New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1850-08-24

Rspublic competitors, unequaled In reputation
ability, or position q name to make Sun more go
rious or lose forever; and an audience, comprising
no, only persons of this country most eminent In
intellectual greatness bat representatives oil oner
nations, where the art Of eloluence had fouriihed
for ages All the soldier seeks in opportunity was
here.
Mr.. Webster perceived, and felt equal TO- tbs
des,inies Of the moment Tho very greatness OF
the bszard ez hilsrsted him. His spirits rose with
the occasion. He awaited the time OF onset with
a stern and impatient Joy. He felt, like the war
horne Ct the Scrip Ures-Eho "pRTeth IN the val
lev. and rejoiceth In his strength who goeth on TO
meet the armed men,-vho sayeth among the
trumpets, Hs ha! and who sneleth the battle aisr
off, the thunder OF the captains and the shouting
A confidence in bis own RESOURCES, springng
from no vain estimate Of bis power bat the leglu-
mate Ofifprpg Of previous severe mental discipline
,ustained and excited him. BE had guaged his
opponents, his subject and himse1.
He wa. too at this period. in the very prime oil
mtpbood BE bad reached middle sge-sn era IN
the life Cf man, when the faculties, physical o. IN
teUeotusl may be supposed to attain their fullest
orgtpizatiou and most perfect development what
ever there was in him OF intellectual energy and VI
tnlity the OCCASION his fall life and high ambition,
might well bring forth
He never rose on au ordinary occasion to address
an ordinary audience more self possessed. Inere
/ VAS no tremulousness in bis voice nor manner
/ nothing hurried nothing simulated. The calmness
! of superior strength was visible everywhere; ~
csuntenarce. voice and bearing. deep seated
conviction Of the extraordinary character OF tue
emergency and Of bis ability TO control II, seemed
70 poss,,. him wholly. If TN observer, more than
| ordinarily keensiehtsd, detected at times some
thing like exultaton in his eye, be presumed II
sprbne from the excitement OF the moment and the
anticipation Of victory.
4 The anxiety to hear the speech was so intense,
irretrcssble and universal that no sooner had the
] -
Vas made ard unanimously carried 70 postpone
the ordinary prelimnaries Of Senatorial action
Sir. W.6ster rose and addressed the Senate.
His exordium is known N heart, every where:
"Mr. President when &Anarlner mas been
tossed. for many DAYS, in Aia|weather, and on an
unknown sea, be naturally avails himself OF the
frat pause in the storm, the earliest glance OF tue
sur 70 take biz latitude and ascertain how fer the
elements have driven him ffom bis true course
Let us initiate this prudence and before we hoat
further, the waves Of this debste, refer TO the
| point from which we departed that We may At
lest be able to form some conjecture where we
now are. | ask for the reading Of the resolution
! There wanted no more 10 enchain the attention
| There was a spontaneous, though SILENT express
zion OF e,ger appreciation, as the O.. n concluded
( these openiT remarks. And While to- clerk read
the resolution many attempted the im2oshoiiisy
of getting nearer the speaker. Every mead was
inclined coter coward him. every ear turned In the
| direction Of his vOice-snd that deep, sudden,
| mysterious silence followed, which always attends
fOness OF emotion. From the sea OF upturned
faces before him, the orator beheld his thoughts
reflected as from a mirror. The varying counte-
nance, tie sufused eye, the earnest smile, and
ever-a.teni look assured him of bis audieuces
entire sympathy; II among his hearers there
we're thore who affected at frat an Indifference
10 bis glowing thoughts and tervent periods, the
difficult mask was soon laid aside, and profound
| ondp euif ed, devoted attention folio In the
3 ~ al nrin on
poneLts seemed deeply engroIssd IN the careful
| perusal Of newspaper he held before his face;
but this, on nearer approach, proved to be upsite
dorm. In truth, all, sooner or later voluntarily or
ia spite OF themselves, were wholly carried away
by the eoquence Of the orator.
One of the hsppest retorts ever made In
forensic controversy was mis- application OF Haynes
comparison OF the ghost OF the murdered coa'l'
ton to the ghost of Banquo
"Sir, the honorable member was not, Tor other
re.icns entirely happy IN his illusions 70 the story
! OF Benquo's murder and Banquos ghost IL vas
not, ] think, the friends, bat the enemies Of the
| murdered Banquo, at whose bidding his spirit
would Lot dorm. The honorable genHemsn 10 fresh
in hi, reading Of the EDgish classics and can pat
/ me risbt IL am wrong but according 70 my poor
recollection. il was at those who had begun with
care,ses, and ended with foul and treacherous m1r
Ger. that the CORY locks were shaken! The ghost
/ Of B.nquo, ike that OF Hamlet, was IN honest
/ cheat IL disturbed no innocent man. 1t knew
/ where us appearance Ncud tIrlAe teIIot' euu WV
would cry cut ghostl IL made itself visible IN
the right quarter and compelled the guilty, and
the conscience smitten, and others, TO start,
/ with
"'Prylbee ace there. behold look 10.
II stand here, saw him.
/ Their yebals were scared Twas it not So sir ,
who had thought to shield themselves by conceal.
ing their own hand, and laying the imputaton OF
the crime on q low and hreng agency in wicked
ness WHO bad vainly attempted to stlhe the work
ires Of their own coward conscences, by eliculat
ipg, through white lips and chsnering teeth,
Thou canst not say did it, have misresdthe
great poet If those who had no way partsken in
the deed Of death, either found that they were, or
feared that they should BE-, pushed from their stools
by the ghost Of the slain, or exclaimed, to aspec-
ter created by their own fears, and their own re-
morse, "Avaunt! and quit our sight
There was a smile Of appreciation upon the faces
all around at this most fellcitous use Of ano.hers
ilustration-this turning ones own witness against
| HMM which Col. Hayne good humoredly joined.
As the orator carried out the mora OF Macbeth,
ard proved by the example of that deep-thinking,
| intee ctua but insaney ambitious character, how
little Of substantial good or permanent, power was
10 be secured by devious and unbened policy,
he turned his eye with significance Of express
sion, full Of prophetic revelation upon the Vice
President, remindinghim that those who had fouly
removed Bsnquo had placed
barren tcepieT In their gTtpe,
No son AZ ttsifs sRoceedtrgN
Every eye Of the whole audience followed the di'
rection Of bis own-and witnessed the changing
countensnce and visible agitation Of Mr.. Calhoun.
Surely, no prediction ever met more rapid or
fuller confirmation, even 70 the very manner in
which the disaster was accomplished Within a
few brief months the political fortunes fthe Vice.
President at this moment seemingly on the very
point Of elimination, had sunk so low, there were
bore 40 poor Is to do him reverence
Whether for & moment a presentlment OF the
approaching crisis in his fate, forced upon his mind
by the manner and language Of the speaker, cast 4
gloom over his countenance, or some other cause,
it is impossible to say but bis brow grew dark,
nor for iome time did his features recover their
usual mpsssibiLty.
TIE allusion nettled him,-the more &c ne could
lot but witness the effect it produced upon others