The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-11-07
From The Boston Post
MIR. Webster at EIms Farm.


the mountain air of New Hampshire. We are
much graified TO hear that his sojourn at his
fathers old house has proved highly beneficial TO
MS health. We learn that the week before last a
delegation OF his old New Hampshire friends and
heiShDors' many OF whom We're companions of his
younger DAYS, ana whom he had not met for years.
called to pay their respects to the distin eusbed
statesman; toexpress their appreciation of his pa
trouc course In the Senate at the last session of
| Congress. The delegation was composed nearly
all of Democrats, which made il still more graft
| flying to Mr. Webster. Among them were the
Hon. Moses Norris, U. $. Senator, Judge N. G. Up
| ham, Gen. Joseph Low, Hon. Richard H. Aver,
Hon. Charles II. Peaslee, Gen Frank Pierce,
Worcester Webster, esq, Capt. Paul h. George,
late OF the army, and Hon. Geo. w. Nesmith For
| the following hasty sketch are indebted to a
| young friend: rt
The party sat down to regular old fashioned
farmers dinner The most cordial and happy feel
| ing prevailed at the festive board. A fund of an
ecdote and story went round, and in the old man.
sion Of Mr.. Webster's father voices commineled
once more which had not been heard in unison for
| many years. During the enjoyment the following
sentiment was offered by an Old School Democrat,
| the Hon. Richard H. Aver:
sour Host-To the genius patriotism and cour
| age which 80 eiiectuaIly and OPPORTUNITY inter
posed for the preservation of the Union we tender
| and forever, one and insepara!1le.'"
Mr. WEBSTER rose and acknowledged this tribute
OF respect to his WORTH and remarked that the pres
| ent was the time for eating and drinking, and nos
| for speech making. The occasion was one which
had brought together of his Oldest friends and
| ncighbors whom he was glad to see, one and all
He would take an opportunity, however, to make
a reply before his guests should dispense
Towards the close OF the repast, General Joseph
Low, in reply to a sentiment from General Pierce,
rose and said there was an hour in his existence
which he should look back to as one which
had given him greater relief and more true happi-
meas than any he had ever experienced, and that
! was the night when he received by mail the great
Union speech of Daniel Webster, of the seventh of
March. He read it that night and he read it again
and again the next morning; and Democrat as he
was, he felt that his feelings and his heart had
| changed towards Mr.. Webster-because he felt
that Mr.. Webster was not only willing to, but he
had sacrificed himself for tn preservation of the
Union, On going to town that morning, said Gen
eral Low, found that Mr.. Webster's speech was
the general topic Of conversation A friend of
mine told me, with bitter denunciation, that Mr.
Webster had been false to the North, and aban-
doned her great principles. asked him If he had
| read the speech. The reply was he had not. Well,
said l, don't condemn man until you have heard
him.
have read the speech, and do you go and read
it too, and then tell what you think. He did
so, and, meeting him short time afterwards, said
l. "Weli, what do you think now''' "Why."
said he, General, the fact is, Mr.. Webster goes
for every body He is in favor of the North and
he goes for the South he is in favor of the East,
and he goes for the West; and, d-n me, sir, ifhe
don't go for the whole Union 20 And, continued
General Low, he is now of the strongest advo-
Gates of MIR. Webster's course. The conclusion of
these remarks were greeted with the greatcst ap-
pause, when Mr.. Webster, evincing great feeling
to reply. 1t is TO be regretted, in justice to
Mr.. Webster, that imperfect skeleton of his re-
marks, from memory, can only be given. He said
the present was not fitting occasion TO touch upon
politics, which he should let alone. He was glad
to see around his table many old friends and COM
panions of his younger days, which brought to
mind many pleasing "reminiscences, and afforded
him indescribable pleasure. The allusion to his
in the Senate, however, and the appreciation
it had met with by his friends present. who had
made manifestation of their feelings, WINS such a
source of deep qualification to him, that he could
not help reverting to it. This sufficient to
repay him for the trials and sufferings he had gone
through, and it mattered but little at this day
whether opinion should sustain him in his course
SO long he felt he had done his duty to his
country, and alone for his country's good He
had lived the best portion of his ife-the past was
secured to him, and could not be taken from him.
He asked for no more. He bad no other wish TO
crafty; for he felt there sacrifice too great
Tor him to make in sustaining the welfare of his
country. For six long months, from the 18th of
March to the It'll of September he had not slept
over two hours any night. Senators sat in their
seats day and night
IL was the crisis, and il a fearful and terrible
one. No ray of hope, no CLEAN of support, came
from any one. All looked dark and gloomy, all
grave and sullen, and no smile of relief
cheered the hour of despair lie had taken his reeo.
luton and determined to sacrifice himself for his
country's cause. He stood forth alone and unsup-
ported from New England to strike a blow at all
hazards for the preservation of the Union. His
friend from New Hampshire, Senator Norris was
the first to step forward with him into the breach
and he would here observe that toward those who
acted with him, or rather toward those he acted
with, the Senator from Michigan, Mr.. Cas-, the
Senator from Indiana, Mr.. Bright, the Senator from
Illinois, Mr.. Douglas, the Senator from Mississippi
Mr.. Footc, and others. he could again enter
tain that feeling Of political opposition which he
had formerly felt. The ancient feud was at an
end, and hereafter he should greet those gentlemen
with feelings of the most sincere esteem and warm
Get friendship. 1t was the same feeling which men
some bloody combat. After the battle is over they
become forever endeared TO each other If only
for the common dangers and hardships they passed
through.
In sustaining the position he had taken, he felt he
was but maintaining the laws and the Constitution,
guarding the rights Of the South, and advocating
the harmony Of the North alone and only for the
sake Of the preservation of the Union. lie forgot
every thing but his country; for his country only,
and her salvation, was uppermost in his heart
Mr.. WEBSTER in conclusion, offered the following
toast
Our Counfry-May its Union continue perpet
ual and everlasting, for when il shall become di-
vided It will no longer be my country"
Mr.. WEBSTER spoke with deep and heartfelt emo
ton, and sat down amid n burst of applause, which
greeted him throughout his speech
Senator NoRRIs replied to Mr. Webster in a speech
Of great eoquence and deep feeling, producing
marked impression all present He was fol-
lowed by General Pierce, who spoke in the most
enthusiastic and patriotic manner, saying that if
the old political friends of Mr.. Webster chooee to
H. Ls...f - IL T.