Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1850-04-09
The webster Case.

stimulated during the progress OF the web
ster trial at Boston. Eagerness 10 be pos
sessed of each passing days Developments
was all but universal. In this, humanity
showed its pervading love Of knowing the
hidden, and its deep instructive interest in
the high question Of fellow-being's guilt
or innocence. So far, we have all of us
been led forward by natural impulses, the
question now is, shall the topic of so much
thrilling interest week ago, be left further
unimprovcd If it be, it will be TO our
shame. Every such event, horrible in a
hundred points of view, is nevertheless
stored with invaluable moral wealth.
Like the toad, ugly and vcnomous, II
wears a precious Jewel in its head"
The first great truth which the case pre-
sents for our remark, is that from the dan
Ger Of sin and evil in the heart there IS no
safety but in their absolute expulsion.
Professor Webster was a man in the serc
and yellow leaf Of life, his head not TN
sprinkled with the siIvery threads that lend
veneration to age, his reputation Tor SCI
ence really eminent, and his moral char
acter, outwardly, spotless. Who would
have thought that the bosom of such q
man contained within it lurking spark
that only waited the sufficient OCCASION
and the appropriate exciting cause to
burst out into conAagralion laying waste
all that was near and dear to him, of earth
" hopes, fortune, fame and family!
Had he but self-applied thousandth
part of that observant sagacity upon which
he prided himselfin his scientific research
es, he would have q myriad times detect,
ed elements of blasting power within him,
which could only be safely entrusted to
the guiding hand Of an all-conlrolling On
impotence.
Professor Webster was like millions
regular attendant upon the outward OBJ
servances Of religion, but he had not gone
inward, and purged the temple of his
heart. Til this is done, in youth, in
middle age, or later life, nothing etfectual
has been done at all. For this there Is
no substitute. TO moral safety there Is
no royal road, the path Of personal fldell'
~ TO the constituted law is the one only
way, no matter what decisions from with,
in or without might stand up to deceive u.s.
He was proud and vain. Proud of his
position; vain of the worlds applause.
For him the boon of life was fair stand
ing, smooth show, friends, station, re-
spec,ability. These secure, all was safe;
he had nothing beyond to care for.
That these are good and desirable we
shall be the last to deny. But good as
they are, they are not the ends OF our life
If we get them, /, is from the hands OF
Providence, to be accounted for, and with
gratitude acknowledged. Occasions may.
and often do arise, when, turning our back
upon the worlds opinion, taking our re-
spectability by the throat, and hazardlng
the friendships Of an age, we must go firm
" out and proclaim our fidelity to the
Unseen. The fat delights Of Egypt must
be left, and the dry and dreary plains OF
the Desert fcarlcssly undertakes, and firm.
IIy rod.
Other lessons may be learn; from hi.
- strange, eventful history" Do any
greatly suffer but by their own fault! w
believe never Exterior trial, priyation
! and toll there may be and there are, bur
these are always compensated By the mer
cv Of Providence in the youchsafement o!
Inward helps and supports every way
competent 70 meet the external pressure.
But anguish of soul, the weeping. ana
wailing, and gnashng Of teeth" are con.
contains of sin, and that sin oar Own.-
Providence never pretermits It's justice q
its care, and no man ever suffered ] pang
but by his own fault. The family Of Prof.
Webster have suffered, and must yet SUI
fer, perhaps more acuiely tiian eve:.-
Whence! Have there not been undue
expenditures, requiring supplies beyond
the f4mily's proPer"incOme! Have moi
pride, vanity, the love Of display had large
share in the crime, and sorrows Of the
u.hsier Enmilvl WHO cen Ionht II /, Lei