The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-04-10

good, no domestic prejudice no partial success nor
private wish, when that altar demands sacrifice.
Whilst he here at our banquet to-day let him be
remembered in our social pledge, and when he is
gone. let him ever be so remembered at every fes-
tive board where friends Of the American Union
may be gathered together offer you
81 Daniel Wsbsfer-A consummate statesman,
whose wisdom, equal to every emergency Of affairs,
is invigorated and adorned by that highest courage
which walks in the path Of duty the more stead
fastly for the peril it presents.
In announcing this toast, at the other end of the
table, Mr.. BARNEY accompanied it with the follow
ing remarks:
The fourth ofa century has revolved since it was
our distinguished guest, who, at that early period
Of his political existence, had attained elevation
which had been gradually and constantly increasing
until it has attained its eliminating point, and
the influence of his counsels 10 felt in every section
of the land. The pride of Boston, the glory of New
England, the admiration of the republic-a North
ern light whose radiance illumes the world.
Speaking of Mr.. Webster heard Mr.. Madison
remark that, reading an Grafton delivered by
him when youth, unknown TO fame, he then ex-
pressed his conviction that he destined to fill
large space in public esteem that he developed ge
MUS and gave of those brilliant talents
which have since electrified the Senate and exalted
his reputation as an orator and statesman to the
apex of human fame. And we can all bear wit
meas that in the maturity of his intellect he has
realized the promise of his spring, whose early bud
no less redolent than renowned.
The remarks made by Mr.. Barney were received
with enthusiastic applause, which prevailed for
several minutes, during which every eye d.
rected to the great statesman the intellectual giant
Of the North. After brief pause, Mr.. WEBSTER
arose, and spoke as follows:
cannot well say, Mr.. President how much am
obliged to you and the gentlemen present for the
very civil and kind toast with which you have hon
ored me- and for the extremely cordial and fatter-
ing in which it has been received. 1t is also
with unfeigned pleasure that | have heard my
friend at the lower end of the table (Mr. BARNEy)
revive the memory Of old friendship and regard
There are men, and 1T may not be assuming too
much to cay that am one of them, who more
easily vanquished by friends than by enemies. !
stand somewhat Of the rigor and ferceness of
opposition, but among such friends and in receiv-
ing such commentators, must confess myself to
some degree unnamed. The compliment paid
me by the toast which has just been drank sup
poses degree OF courage in the performance Of
duty which cannot but feel Is too strongly stated.
Men, Mr.. President, are courageous in proportion
to the magnitude of the object and the greatness of
the stake for which they are contending. Feeble
men-men Of sensitive temperament, tremulous as
the leaves upon the trees-have braved the terrors
of the nquistion and of the faggot, their faith
tanning and upholding them. Fearful men will
plunge into the sea TO save the objects of their aec
tions pass through the ire to secure their wives
or children from destruction. Who is there
that will not be courageous If he finds himself
in an exigency in which the safety Of his coun-
try may depend upon his exertions. And 80,
servant not new to the councils of his country
felt on a recent occasion that the exigency de-
manded something which might incur risk of cen
sure-something which might bring opprobrium.
Man, sir, has natural life and political life-the
one to be terminated by those natural events and
circumstances which occur to all; the other TO end
either with the natural life, to be terminated by
those political events which the changes Of time
and OF things are ever producing. But the one and
the other are to be held valuable only while they
are Of use-to be enjoyed only while be who enjoys
them feels that he is doing something useful in his
day and generation. When public man draws
his life in that capacity TO close, if he has per-
formed his duty to his country and has been faith
full the trust reposod in him, he has that consola
ton which no opprobrun and no censure can take
| from him. But whether he ends his life as a natu-
raj or as political man, he can never come to his
final end too soon he falls in defence of the honor
and the constitution Of his country.
Mr.. President: When the Roman republic, in its
palmiest period, was threatened with civil war;
when arms were introduced into the Senate, by
persons who had designs upon the freedom and the
stability Of the republic the great orator and great
man of antiquity, in addressing the Senate in de-
fence Of his measures, supposcs the genius OF his
country 10 be apostrophizing Marcus Tulus Cice-
ro-"What do you do-you see dangers encircling
the republic; yousee the prospect of civil war de-
vastating Italy; and what do you dos Are you
afraid Of the reproaches of Posterityl But if
sure be that whereof you are afraid, think which is
most TO be apprehended--the censure incurred for
acting with frmness and courage, or that for hav
ing acted with soth and pusillanimity. When
Italy shall be laid desolste with war-her cities
plundered, her dwellings ON fire, you then hope
TO escape the flames of public indignation!"
This great Union, Mr.. President, must last
through our generation, and through generations
yet TO come. Whatever clouds may now overcast
the political horizon, shall live in the hope and
die in the hope that such glorious Union as this
will never perish The necessity of the case is all
on side. We are now united, andI can see no
possible process by which we can become dis
nm tod In all
borne; and where government is extended over
so great and extensive a country as the United
States, differences Of opinion will exist Our des-
tiny is Union, and we must bring our minds TO
this fact, or reconcile ourselves 20 the probability
of events which none now could foresee IL was
barely possible-no, IL was not possible--that the
good State Of Maryland should go back TO what
she was in l774 and you might as soon tear asun
der the granite hills Of New England as TO sever
her from that conederacy Of States 10 which she is
bound by 40 many ties. Our fathers, who had
achieved the independence Of the country, and es.
tablshcd the Constitution OF these United States
had deprived US Of rich inheritance Of glory but
what they had left TO US was the defence and the
preservation of what they had established II was
ours 20 show our estimate Of this liberty and this
Constitution by defending IL with all our enorRies
and, ~ necessary to the last drop of our blood If
shall continue TO go on 10 defend what they left
us, then may look 70 their memory not as
recreant, but as true sons Of the glory and great
ess Of our fathers.
In political matters, when q man rises in Congress
10 make speech, he s said to define his position
and may we not Mr.. President, define the position
of our countryi The past has been all love and fra
ternal concord, but who shall define tho future I?
Shall the States rush from their several spheres and
throw all into state Of political anarchy and con-
fusion-surrendering their political gravitations;
shall every State set forth on independent voy.
age Of exploration, involving all in one common
ruin! Sir, we are bound TO have one common CEN
tre The laws Of political necessity forbid that il
should be otherwise. The waters Of the Susque-
hanna and of the Potomac rivers flow into the
Chesapeake Bay, and by the general law of nature
there unite. The States also by law Of political
necessity lead directly 10 union, and the attempt
might IA well be made 10 drive back the waters of
the Susquebanna 10 the mountains Of Penns sylyania
and the waters OF the Potomac the Alleghanes az
TO prevent that union
Mr.. wEBsTrR concluded his remarks by express
ing the pleasure which he felt in being present at
the celebration Of the Society, and wished the mem
bcrs all success in the RATIONAL intelg gent and en-.
nobling historical research in which they were en-
gagged Tie proposed the following sentiment:
Liberty and ps Cro's.-NIay their united influ.
ence pervade and regenerate the world