I'LL another great luminarv, hose
light had cheercd and whose guidance bad follow
| ed, had sunk away from sight
But the concurrence of their deaths on the anuiyer-
sary Of independence, has naturally awakened stronger
! ON BnI had pen Pros h.JI IL,
great age, both distinguished and honored by
their immediate agency in the of Independence IL
cannot but seem striking, and extraordinary that the
two should 1--we to the heth year from the date OF
that act; that they should complete that year. and thai
then, the day which had fast linked forever their ow II
fame with their country's glory, the heavens shontd
open to receive them both at As their lives them.
selves were the giits OF Providence, who IS not willing
TO recognise III heir happy termination, well
their long continuance proofs that couotry, and It's
bcncfae tors, are objects Of his care?
, Adams and Jefferson, have said, As
human beings indeed, they more. They are
more in no. bold and fearless advocates of indie
pendence; more subsequent periods, tie head
of the government; more, we have recently
them, aged and venerable objects of admiration and
! gard. They arc no Rorc: they dead. But how
little IS there OF the great and good which die To
their country yet they live, and live forever They live
in all That pcrpetuatcs the remembrance Ofmcn earth
IN the recorded proofs Of their great Actions The
offspring Of their intellect, the qualities which pro
duCe conviction. True eloqncnce indeed, docs not
consist in spceCli il cannot be brought from far la
Dor and learning may toll for it, but ey will toll vain
Words and phrases may be marshalIcd in every way,
but they compass it. Ii exist in the man,
in the subject, and in the occasion Affected passion,
intense expression the pomp Of defamation all may
pirc after -tbey cannot reach il. II comes i
at all, like the outbreang OF fountain from The earth,
tho bursting forth ofvocanc fires, with spontaneous,
original native force The graces taught in the Schools,
: the costly ornaments, aud studied cOntrvanCes Of
Speech shock and disgust men, when their lives
and the fate Of their wives, their children aud their
country, hang the decision Of the hour. The words
have lost their power rhetoric vain and all elaborate
oraOry contemplate. Even genius itself then feels rc
bucd and subducd, in the presence of higher quail
tics. TheD patriotism is eloquent; then eclf.dcyotiou
is eloquent The clear conception, ouruuniGg the de-
duclions oflogic, tie high purpose the firm resolve tie
daupdoss spirit, speaking the tongue beaming from
the eye, informing every feature and urging TIC whole
man onward, right onward 70 his oblect-tbis, this is
eoqueIgc rather, it is something greater and higher
than all elOquence il action noble, sublime, godle
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