Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1849-1856, 1851-10-02

sional errors, as he believed them TO be,
and this, on the floor Of Congress. The
profession Of a man, the means whereby
he lives, in his substance. No patient
/ Job was the bject Of this grievous af
fiction. The anger and irritated pride
Of the sufferer will never slumber nor
sleep, in the world, that now is--nor un-
| til the protector of these incessant as
saults on Mr.. Webster retires to that
place, where there is neither workno
device, or becomes a just man, made
perfect-neither Of which consumma-
tions is Immediately TO be expected.
| But let us examine these charges
They are very grave. They are enti-
tied TO careful and serious investiga-
tien. Mr.. Webster, says Mr.. Horace
Mann, is a candidate for the Presidency;
and he calls Justify upon the ''miLlions Of
temperance n,.n throughout the country
to ensure his defeat" Oflhose millions,
not merely Of temperance, but total alb
stinence men, am humble unit and
feel il my duty to respond TO this sum-
mons, by an expression of my sincere
and hearty hope that enough OF intelli-
gence may be spread among the COM
munity to enable them TO penetrate the
motives of this amiable gentlemen, and
to swallow none Of his political counsel,
without carefully ascerIaining whether
It be meat, fit for man, or political rats
bane.
Here, in a very coarse and vulgar
formula of grating bitter words, is d-
rect charge, against Mr.. Webster, that
he is, "notoriOusiy addicted 10 intOricd-
tiOn." No person will read the para
graph, quoted from Mr.. Mann's letter
without understanding him to mean,
Notwithstanding the professional circum-
spection Of the phraseology, that Mr..
Webster "gefs drunk" and sin his pub
lie speeches hiecups The praises of God"
Before offer any remarks, in relation
TO the personal habits of Mr.. Webster,
upon which, if true, this accusation Of
Mr.. Mann's must be supported; | will
offer suggestion, sou ewhat specula-
tive, in its character, undoubtedly, but
not entirely without interest, upon the
present occasion. Let us summon ju-
| ry Of intelligent Christian men or women
| who never heard Of Mr.. Mann, and,
which would be rather more difficult,
who never heard Of Mr.. Webster.
Without disclosing the names of the
respective authors to these jurymen or
women. let us put into their hands all,
that Mr.. Mann has spoken or written,
upon political SUBJECTS, for four and
twenty months. with his letters, IN which
he has used the name OF Mr.. Webster.
Let us also put into their hands all, that
Mr.. Webster has spoken or written, dur
ing the same peIiod-his numberless
letters, speeches, and orations. thrown
of, with as much ease, as if the cares OF
the Union bore not feathers weight
upon his colossal shoulders. Let us not
hold back the 1.-THE of a hair Of all that
he has said or written. Let this jury,
without argument, be instructed to re-
| tire TO their chamber, and examine these
| documents with care and, when, after
| solemn dcllberation, they have made up
their verdict, to return, and, upon their
oaths, declare WHICH OF THESE GENTLE
MEN IS DRUNK
Truly it would he most wonderful, if
a man, "notoriousiy addicted 10 ntorica-
ton" and who is constantly before the
| public, whose lips and whose pen are
pouring fourth his thoughts, with
strength and freedom, and copiousness
that have no parallel, should give no
outward and visible sign Of intoxication.
in any one Of his letters, speeches, and
orations-but, on the contrary, talk on,
and write on, with perfect race and
dignity, and so very luminously that
school boys may comprehend a course
of reasoning, which might defy the intel
| lgence Of adults, when the same ideas
are enveloped in the lantastical folds of
rhetorical persihage.
This would, indeed, be very wonder
ful. But, TO the unphilosophical obser-
yer il would appear more wonderful
still, that while an indivi lual, "notOri-
Ousiy dddicted TO into.ricafiOn," never
tailed to write and to speak with the
most remarkable precision, and clear
ness, and elegance, and strength, and
dignity-the very opposite of these good
things, and all manner of envy and ha-
tired, and malice, and all unchari,abIc-
ness, the coarseness Of invective, the
very wormwood and verjuicc oil a bitter
and vindictive spirit were painfully ex-
hibited, in the speeches and writings Of
an individual, rejoicing in the conscious
ness, that he was u coid lcdter man, and
had signed the pledge Of abstinence
from all manner OF alcohol
Among the blessed results of the tenn
perance reform, we rejoice in the abili
" TO reason with one another, Of mat
ters, whereon we differ. more calmly,
upon cold water than upon alcohol. =
From this general rule there are, doubt
less, exceptions. There are men, who
are constltuiionally captious, proud, ten
acious, petulant, easily irritated, re-
vengelul, aud implacable. The jecur
uiceroSunt, as Flacus calls it, ofsuch an
individual seems TO perform the iunc-
tions of little portable distillery. IT,
upon cold water, such men are what
they are, surely upon alcohol, they
would become as lovely and pleasant in
their lives, as a company ofhyenas. All
the waters Of the river Alphens, which
cleansed the stables Of Augcas, would
scarcely suffice to cool and purify the
tempcraments of these gentlemen, who
1 resemble political touch .me-nots' The
feeling of triumphant security, which
they enjoy, from having signed The tenn
perance pledge, certainly resembles the
blessed confidence OF Michael OFlaher-
ty, who refused to QUIT his bed, when
his shanty was on 6re-because he was
insured.
These amiable and discriminating
people, having united themselves with
n