The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-03-27

charged, and unable even to pronounce his dis
course, excep, through the medium of other lips,
he was listened to with venerauon and respect,
even by those who dIssen,ed most widely from his
opinions II is not in the nature " so mignani.
nous and bold man as Mr.. Calhoun TO conceal
any portion of his heart, or withhold any of his
sentiments The very exces Of his herolsm and
moral daring has often betrayed him Into a sacrl-
flee of popularity and fame with the men of his
own times, for which the future will do him JUS
lice. The effect Of b,s speech was from different
reasons, precisely the same as tina, of Mr Clay's;
and while it exhibited the disease to the public
mind, like his predecessors, it prepared The way
for something else, both stronger and more eff
cient, In the form Of compromise. It was the
seeoad great step in the settlement of the Union
| question, because 1t barred, most vvidly, the dis.
order which afflicted the vitals OF the republic.
V The hopes of the republic were now conferred in
| Mr. Webster. by general consent, he was ac-
bnowedged 10 be the only man left who could gill
the breach and complete the compromise and il
was no easy matter, we confess, for Northern
man, who must be supposed TO entertain, to some
extent at least, the feelings, the principles, and
even the prtjudices OF New England, to cast off all
those encumbrances of education, 10 break over
all the intervening barriers OF party, and, in the
msgnanimity Of his soul and the freedom of his
own will, defy all the fanatcism, and bigotry, and
hostility of cllques and parties, planting himself on
the rock OF the constitution, where It's founders
stood, and proposing just, great, and noble ar
rangement, by which all moderate and ratioaa
men must be satisfied We confess that we our
selves, for some dime, entertained doubt even
If Mr.. Webster, with the Hercuean weight of ms
intellect, and the gigantic force of his will, could
achieve so great triumph over the passions of
the day, and the prejudices of his times. II has
stamped his moral character with a subimity
which belongs to few other men, and it has given
TO his political character the impress Of the most
complete craftsmanship. The rebuke he admins
tered to the cowardiy agitators of the day-to the
restless demagogues OF every section of the coun-
try-was whitening and intolerable. Abas he'd, con-
founded, and overwhelmed, they could hardly re-
cover from the stunning force of the blow. They
will, and they have already began to- send up their
howl OF lamentatIon, mixed with the OF social
ism on the one hand, and what has been d. galtied
hitherto by The imposing epithet of free soiIsm on
the other. Mr.. Webster undoubtedly foresaw all
this, and he knew that he would make some sicri
nee OF popularity among the fanatics and dema-
eogues OF The North but he knew too, that truth
hes OF necessity, between extremes, and that what
he ostln sectional he gained in national fame. Feel.
ing the republic pressing on his shoulders, he bore
the Atlean weight with composure, firmness, and
dignity. and by tie magnanimity and greatness of
his conduct has gained the gratitude of sensible
and patriotic men, and secured what he had never
before achieved, the certainty Of the gratitude OF
the whole nation, rhrous hout posterity.
The Massachusetts Senator now occupies a
most enviabie position. Superior to the transient
and local passions of his time, Janus like, looking
at the same time upon the past and the future,
and midway between the two, acting for all time
he has perhaps accomplished task more difficult
than has been given TO any other man slace the
organization OF the republic. HIS great speech
was the third great step In the compromise Of
1850. We still hope that, with such patriot states
men as Clay, Calhoun, and Webster, including
Cas-, Foote, Benton, Bell and others, the republic,
torn and distracted as she is by demagogues and
fanatics, and drifting, she has been for long
year, In tunes more perllous than she ever knew
before, without guidance or direct,on from the
President or his Cabinet, she may yet weather the
storm aud moor herself still more securely than
ever the rock OF the constitution. Go to work
go to work.