Southern shield., 1850-09-21

would come to something or nothing, she was not sure which. 1 think you are now about settling that doubt for her." The judge never afterward spoke to his son on the subject
 MIR. WHISPERS MAIDEN SPEECH.
 It was on Thursday, June 10, 1913, that Mir. Webster made his maiden speech 10 the House. It was upon certain resolutions which he introduced in relation to the re- peal of the Berlin and Milan Decrees, the first of which was in these words:
 ResolUed, That the President of the Unit ed States be requested 10 inform this House, unless the public interest should in his opinion forbid such communication, when and by whom, and in what manner, the first intelligence was given to this Govern ment of the decree of the Government of France, bearing date the 2Sth of April, 1911 and purporting to be defnitive repeal of the Decrees of Berlin and Milan. These resolutions were not introduced to embarrass the Administration, but to elicit information that might throw some light upon the ploximate causes of the war, and enable Members to best judge the most proper lnduutl Oi COuuuCllUS IL.
 MT. Webster, in his speech on these re- solutions displayed cautious regard for facts, philosophical moderation of tone, a tulness of knowledge, and an amplitude of historical illustration which astonished the House. There was no exaggeraton of statement or argument, no sophistry nor uncalled for rhetoric in his speech; the old est Parliamentarian could not have exhibit ed more propriety and decency of manner or language, nor the most able, logic more perspicacious or more convincing. There was harmony between his thought and its expression, that won attention and com pelIed admiration. The opening of his speech was simple, unaffected, without pre- tension, gradually gaining the confidence of his audience by its transparent sincerity and freedom from aught resembling dis | play. As the orator continued and grew animated, his words became more fluent, and bis language more nervous; crowd of | thoughts seemed rushing upon him, all ea- ger for utterance. He held them, however, under the command of his mind, as grey bounds with leash, till he neared the close ot his speech, when, warmed by the pre- vious restraint, he poured them all forth, one after another, in glowing language.
 The speech took the House by surprise, nots much from its eIoquence as from the vast amount of historical knowledge and
 illustrative ability displayed in it. How a | person, untrained 10 forensic contests and unused to public affairs, could exhibit so much Parliamentary tact, such nice appre- of tb bo If | ton, and such quiet facility in surmounting them, puzzled the mind. The age and ex- perience of the speaker had prepared the House for no such display, and astonish- ment for time Subdued the expression of its admiration.
 "No member before," says person then in the House, "ever rivetted the attention ot the House so closely, in his first speech. Members left their seats where they could not see the speaker face to face, and sat down, or stood on the floor, fronting him. All listened attentively and silently, during the whole speech; and when it was over, many went up and warmly congratulated | the orator; among whom, were some, not the most niggard of their compliments, who | most dissented from the views he had eX- pressed"
 Chief Justice Marshall, writing to friend some time after, says: "At the time this speech was delivered, did not know Mir. | Webster, but l was so much struck with it, that did not hesitate then to state, that Mir. Webster was very able man, and would become one of the very first states men in America, and perhaps the very | first"
 The speech immediately raised the author to the first consideration in the House, and gained him great reputation throughout the country. The object it proposed was merely information respecting the time and manner in which the revocation of the Berlin and Milan Decrees reached the Pre- sdents Certain opponents, however, of the Admins ration used the introduction of the resolutions as an opportunity for assault upon it. particularly as related to its con duct of the war; The National IntelI- gencer-the organ of the dominant party says in the paper of June Is: "This de- bate has now assumed such character, that, aitIlUusL tlero Is but litti0 opposition 10 MT. Webster'S motion, it has become necessary for the advocates of the present war, for the friends of the Administration, the defenders of their country's reputation, to repel the violence of their opponents, and in turn pursue to the inmost recesses of their coverts, and drag them forth into the light of day"
 But MT. Webster took no part in the debate after it had assumed factious char acter; his object being, not to foment party quarrels, but to carry out national pur- pose.
 His resolutions were carried by a large majority: the first. by vote of l37 to 26;