Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1831-11-10
GREECE.


Remarks on the Life and " riings Of Daniel
Webster. This republication in a pamphlet form,
with some additions, of an article which appear
ed in the eighteenth number Of the Philadelphia
Quarterly Review, will be we'll received. This
nation cannot be more w~orthily entertained than
with such matters relating to such q man. 1t
has been the fortune of Mr.. Webster, as it
would seem ever to be of superior men, to be
made the especial mark for factions envenomed
arrows, but these fall and will fall harmless at
his feet. In proportion as his character is un-
derstood, his abilities estimated, and his services
and comprehensive patriotism appreciated, will
his fame be exalted, and bis example prompt
others to noble emulation. In this sense we
look upon the pamphlet before us as of national
value. We take only one extract from 1t, that
which relates 20 the early life and Common
School! education of Daniel Webster.
Nv. =. finn.
It has often enough been objected to books
written and published IN the U. States, that they
want a national air, tone and temper. Unhappi.
~, too, the complaint has not unfrequently been
well founded; but the volume Of Mr.. We6ster's
Works is a striking exception to all such re.
marks. 1t consists of a collection of his Ad-
dresses. Speeches in Congress, aud Forensic Ar
%suments, printed chiefly from pamphlets. alrea-
dy we'll known; and it is marked throughout, to
an uncommon degree, with the best characters.
tics of a generous nationality. No one, indeed,
can open it, without perceiving that, whatever 1t
contains, must have been the work OF one born
and educated among our free institutions.-o
one formed in their spirit, and animated and-sus.
tanned by their genius and power. The subjects
discussed. and the interests maintained in it are
entirely Americans; and many of them are so
important. that they are already become promi-
pages, therefore, and see how completely Mr..
Webster has identified himself with the great in:
situations of the country, and how they, in their
turn, have inspired and called for the greatest
efforts of his uncommon mind, we feel asif the
sources Of his strength, and the mystery by
which it controls US. were. in a considerable de-
gree, interpreted. We feel that, like the fabu-
ious giant Of antiquity, he gathers his power from
the very earth that produced him; and our sym
patty and interest, therefore, are excited, not
less by the principle OH which II SO much depends,
than by the subjects and occasions on which tits
so strikinsiy put forth. We understand better
than we did befure, not only why We have been
drawn to him. but why the attraction that carried
US along, was at once so cogent and so natural.
When, however, such a man appears before
the nation, the period of his youth and training is
necessarily gone by. 1t is only as a distinguish
ed member Of the General nt.-proba-
bly, in one of the two Houses of Congress, that
he first comes, as it were, into the presence of the
great mass of his countrymen. But before he
can arrive there, he has, in the vast majority OF
cases, reached the full stature OF his strength.
and developed all the prominent peculiarities Of
his character. Much, therefore, Of what is most
interesting in relation to him-much Of what goes
to make up his individuality and momentum. and
without which, neither his elevation nor his con-
duct can be fully understood or estimated, is
known only in the circle of his private friends,
or, at most, in that section of the country from
which he derives his origin. In this way, we are
of a great deal it concerns US to know
about many.of our distinguished statesmen; but
about none, probably, are we more relatively lg- |
norant than about Mr.. Webster, who is eminent