Southern sentinel. [volume] (Plaquemine, Parish of Iberville [La.]) 1848-1858, 1850-04-03
speech of Daniel Webster.

We cannot too earnestly Recommend IL tIie
perusal of our readers the speech OF this emil
nent statesman, the first part OF which we pub
lish in to-day paper. ne wisdom and truth,
the moderation and justice, the research and re-
Fiction, which it e~vinces, and the national spi-
rt breattled in every line, makes it, at this im-
portant and exciting period Of sectional jea-
lousies and sectional madness, one of the hap
pest and noblest, and most courageous efforts,
that has ever emanated from the Senate cham
Der of the United States It is the oil that
has soothed the turbulent waters of party VIC
lence. and the dying means of the tempest Is
now but family heard, which ragged with such
fury before his voice went forth to allay' while
il cheered the hearts Of his admiring country
men.
Henceforward, the local bias of Mr.. Web
ster's mind is fixed. He cannot now be termed
a Northern man, nor a Southern man, nor a
Western man; but as a National Man, in its
broadest sense, will he be known and revered.
| It is tire second time. that he has manfnlIy and
successfully battled for the nation. As a Sen
ator from his native State, he has ever faithfully
and zealously performed his duty for her inter-
ests and her wishes-but when a question is
brought forward likely to jeopardize the safety
of this Union, Daniel Webster then throws off
the harness of State feeling or sympathy, and
standing proudly aloof from all ties save that
of his country, his mighty voice rises above the
din of faction and disaffection, and brightens
up the countenances of his tellow'patriots
throughout the Union. This was the case
when Notification reared its viperous head In
South Carolina, and now, when free soil tana-
ticlsm and southern rights are creating such
dangerous collisions. The mind Of Mr.. Web
ster is ever ready for these emergencies-like
an able chief upon the field of battle, he with
holds the fire of his batteries until the crisis ar
rives when it will prove most serviceable and
destructive.
Afew weeks since Mr.. Webster's name was
but rarely spoken. His first defence of the
Union, eighteen years since, had almost died
from the memory of men-the enthusiasm that
followed it had been swept away by party pre-.
iudices and jealousies. But now a reaction
has taken place in silence and fnrgetfulness-
Webster has again spoken for The Union-and
by this last effort, has not only proved his con
~sistencv and moral courage, but has sent upor
the wings of enthusiasm a name and . amt
that will brighten in grandeur with the length
of ages, to the "last syllable of recorded time.
Since the above was in type, we have read
highly animated notice of Mr.. Webster'
Speech, in the Republic Of the 2lst ult., an<
cannot forbear at this moment of giving a few
!, of its concluding sentences-nor will we Il
, giving the whole article in full in our next a
a matter and a subject that deserve universe
knowledge. The Republic says:
r "When he (Nr. Webster) first took the floor
;, there was a movement as though every bosom
: had swelled with hope. It was sometime be
9 fore he could proceed with his speech. Ate
= the few first words, a silence prevailed as IN
e tense as the interest every one felt in his sub
ject. It was only when the spectators leane'
forward to catch some word lost or idea indis
tinctly heard-as though it were a substance t
Q be clutched by reaching after--that the equ
9 librium of the masses was lost and confuslo
. followed. It was a grand spectacle and a 81
blime theme.
Y How Mr.. Webster requited the patience an
the expectation, the encouragement and ankle
ty Of bis hearers, we may we'll despair Of tel
ing as it should be told. The first words h
=, uttered rang in the heart like the clarion Of on
u who brings glad tidings to a dismayed people
e "I wish to speak to-day, not as a Massacht
sets man. nor as a Northern man, but as a
American and a member of the Senate Of tn
United States" If not the text, it was tn
9 spirit which he brought to its consideration
We shall not attempt to give an analysis {
what followed. The speech is before the worl'
Powerful as the argument and superb the stru,
, ture are, we admire more the spirit OF tn
II speech. 1t was national in its design and ex'
" ctution. To applaud its compact and solid rel
soning seems like taking something from tn
J. admiration due to the courage and devotion I
country which prompted it. He braved tn
preiudices OF the North; he rebuked the inten
%perance of the South. He barred his breast
the assaults Of fanaticism, and exposed h
4 name to the malice Of faction. But he ma
we'll be content to forego the plaudits OF mat
men and plotters Of treason, to receive the N
mage Of a continent OF freemen.
e aAs he proceeded with his speech, the fea'
Of those who had them for the Union melte
into nothing, and with them dwindled the co.
sequence and significance of those who dl
turbed the repose of society by brandishil
frebrands near the altar Of the temple. Wit
out seeming to seek for victims, the pedlars
:, damaged humbugs were trodden down witho'
q impeding his course. There was no music
70 their spassin,g knell."' So slight were they
this regard, one could, scarcely know that
l. unfolding the Union in speaking for his cop
4 try, her banners, her glory her history, the ha
piiness Of her people, and the safety Of her 9