Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Mass.) 1828-1830, 1829-11-10

ELoeuENcE. MIR. Webster never did himself
more honour, or the community greater service,
than in his argument in favour of the Charles River
Bridge. On the subject of legislative power and
respect for legislative enactments he said truly we
think that the proper principle was to presume that
they intended no violation Of the constitution, and
that if an act were so construed as to cause such
violation, it to be presumed that it was miscon-
strued He said that what time he had passed out
Of his profession he had passed in legislatures and
he had his attachments to the business and persons
with which he had been made acquainted there;
but afeer all, compared with learned and upright
Judicial court it chaos compared to order; and
when he returned and emerged into hall Of grave
and sober deliberations and listened to the clear and
solemn judgments Of reason, he thought Of the inyo-
cation
q Hail, holy lghtr'
nearer made this observation -" A man who
makes such an argument renders service to has
country Much greater" added another, g than
he who wins a battle"
The above is from the Massachusetts,
journal. We have before mentioned that
Mr.. Webster's argument against the War
rem Bridge Corporation, on the motion for
an injunction, is said to have been full of
power. The case was one of great impor-
lance, in regard to the rights of corpora
tons, and the interests of individuals and of
the publick. No case, We think, was ever
brought before our Court that touched so in
timately and to such an extent these great
questions, and the authority of the Legisla-
ture to stir in the matter, and interfere to
the injury of the duties, privileges, and i'm
munities of an existing body corporate.
Our opinion in relation to this subject is, we
believe, well known to our readers, and we
are not disposed, as the grave questions are
now before dignifed, pure, and competent
tribunal, to NEEDLE with the subject in con-
troversy. We hope and trust that the de-
cision will be in accordance with the high
and holy principles of right and justice, un-
awed by fear or favour, by the shouts of
the multitude, or by combinations of any
kind: and the publick iciN sustain that de-
cision. AS tribute to Mr.. Webster, and
perhaps as high tribute of praise for clear,
convincing, and sound argument, and for that
eloquence which has in it the mems gtaedam
diUiHa, it should be stated that, in conse-
quence of his argument, the stock in the
Charles River Bridge rose $500 on each
share. This indeed is the restoration of
confidence, proof that the case must have
been pretty clearly presented to the mind.
We are willing to take this opportunity to
say a few words in relation to this gentleman.
There is a disposition in some minds to find
fault and level the shaft of invective against
him. We recollect last summer in the equity
suit of Tuthill Hubbart's heirs against P. C.
Brooks, where Writ and Webster led in the
argument, there were those individuals who
seemed anxious to seize upon the opportuni-
ty of drawing comparisons between the two,
to the disadvantage of Mr.. Webster as if
he were in reality man of ordinary pow
ers, and Mr.. Writ giant. They would say
toycu, Mr.. Writ has excelled Mr.. Web
ster in the argument, and yet Mr.. Writ is
far from being first at the south. What
would you say, had you heard Tazewell and
Berrien, and others? They are the true
orators and how far inferiour must Mr..
Webster be to them. The north must give
up to the SOUTH"
There are men among us who are willing
to degrade any thing and every thing in
New-England to the exaltation of the south,
an contemplate and slavish subservience
men who, whenever they see one rising
above their own mean level in talents and
responsibility, are Immediately possessed
with an evil and malignant spirit of jealousy,
and instead of cherishing the healthful
growth and influence of such a character,
endeavour, by every means, to crush and de-
=stroy it.
What do such creatures think? Do they
suppose that they can accomplish their OBJ.
Ject! They should, were it possible, recol-
lect that they are merely insects, ephemeral
insects, who may buster and buzz for few
hours, and then die away enveloped in their
own envenomed gall, and are immediately.
forgotten: while the objects they attempt
to destroy rise far, very far, above them, and
are destined to live in the respect and vene-
ration of posterity. The ribaldry, the coarse
abuse, the vulgar jest, the foul-mouthed cal
jimmy, the wicked lie, may for awhile soil
the general mind, but they soon sink to OBJ
llyion, and the authors of them soon get
betoo the reach of contempt. Washington
had his enemies, Hamilton his, Jay his and
SO has every great man, however pure he
may be. But who recollects the calumnies
against those men? Their fame is ever
rising. The degradation of their calumnia-
tors, even, is forgotten, is lost in obscure
night.
The fame of such man as Mr.. Webster
belongs to his country and that country