The republic., 1851-07-12
MIR. webster and Mr.. Burke.


MIR. webster and Mr.. Burke.
The agitations of the country have induced
the Secretary of State, whose soul, like that of
Nestor-
-'No respite knows,
Though years and honors bid him seek repose,"
to appear before his countrymen to impress
upon them, with the voice of eloquence and the
weight of wisdom, the inestimable value of that
jewel which they alone of all the nations
Of mankind possess-a jewel which others,
from jealousy of its possession, or ignorance of
Its worth, seek first to disparage in the esteem
of its possessors, and then to destroy. The
Grafton of Mr.. WEBSTER is practical present
alton Of the immense progress of the Union. A
nation sprung from colonial possessions, enfee-
bled by war with the most powerful of ma
tions-a torn quarry escaped from the taons Of
the eagle-asplres, within the life of man, TO
an equality in population, in commerce, in in
fucnce, with the very power that sought to
subjugate her.
The very practical scope of the recent ad-
dress of Mr. WEBSTER; his presentation Of the
progress and present position of the Union, con-
trasted with its condition when it reeled bleed
ing and exhausted from the revolutionary con-
test; his appeal to the people of the Union
not to forget in madness such incalculable ad-
vantages-all compare 80 strikingly with the
high efforts of one of England's first statesmen
and prophets in behalf of America, that we can
not forbear calling the attention Of our readers
to the admirable parallel between the Grafton
of Mr.. WEBSTER upon laying the cornerstone
of the extension of the Capitol" and the pa
triotc and prophetic speech of Mr.. BURKE
upon the concilation with America "
The particular purpose of the speech of Mr..
BURKE was to recommend to the British gov
ernment some wise concessions to the disaffect-
ed colonies. Its method was to represent the
value and progress of those colonies, and to APP
peal to his countrymen that they should not,
for party prejudice, dissolve the bonds of Union
which united them to America.
The thesis Of each Grafton is to preserve the
Union; the argument is intended TO show its
value.
In impressing upon Parliament the great
value Of the American trade and its extraordi-
nary increase, Mr.. BURKE showed that it was
the foundation of the commercial prosperity Of
England. Mr. WEBSTER has resorted to the
same method of showing the value of our pres
ent form Of government, and has accidentally
taken up the progressive growth Of America
where Mr.. BURKE left it off. One of these
great minds has thus completed what the other
begun.
According to Mr.. BURKE, the import trade
of North America and the Indies from England
was, in l704, $5,000000. The same trade
was, in l772, $27 100000
According to Mr.. WEBSTER, the import trade
of the United States, in 1851, is $l78, lbs, ,3IS.
Commenting upon the difficulty of govern
ing America by force, Mr.. BURKE takes occa-
sion to estimate its population. Having stated
his opinion of the number, he adds: ''But
whether put the present numbers too high
or too low, is matter of little moment. Such
is the strength with which population shoots
in that part Of the world, that, state the num-
bers as high as we will, whilst the dispute
continues the exaggeraton ends. Whilst we
expend our time in deliberating on the mode
Of governing two millions, we shall find we
have millions more to MANAGE
The population was stated by Mr.. BURKE, in
l772,-at..................... 2,5OO,OO0
1t is published by Mr.. WEBSTER,
in 1851, at......,..................2 % ,267 ,496
In pursuing the comparison Of these two re-
markable lessons Of patriotic wisdom, we can
not forbear completing the parallel by quoting
the prophetic description Of the American fu-
ture from Mr. BURKE
elf, amidst these bright and happy scenes Of do
mestic honor and prosperity, that angel should
have drawn up the curtain and unfolded the ris
ing glories OF his country. and whilst he
gazing with admiration the then commercial
grandeur of England, the genius should point out
to him little speck, visible in the mass OF
the national interest, a small seminal principle
rather than formed body, and should tell him
Young man. there is America, which at this day
serves for little than to amuse you with sto
ries of savage men and uncouth manners vet
shall, before you taste of death, show itself equal
to the whole Of that commerce which attracts
the envy of the world. Whatever England has
been growing to by progressive increase Of im-
provement, brought in by varieties Of people, by
succession Of civiizing conquests and civilizing
settlements in series Of seventeen hundred
years, you shall see much added TO her by
America in the course OF a single life = II this
state Of his country had been foretold 70 him,
would it not require all the sanguine credulitY Of
youth, and all the fervid glow of enthusiasm, to
make him believe IL? Fortunate man. he has
lived to see it Fortunate, indeed, if he lives TO