Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1851-07-08
Mr.. Webster's Foarth-ot-July Grafton.


an uncommon interest to the day, which amply
justified "a Fourth of July oraton' from even so
great master as Daniel Webster. And fifty did
he perform the task, Judge of it though we may
from telegraph report of four columns in the
New York Herald of Saturday morning, which
must be marred by many inaccuracies. Whatever
Mr.. Webster speaks is spoken with such admlra-
Bile purity pflanguage, such wonderful felicity OF
expression, that we shall not abate the pleasure OF
our readers in perusing this discourse by placing
before them a necessarily imperfect version. For
the present, we shall only whet their appeties tor
the authenlc report, by stating briefly the outline
of the speech.
The great orator began by congratulatlng his
fellow citizens on the return OF the anniversary
and at once electrified his audience with the In
vocation "Hai, all hail" In his prelude he
spoke of the thick veil which hid from the vision
of the first Colonists the greatness of America,
until its growth began to attract the attention OF
men of genius. He quoted as "a high poetical
inspiration Bishop Berkely's well known verse:
Westward the course of empire takes its way;
The four first acts already past,
A fifth shall close the drama with the day;
Times MODEST offspring is The last"
And thus he beautifully interpreted the dramatic
smile:
at was an intuitive glance into futuriy; it
grand conception, embracing all time since the creation
OF the world aud all regions Of which that world is COM
posed; and Judging of the future by Just analogy with
the past and the nimtabe imagery and beauty with
which the though expressed Joined to the conception
ITSELF render of the most striking passages in
language On the day of the declaration OF Independence
our Iustrious fathers performed the hrst act in this
drama: act, IN real importance INFINITELY exceeding
that for which the great English poet invoked
ga muse of fire,
A kingdom for STAGE princes to act,
And monarchs to behold the swelling scene"
The inspiring our fathers was the genius OF Ll-
berry all fire with the sense OF oppression and re-
solution to throw it off, the whole world the stage,
and higher characters than princes trod 1T and instead
of monarchs countries, and nations and the age, behed
the swelling scene How well the characters were cast,
and how well each performer acted his part, and what
emotions the whole performance excited, let history
now and hereafter te."'
A very remarkable passage from discourse
by the Bishop of ST. Asaph, written before the
declaration of independence, and specializing with
curious fidelity on the destiny of the American
colonies, was next cited by Mr.. Webster; and then
he broke into one of those magnificent bursts of
stately eloquence TO which no living man but
himselfis equal. If the telegraph has done him
injustice here, it is difficult to point out the ex-
preston which demands amendment:
"Fellow, Citizens-On the Fourth of July, l776, the
representatives of the United States of America, in
Congress assembled declared that these United Colo
MES are, aud of right ought TO be- free andnd ependen
States This declaration, made by most patriotic and
resoute trusting IN the justice OF their cause and
the protection OF Provldence-aud yet not without deep
solicitude and anxiety-has stood for sevenv-ve
years. and still stands 1t was sealed in blood. 1t has
met dangers and overcome them; it has had enemies,
and has conquered them; 1t has had detracors and
it has abashed them ALL it has had doubling friends, but
it has cleared all doubts away; and now to-day raising
its august form higher than the Clouds twenty millions
OF people contemplate it with halOwed love, and The
world behods il, and the consequences which have fol.
lowed, with profound admiration This anniversary
annates and gaddens, and unes all American hearts.
On other days OF the year we may be party men, ndu-
gng controversies more or less important to the pub
lie good we may have likes and dislikes, and may
maintain our political differences often with warm, and
sometimes with angry feelings. But to-day, we are
Americans, all and all, nothing but Americans. AS the
great lunnary our heads disslpalng mss and logs
cheers the whole hemisphere, do the associations
nected with this day dsperse all cloudy and suen wea
ther and all noxous exhaations in the minds and feel
ings of Americans Every mans heart swells with
in iim-every mans port and bearing becomes some
what more proud and lofty, as lie remembers that sew
entyve years have rolled away, and that the greatln-
kerance of liberty still hs his undiminhed and un-
impaired his all its orig na glory; his to enjoy, his
to protect and his transmit to future generations.-
Fellowxcitzens This inheritance Is not only an in-
heritance of liberty, but OF our own peculiar Amencan
liberty
ssOur peculiar American liberty" is theme
with which Mr.. Webster delights to deal, and
he did not fail to expound it with Websterian fe-
licity. The chief principles of liberty, as un-
dersand and enjoy it, according to his analysis are
first 'the establishment of popular government
by equal representation" secondly, "that the
4oiA of The mqjority fairly expressed through the
means of representation, shall have the force o
law" and finally, "that there shall be aoriHer
constitutions, founded on the immediate authority
of the people themselves, and regulating and re
straining all the power conferred upon govern
ment. whether legislative, executive judiciary.
The speaker next came to the immediate topic
of the day, the commencement of the enlarge
meut of the national Capitol, and having briefly
alluded to the act of Congress providing for the
work, and the measures taken to carry out the
design, he said that beneath the stone was depo
sited, among other things the following account
of the proceedings of the day, in his handwriting
and we may add, Individually the production o.
his own mind
"On the morning OF the first day of the seventy
sixth year Of the independence of the United States OF
America in the city of Washington, being The ALI day
of July 1851 this stone designed the corner stone
III the "exension of the capitol, according TO ulan
approved by the PRESIDENT, in pursuance of an act
Of Congress, was laid by Mllard Fillmore President
OF the United States, assisted by The Grand Master o.
The Masonic Lodges, in the presence OF many members
of Congress: OF officers of the Executive and Judi
ciary departments, National State aud District, OF off
Gers Of tie Army and Navy, the corporate authorities
of this and neighbouring cities; many associations CT
vii aud military, and masonic; officers Of the Smith
sonian Institution and National Institute; PROBES
sors of colleges, and teachers of schools OF tht
District, with students and pupils; vast concourst
of people from places near and remote, including
few surviving gentlemen who witnessed the laying
the corner stone of the Capitol by President Washing
ton the 18Th day Of September 1898 seventeen hun
dred and ninety three. Ii, therefore, it shall be herea
ter the will OF God that this shall fall from ID
base, that its foundations be upturned and the deposte
beneath this stone brought the eyes OF men, be it then
known that this day, the Union OF the United Staiel
of America stands hm-ihs their constitution still ex-