The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1849-10-09
Daniel webster.

Smith said of him, and what only sydney, the lace
tious Canon of ST. Paus, could have said-s'that he
was a steam engine in breaches | had read Car
lyles description of his eyes, and had been told by
those who had enjoyed opportunity of seeing him,
that his personal appearance was remarkable; SO
was, of course, anxious TO see Americas most popu
lar orator nor did my wish remain long un grafied.
During a portion of the time when the recent
Presidential contest was progressing, happened TO
be sojourner in the city of Brothery Love, and to
my great satisfaction, II was announced that Daniel
Webster would speak at Wing mass meeting. On
the morning of the day appointed, proceeded in
good time 10 place where might both see
and hear the distinguished man.
The place of meeting fixed in field mile
or SO from the city. stage had been erected at
the foot of gentle SLOPE and the front of the grassy
mound being eoncaye, IA perfect amphtheatre was
formed. BY dint of much perseverance and little
impotence, managed to get front seat ON the
stand and having ured my position, sat quietly
down to await the commencement of the proceed
ings.
The orator was TO be accompanied TO the platform
by procession, and soon after three o'clock the
head oft appeared in gradually II drew near;
and amid the crash of musical instruments--the
clangor of trumpets-the banging OF arms and the
booming of cannon, several gentlemen assembled
the platform, and were greeted with cheers
One of the gentlemen was the candidate for the
Office of Governor of the State--he old and
white headed; in his hand he held an assortment OF
flowers, and a foret garland encrcled his porty
figure. He assembled to his place, and after him
came another gaily decked gentleman and at last
shout burst forth, loud and long, individual
mounted the staircase with firm, solid sort of a
tread, and stood on the stage full in view of the
populace.
He was a man who would have seemed above
the moderate size had il not been for his bulk !;
he robust without being stout, and large boned
without clumsiness As he came forward on the
platform he was cordially greeted by the multi
tude and whilst the cheering was going on, and
after he had acknowledged il by slightly lifting his
hat, he calmly folded his arms over his capacious
chest, and gave one of the most steady and extra
ordinary glances on the assembly which /
witnessed
II would be impossible TO describe that fixed
look. His eyeballs were dark night, and the
whites of his organs of vision more resembled twi-
light In their hue, than the pure tint which is
caused by the tendenous expansion of the muscles
covering the ball They were set in two cavernous
openings beneath pair of dark, thick eye brows
which gradually rose from the upper portion of the
nose until they nearly reached the temples, when
they somewhat suddenly dropped, and terminated
just below the huge bumps which lay on the outer
and lower sides of his extraordinary forehead, just
as if Nature, in manufacturing him, had made two
receptacles there for spare BRAIN the same prin
ciple that animals furnished with bags, TO
tain additional stock to deposit matter for their
sustenance during the hard season.
But am speaking Of the look do not believe
that the searching, yet moveless eye Of the indi
vidual am describing failed to notice single per
son within its ranges of vision. He seemed to
absorb the scene. And, having satisfied himself,
he pulled his hat over his eyes, winch LETT them
in deep shade, glowing like dull Goals in blast
| furnace before the stream of air was applied.
The complexion of the gentleman was dark
| very dark, and swarthy; his forehead was piled
up, and in fact it bulged out, if the brains had
been crammed into It after the packing had 50
swollen il To stretch its barrier of bone. The
frontal satire must have been well knit, ii would
| to dead certainty have gone; part of the high,
broad forehead was bare; his hair, which had once
been black, but which of brownish gray,
| being careessly combed, or rather pushed BACK.
The nose large, and at the end rather knobbed,
and the mouth, with its thin compressed lips, indi-
| Gated excessive hrmness then grayish whiskers
| stretched the side of his face, which, taken
whole, possessed gloomy grandeur, and made
| me say to myself as ] gazed-that is Daniel W eb-
| ster the devil consider il no insult to Mr..
| Webster-ior he il waste put him IN the same
category with the spirit of evil, inasmuch as only
| refer 10 looks and we somewhere told that
| tan il diaboIically beautiful.
| Mr.. Webster was dressed in brown frock with
a velvet collar which was buttoned close up To his
I throat, which latter encircled by turned
] down collar and white cravat. OF his neither ha-
| biiimens | took no heed, for | could not look far
| below his ma gnihccnt head.
] know he had no flowers ] should soon have
| expected to have witnessed giant decorated with
| a chd's coral and bells, to have seen Daniel
| Webster with bouquet in his button hole.
As soon as he rose To speak he was received with
| voCiferous cheering, and having, by wave Of his
| hand produced silence, he commenced his address
he began in a rather low, but very sonorous anc
| distinct voice, which gradually increased IN ylo-
lence until il rolled its melodious waves of SOUND
| over the heads of the vast assemblage. He did not
| speak a subject which admitted of poetic illus
traton. and was not then sufficiently acquainted
with American politics 10 appreciate the matter Of
his address-of the manner alone could form some
idea. As he went on he seemed To warm up his au-
dience, until he got them like iron crowbar, Il
a red heat and then down he came with the ponder.
Gus sledge-hammer Of his elOquence and moulded
them 10 his will.
From the commencement Of his speech to hi,
close there visible hesitation; traces u
study; no appearance Of effort. His eloquenc,
flowed maJcstically, like a stream bank high
| giving one the idea of rest and resistess mi ght
Where other speakers would persuade he dictated
yet without seeming 10 be oyer-bod; and the mass
i've grandeur of his style 80 commanded the ADM
ration Of his auditory that, in the broad shadow
which il cast, all minor differences Of opinion wer
lost sight of for the time and willing tributes
paid 10 the graces Of the great statesman even b,
those who we're his hercest political enemies.
As for myself, never dared 10 look in his fac
during the whole OF his speech; and when his voic,
eased, and he pressed down his hat his shagg,
brows, and sat down calmly a. II he had been ask
ing simple question, knew that sydney Smith wa
right, and 50 was Carlyle, and regretted my owl
inability 10 describe they would have describeC
Daniel Webster while delivering speech on Amer
lean matters and on American grounds
1