The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1831-1858, 1832-12-05
DANIEL WEBSTER.

the gifted WHITTIER:
IL all ages, and in all countries, and ii
all parties, the great mass of political mer
have been moved Ivy selfshness. The OBJ
iect may have been laudahle, patriotic, and
even holy but its advocates have discover
eh in the midst of their zeal for It's attain.
mcnt, the lurking principle Of their action.
t5rlf-interest has blended with their nrmo,
patriG. The broad ground of their phian-
thropy has been eventually narrowed down
to the single poin! of self-aggrandzemen
Occasionally, however, an individual has
been found standing out in full relief from
his cOtemporarles,-to pure for suspicion
too lofty in his own intellectual power TO
need that fictitious reputation which is de-
rived from the breath of others, an individ-
ual wearing his honor as the gift of Heav-
en-, to whose native nobility of soul no hui
man station could add Misunderstanding
on the powers which God had given him,
and not on those delegated by man. And
if at the present time | were called upon to
point out living illustration of this truth
] should name with confidence DANIEL
WEBSTER.
am a democIat-and the son of a dem
ocr.at--and | trust | shall never desert the
political faith of my fathers. But, when
find such a man as Daniel Webster sneer-
ed at by the Counterfeit Democracy of the
day,-when | hear the low vituperations
of party malice heaped upon hm-when
hear his noble efforts in the cause Of his
country, answered by the epithet Of feder
GIisr applied to him 10y men in most cases
ignorant of its meaning-I feel, in com
mon with every liberal mind, contempt,
a oathing and adherence of that party,
whatever may lie its pretenslons, which
justifies such mean ingratitude and narrow
ness of feeling. believe Mr.. Webster to
he a Repubican-aye, what is more, an
american, heart and soul. Call him if you
will an Arstocrat; he belongs only to that
proud nobility, which freemen cherish-the
Arlstocracy of nature. God has made him
what he is. Man could not do it all the
titles in the Herald offices Of Europe-the
stars, the crowns, the carriers could not.
The first time ever heard Mr.. Webster
was on the discussion of dry question
of law. Mr.. WHIT was his antagonist.
Both were powerfnl-the former emnently
so-the latter, smooth. graceful, as might
beseem the eloquent biographer of Patrick
Henry. But | confess that | left the
crowded Court Room with a feeling of dis
ppontment-antlcipa had exceeded
the reality.
At the late Convention of the National
Republicans of Massachusetts at Worces-
ter again heard Mr.. Webster. The &C.
casion was one Of deep and engrossing in
terest Between five and six hundred of
our citizens, actuated by one common i'm
n,ttso IoI oaeo,nI,laI tonothor frnvo oil
tions of the Sate-the representatives Of
its intellect and feeling. They had con-
vened to maintain the principles of that
Liberty which their fathers were the first
to cherish: not TO sustain the interests OF
indivlduals-not as partizans-but to pre-
serve the supremacy of the laws, and resist
to the last the inroads which had been
made upon the sacred ground of the Con-
stltuton. No question of individual pre-
ference-no low minded effort for party
power, impressed upon ak hearts their 2eep
sense of responsibility. All was at stake
Liberty-Unon-all, for which the tre-
mendous sacrifice of the Revolution hal
been made. 1t was natural that at such a
time all eyes should be turned to tie man,
whose well known powers of mind, added
to IN ardent love for the Union. had made
him eminently conspicuous amidst the con-
gregated talent and patriotism of the State.
1t was the first fitting opportunity which he
had enjoyed, since the present admnlstra-
ton had been in power, of laying bare his
whole heart before his constltuents-oftr ac-
ing the rapid progress of the government
towards despotism-of revealing all his
hopes and all his fears--of raising his warn
ing voice and of washing his hands of
the unhallowed sacrifice of our liberties
upon the altar of Ambition. The moment
had arrived for exertion, and he did not
shrink from its responsibility.
In the calm and clear exordium of his
speech, he asserted his reliance for our fu-
ture union and happiness upon the Consti-
tuition, and offered briefly his reasons for
such reliance. With startling change
of tone and manner, he demanded what
were the means of preserving this sheet
anchor of our hope Who was to guard the
guardian Who uphold the shield that was
to protect the Constitution He spoke of
the attempts of the Administration to ami
hate the Supreme Judiciary--to strike
down the shield which was uplfted to pre-
serve the Constitution for ever involate.
With mingled sarcasm and Indignation he
alluded to the prominent acts Of the admin
istration; stretching out before the assem-
bly, the gloomy chart Of our political history
for the past four years.
The peroraton was one of the most pow
erfui appeals ever addressed, in any age,
or country, to the patriotism of the people.
After pointing out the awful gulf, whose
verge we were pproaching-the horrors
of Disunion-the fendsh struggles of civil
war,-he earnestly entreated that if the
heavens of our Union were to be broken
up-lf star after star was to sink down and
perish utterly, on. own Massachusetts mig ht
be the last to relinquish the high sphere of
which she had been the earliest and bright
est ornament. His tones. usually so firm
and powerful, grew solemn and awful
every breath was epressed-every eye
fixed motonless on the speaker and a
silence, p-unbroken-gave thrilling
dlstinctness TO that single voice, which
faint and low with subdued emotion, fell
upon every ear and heart. Every eye fol-
lowed the movement of his hand, ms point
ing upwards for a single instant and then
tracing his imaginary object slowly and
TREMENDOUSLY downward. he spoke of the fall.
ing of our Liberties, like the star of the
Apocalypse from Heaven -down--down the
gulf of ruin and all unutterable woe. We
saw the falling glory shorn of its beams and
dim, borne down into utter darkness; We
saw the gulf of hlackness and blood yawr
open to receive it. Closing with ferven
appeal TO Massachusetts to remain faithful
to the st,-,rue to herself md to the mem
DRY Of her early times-the last to yield
as the frs. to demand, the benefits of the
Revolution, overcome with emotion, the
strong man sunk into his seat literally ex