The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1850-08-09
DANIEL WEBSTER.

which President Fillmore is chilling about
him. stands the colossal figure Of Danie!
Webster. There he is, one of the giants,
his massive brow locking ns if made to bear
the weight of empire, and the light Of 'oge
with calm serenity that grand
and thoughtful coun'cnance, as lhe rays Of
the setting sun lingcr upon and beautify the
stern and rugged mountain side. There he
is. a man and an American, whom we are
proad to present to the nation as 4 repre-
sentative of our counry--n statesman who
commands The adrirovion of the Old World
net and any enterprise IS n tower OF strength
of majesty, against which the waves of
faction and of section beat IN vain.
Daniel Webster has before lied the office
of Secretary of State. 1t was not known,
when he entered it, whether he could add
lew laurels to his fame in other fields. AT
the bar, he had long stood prominent in the
realms of law, of logic and of elolucnce; as
n scholar and an orator, he had no rival
among the public men Of America; as
Senatorial debater, he stood without peer,
welding in his sincwy arm battle axe Of
argument, heavy us the ponderous weapon
of Cnur de Leon, vet bright and Keen as the
scimetar of Saladln. Under the rcnown of
such reputation, he came to the Depart.
ment of state; yet. instead Of disappointing
expectation so highly raised, he more than
realized the most ardent hopes. He proved
himself, in his management of our foreign
affairs, as remarkable for powers in dlpIo-
macy ms for eloqueEce in debate. Wise,
ca In, far-sighled, firm, yet liberal he set.
tied ndyan'ngeonsly one Of ih" most ancient
and ominors ofOur difficulties with Eng land,
and elevated The character Of our country
by the digniiied spirit, ns well as mastery
skill with which he conducted its affairs.
Were there no monuments of Daniel Web,
sirr but his correspondence as Secretary of
State, he might well rest upon them his
immortality. Even considered only as
models Of pure, c'ear, vigorous English
composition, they are not to be >urpns sscd by
any similar productions upon the public
records of England and America.
Yet, it was possible even for this man,
clothed ard crowned with all these laurcs,
and advancing to the bnrdcr Of Old age, to
win new trophies, which should ou,shinc ali
the achievements Of his younger days.
While there was no longer voice to qnes-
ton the supremacy OF his intellectual pow,
ers. and his genuine American feeling. dis
played so firmly and so nobIy during his
administration Of our foreign affairs. it was
asserted that he was n man of section. and
that the powerful structure of his ln'ellcc'
tual organiza'on was accompanied BY an
absence OF mora courage which destroyed
the harmonious symmetry of this character.
1t has been reserved to later events TO 4raw
the last fang from the serpent tooth Of nal.
ice md to vindicale Daniel Webster, as 4
true man and great genus, as patriot
and statesman. The most bitter Of his
democratic opponents have hailed his recent
efforts with loud burst Of applause, echoed
even from all South Carolina. AZ the manly
ani noble stand taken by Daniel Webster in
the Senate of the United States. and the
heroic and sublime ground assumed by this
great moral hero, when in the very front of
Boston lana,icism, he Numbered forth. ~
tread no stsp backwards." The true char.
ac,er Of Daniel Webster is now understood.
He is seen rs the great American, to
whom North and South are common coun-
try, who is ready TO sacrifice in a momcn,
admiration of his own section. rather than
do INJUSTICE to section which has not
always rendered justice to him; but who
could not, even if he would, prevent postcr-
i,y of all sections and of all lands from
proclaiming him the greatest intellect of'he
century, and a patriot above fear
and nb"vc rcprOach.
Suc!, is the man whom President Fillmore
has selected as Secretary Of State. We
hail that appointment rs a must evIden,
token that the new Prcsiden, will paLt his
upon the broad. just. liberal
grounds Of which Mr.. Webster has
been the exponent in the United States
ScnGte. In that appointment, We see the
heel Of power crushing. as it ought. the
serpent head of fonaticsm. - Richmond Re-
publican.
On Tuesday, the wife Of n man named
Jacques. in the lower part Of the city. was
attacked by cholera. DR.. Kuight was called
N. and. by his direction. Jacques wen, for
medicine. On bis return. he inquired anxl.
'u>Ly of the doctor how his wife was. lie
was informed that she was IN n collapsed
state aud could not possibly live. There
upon he calmly took out his watch, and.
landing IT to his brother. said-.Ny wife