Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1850-03-25
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LyNCnBuRG. MAHCH rs, 1880
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS..

tentous magnitude has been the subject oil discus
sion. Il has awakened the great OF the land, and
aroused the dcrman, energies of our lesser intel
lects. Oratory and logic; mathematical inyesti
CATION and poetcal appeal theories and facts;
metaphysics and reality, have all been brought TO
hear upon the great issue. Nor can wonder.
The question is one of the most important nature
An absorbing question: and, a, present, one from
which all other considerations emerge. The qnes-
ton is one unlike any, which has been submitted
for the worlds consideration; involving conse-
uuences of no less import than the existence or
nou-exs,ence of the American Republic; the eX-
tinction of whct, great nation will result in lnu-
~ to the world at large. But il is not the ques
ton we design 10 speculate; our attention /, more
narticularly directed 10 the great characters en-
ploved in bringing this issue to a cloSe-a result
ardently desired by the people of the entire Union.
s- Great ntelectS have been created Tor the DIS
charge of great tasks, and the superior efforts OF
mighty orators have always been made IN elect
ing the adjustment of great questions Clceros
brilliant oratnrY was poured upon the Roman ear,
when the mad schemes OF Cluline threatened
Rome with destruction. Demoshcnes mastery
appeals resounded through Athens, when Philip OF
Macedonia stood before her walls, painting for an
entrance, that he might, by the subsection oil
Athens, spread devastation throughout Greece
That lofty eloquence of Chatham, which was pro-
nounced with the tremulous voice OF old age, anu
fell upon his countrrmen's ears as voice issuing
from the tomb, was appeal to his country 10
pause in the pursuit of "a course, which was tom
volve her in deadly conflict with her friends,
and which resulted in tearing from her the colo
MES. that had been "planted by her hands and
nurtured by her care" The French Revolution
Of 194Y, awoke the spirit of oratory, and, in eff
fect;ng the liberation of France, was mingled
the oratory of the poet the philosopher, and the
historian And the first era in American hlsto-
Il IL, 81 AID
the pages of history will be searched in vain for
that period, in which great nation was threaten
ed with extinction that did not produce men OF
eIoouence, and orators who spoke with "he
smoothness of Venus and the force of Jupiter
Such period is the one IN which we llVe he
limited States of America is threatened with dis
solution The excitement, which is TO sever these
States has grown greater and greater, until sew
erance itselfhas almost enSued. Such is the oc-
casion; oratory is the production. Tins is day
of cloquence. A day OF oratorcal exhibition
The occasion has awakened the great men OF the
nation, and developments of towering intellect
and lofty genius have been made
Towering a1ove the great men of the land, stands
trio of mighty iatellecs. Men different in their
cast of mind, different in their prejudlces, ditier
ent in their shades of intellect-men aSslmIiated
only in being the greatest orators and statesmen
Of our Republic. And great they are They
ing made by section against section; and the peo-
ple Of the country pause in their efforts to view
This conflict of the great. And pause, they may
Oratory, heightened with the embellishments Of
rhetoric clashes against the close reasoning otlhc
metaphyscian, which, in its turn is met with the
severe stroke of sublime eloquence and oyerpow-
ering logic.
Webster is the master spirit Of the contest
And the master spirit, not only IN intellectual DIS
A.. # nt,oiS uh mol he
exhibits. The position of Mr.. Webster, as well
as the intellectual powers with which he has sus-
tanned it. has entitled him to the appreciation OF
the American people, and has enabled him to
take strong foothold upon their confidence and
admiration. Daniel Webster now possesses a
fame unsullied with the lnsnuations of malice,
and free from the blasting power OF the SANDERS
of intriguing opponents. The nation had ac-
knowledeed him giant in intellect and with the
logical productions of his mind adorned with
scintillations of that sublime eloquence which
burst forth in those moments OF enthusiasm, when
his zeal had quckened his pace and was urging him
on to success; how could they do otherwise p
Bu. when the dark shadow of suspicion fell upon
him, he shranll not from the public gaze, but pa
tiently awaitedt the occurrence OF that occasion,
the Importance of which would demand the eff
forts of his mighty mind. The occasion has comes;
he too is found near. That occasion is a great
OCCASION but great as it is it is not too great tor
the effort of this intellectual hero. That occasion
demanded the discussion Of question OF no less
weight than the preservation of the Unlon--an
occasion calling alike for the exhibition of intel
iec.ual strength and patriotic emotions, Webster
has met the issue and met it both as patriot and
and man of vast intellect. He has snatched
from his brow the chaplet Of intellectual worth,
with which it has been decorated by the world,
and his effort has woven with its leaves the laurel,
with which the world adorns the patriots brow.
Henry Clay is the orator, who first ventured
upon the disturbed waters. The smooth and rich
voice of this venerated patriot first sounded over
the agtated waves. Henry Clay has Away been
an exalted patriot, and in every effort he has
made, his eye has rested solely upon his country
glory. We esteem him for his patriotism, respect
him for his talents, admire the captivating power
of his elocution and venerate him as one who has
spent lifetime, now Easily merging into old
age, in devoted service to his country. We hail
ed him as great pacIficator, when he appeared
upon the turbulent waters, and as the contest has
deepened we have turned our eyes to the orator
of Kentucky, and there will we let them rest
and while there they rest, we inspired with
hope; and we enabled to hope with confident
expectation, for the preservation of the Union.
But there is no light, which does not some
where throw shadow. The brilliancy of light
mayillume the general scene, but some obtrudng
body will cast dark shade. And the shade,
.At. Eli IL I