The daily national Whig. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1847-1849, 1849-02-05
Mr.. webster,s Ides OF . Great Man.

human character IN cAnlUiteu WIFI CuatdC-
teristic emphasis, in the subjoined extract
from Mr.. Webster's remarks in the Massa-
chusetts Supreme Court, on presenting reso-
lutions on the recent death Of the late Jere-
lniah Mason. The Newark Daily Adver-
tiser says-We experience a grateful satis-
faction in being able to interpolate such
noble estimate Of true human greatness,
from such source, in the midst Of the ia
vorless chopped straw of current legislative
and newspaper business--albet a necessary
incident Of our social condition. After the
resolutions had been read BY the Clerk, Mr..
Webster rose and said
"The proprieties Of this occasion compel
me, with whatever reluctance, TO refrain
from the indulgence Of the feelings which
arise in nv heart upon the death Z pne with
whom have cultivated sincere, affection
ate and unbroken friendship, from the day
when commenced my own professional ca
reer, to the closing hour Of his life will
not say, Of the advantages which derived
from his intercourse and conversation, all
that Mr. Fox said Of Edmund Burke but
/ am bound 10 say that Of my own profess
sional discipline and attainments, whatever
they may be, ! owe much to that attention
to the discharge Of my duties which was
compelled to pay, for nine successive years,
from day to day, by Mr.. Mason's efforts and
arguments at the bar "Fas EST ab hoste
doceri," and must have been unintelligent
indeed not to have learnt something from the
constant displays Of that power, which had
80 much occasion to sac and to feel II is the
more appropriate duty Of the present moment
TO give some short notice OF the life, char
aeter and qualities Of his mind and heart, so
that he may be presented az an example to
those who are entering upon or pursuing the
same career"
Mr.. w here reviewed his life, with the
aid of manuscript memoir, left by his friend
and after referring to his high profession
al and political attamments, thus conclu-
ded:
But-sir-political eminence and profess
sional fame fade away and die with al things
earthly. Nothing Of character is really per-
tnanent, but virtue and personal WORTH
They remain. Whatever Of excellence is
wrought into the soul itself, belongs to both
worlds. Real goodness does not attach it
self merely to this life, it points to another
world. Political or professional fame can
not last forever, but conscience void Of Of
fence before God and man, is an inheritance
for eternity. Religion, therefore, is ne
cessary, an indispensable element in any
great human character. There is no living
without it. Religion is the tie that connects
man with his creator, and holds him to his
throne. If that tie be all sundered, all
broken, he floats away, worthless atom in
the universe, its proper attractions all gone,
ITS destiny thwarted, and its whole future
nothing but darkness, desolaton and death.
A man with no sense Of religious duty is he
whom the scriptures describe,-in such terse
but terrific manner,-as ''living without God
IN the world" Such Il man is out Of his
proper being, out Of the circle OF all his du-
ties, out Of the circle Of all lis happiness,
and away, far, far, away from the purposes
Of his creation.
A mind like Mr.. Mason'S active, thought
fal, penetrating, sedate, could not but medi-
tate deeply on the condition Of man below
and feel its responsibilities. He could not
look on this wonderous frame
g The universal frame thus wondrous fair"
without feeling that it was created and up
held by an intelligence to which all other in
telligence must be responsible. | am bound
TO say that in the course Of my life never
met with an individual, in any profession or
condition Of life, who always spoke and al
ways thought with such awful reverence Of
the power and presence Of God No ire
verence, no lightness, even no too familiar
allusiSn to God and his attributes ever esca.
ped his lips. The very notion of supreme
being was with him made up Of awe and So
lemnity. 1t filled the whole Of his great
mind with the strongest emotions. A man
like him, with all his proper sentiments
and sensibilities alive in him, must, in this
state Of existence, have some thing to believe
and something to hope for or else as life is
advancing to its close and parting, all is
heart sinking and oppression Depend upon
else may be the mind Of an
old man--old age is only really happy, when
On feeling the enjoyments of this world pass
away, it begins to lay stronger hold on
those OF another.
Mr.. Mason's religious sentiments and feel
ngs were the Glowing glories Of his charac-
er. One with the strongest motives to love
md venerate him, and the best means Of
says:
" So far as my memory extends, he al
ways showed deep conviction OF the Di-
,ine authority Of the Holy Scriptures, Of the
-alue Of the institutions OF christianity. and
Il the importance Of personal religion. But
e did not until bis residence in Boston,
make any public religious profession. He
hen very soon entered the communion of
he church, and has continued since regular
= to receive the Lords supper. From that
ime he has also habitually maintained do
,estic worship, morning and evening The
cath Of his son produced deep impression
POI. his mind, and directed il an increased
egree TO religious things"
Such, Mr.. Chief Justice, was the life,
nd such the death Of Jeremiah Mason. .For
1e would pour out my heart like water, |
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