Burlington hawk-eye. [volume] (Burlington, Iowa) 1845-185?, 1849-03-01
Mr. Webster's idea Of q Great Man.


tract from Mr. Webster's remarks in the
Massachusetts Supreme Court, on pre-
senting resolutions on the recent death of
the late JEREMIAH Mason. We expert
ence grateful satisfaction in being able
to interpolate such noble estimate OF true
human greatness, from such source, in
the midst Of the flavorless chopped straw
Of current legislative and newspaper bus
iness-albeit a necessary incident Or our
social condition. After the resolutions had
been read by the clerk, Mr. Webster rose
and said ~ . ,.s ..., ~ '.g s. wv
"The prophecies Of this occasion COM
pei me, with whatever reluctance, to re-
frain from the indulgence Of the feelings
which arise in my heart upon the death
of one with whom I have cultivated sim
cere, affectionate, and unbroken friendship,
from the day when commenced my own
professional career TO the closing hour of
his life: will not say, Of the advantages
which l derived from his intercourse and
conversation, all that Mr. Fox said of Ed
mund Burke; but am bound to say that
Of my own professional discipline and at
tainments, whatever they may be, owe
much to that attention TO the discharge of
my duties which | was compelled to paw,
for nine successive years, from day 10 day,
by Mr. Mason's efforts and arguments at
the bar. "Fas est ab aoste doceri," and |
must have been unintelligent indeed not
to have learnt something from the constant
displays Of that power, which | had SO
much occasion to see and to feel. It IS the
more appropriate duty Of the present mo-
ment TO give some short notice Of the life,
character and qualities of his mind and
heart, SO that he may be presented as an
example to those who are entering upon
or pursuing the same career" "a 80 .
Mr. w. here reviewed his life. with
the aid Of manuscript memoir, left BY his
friend, and after referring to his high pro-
fessional and political attachments, thus
concluded:1 ; 5..s3 71' +. i'aa : a,'.g
:, But-sir-political eminence and pro-
fessional fame fade away and die with all
things earthly. Nothing Of character is
really permanent, but virtue and personal
worth. - They remain. Whatever Of e, ex-
cellence is wrought into the soul itself,
belongs to both worlds. Real goodness
does not attach itself merely to this life, it
points to another world. Political or pro-
Fessional fame cannot last forever, but
conscience void Of offence before God and
man, is an Inheritance for eternity. Rel
yion, therefore, is a necessary, an indis-
pensabie element in any great human cha
racter. There. is no living without it,
Religion is the tie that connects man with
lis creator, and holds him 10 his throne. /
Il that tie be all sundered, all broken, he
ioats away, worthless atom in the uni
verse, its proper attractions all gone, its
iestiny thwarted, and its whole future no.
hing but darkness, desolation and death.
4 man with no sense of religious duty is
lie whom the scriptures describe-,n such
erse but terrific manner, ss'liyinp with
int God in the world" Such man is out
# his proper being, out Of the circle of,all
lis duties, out Of the circle Of all his hap
illness, and away, far, far away from the
purposes Of his creation. i@aa# '7.L 'stA d.. r.
Amindlike Mr. Mason !, active, thought
u, penetrating, sedate, could moi but me
itate deeply on the condition Of man be-
'w and feel its responsibilities. He could
OF look on this wondrous frame - - ''E n
u ssThe universal frame thus wondrous %
'itheut feeling that it was created and up
cid by an intelligence to which oil other
teliigence must be responsible. y 1 am
ound to say that in the course Of my life, f
never met with an individual, in any pro-
,ssion or condition of life, who always
poke!and always thought with such rev ,
renee ofthe power and presence Of God.
10 irreverence, no lghtnest, even no too
miliar allusion to God and his attributes
yer escaped his lips. The very notion ,
supreme being was with him made +
p Of awe and solemnity. II filed the /
hole of his great mind with the strong /
IT emotions. A man, like him, with all
is proper sentiments and lsensibilities 4
We in him, must, I'M this state Of existence
ave something to believe and something b,
hope for or else as life is advancing to :.
$ close and parting, oall is heart sinking ..
nd oppression Depend upon it--what- .
rer else may be the mind Of an old man :
-old ageis only really happy, when. on
eling the enjoyments of this world pass |.
way, it begins to lay a stronger hola on :.
'ose Of anotherg Pm a9sj anil u .syh
Mr. eMason'sl religious sentiments and
elings were the browning glories Of his h.
One with the strongest mo-
YES tolove andvenerate him, and the best !,
cans Of knowledge, says y lsoG 2t't .o !,
$50 far as my memory extends, he al
'ays showed deep conviction of the Di-
inc authority of the Holy Scriptures, of
ie value ofthe institutions of christianity
nd of the importance of personal religion. j
'ut he did not, until his residence in Bos-
N, make any public religious profession.
lie then very soon entered the commun-
m Of the church, and has continued since
egularly to receive the Lords SUPPER
rom that time he has also habitually main
lined domestic worshipmorning and even
,g. The death Of his sons produced a
eep impression uponl,is mind, and d.
ected it in an increased degree to reli-
ious things" ZION &9icit ora& apni& /
Such, Mr. Chief Justice, was the life,
nd such the death Of Jeremiah Mason.-
or one would pour out my heart like
,ater, would embalm his memory in nv
est Affections His friendship, 50 long
esteem one Of the greatest