Windham County Democrat. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1836-1853, 1851-08-27

Webster is conie nted with being simply "Defend.
er'the defender Of other mems thoughts and lnbors
To originate implies lofter powers of mind than the
simple defence of what hare been originated Still,
one is foolish enough 70 deny Daniel Websters ofas
torcal power and ability. AS Americans, ought 10
be proud of these attributes Of our countrymen. We
only regret that these great gifts not WISE
ly drected-consecrated 10 the nober purposes of hu
man progress-the elevation and triumph of Man--the
working out OF tue great miracle OF manrs destined
mission earth.
Daniel Webster is cold, distracted reasoner He
stands apart from other in his solitary grandeur.
lie has fathomed the deeper springs of the human
heart He cannot comprehen nd the masses-the puisa-
tons of common fe-the everyday workings of this
ever busy, ever-impaent, and conquering world He
revoves in quite another orbit of his He
hardly to know that there is world-a world of
shine, of activity, of revoution of progress He is
old antiquated, with the mist and gloom of the Past
bout him, which prevent him from seeing the Actual
and the Real He borrows his notions from the Past
His garments have been cullcd from old wardrobes
and he makes the fatal mistake of trying to force them
upon the fresh, expanded, and evergrowing limbs of
the present. This is Daniel Websters great error
He has not kept up with the times 'The times" have
outrun him. Nor does he make any effort to keep up
or to overtake the world in IFS giant strides lie is
kind of "fxed staror rather like that species of
shefsh which grows fast TO the rocks. The fish may
phosophze in his shell, but he knows little what
is going in the distant regions around him. How
many a fish might have been wiser had he been gifted
with the power of locomotion 1t is the fate of Dam
ie Websters thoughts and opinions to lack this re-
deemng characterisctbe Crockett character of ego
ing ahead"
The old "Defender" has harped upon the Cons,itu-
ton till he has become bankrupt in ideas on that sub
ject The whole affair has degenerated into humbug
At the time, his efforts may have seemed gigantic.
Men may have been wrapped in awe-in delight.
They may have thought themselves prodgously wiser
while the great oracle uttering his wisdom. In
the midst of their happy hallucination, they have n-
creased wonderfully in stature. But after ALL when
the High Priest has closed his lips and the silence
and the calm on, they looked about in vain for
their imaginary treasures They felt in their pockets
and found nothing.-The orators words had gone by
them "the idle wind the remembrance Of the
solemn music of his mighty tones. We put the ques
ton seriously. Has it not been so in ninety nine
in hundred-and too often the hundredth was in
cuded
Lay your hand the first you meet of this de-
lighted class of Webster's worshppers. Question him
of his information and progress. As TO what he has
lesrned-what he knows that he didn't know before.
Bid him unfold his stores constitutional knowledge
the new views he had acquired-the new light that
has been reflected upon him. His answers will be
mighty vacant 1t would be the greatest puzzle of his
life to exhibit any of that profound information which
he had fancied he getting.-In the agony of his
despair he might possibly say, "Ddnict Webster says
so-and-so ~ That we imagine, would be the extent
of his newly acquired wisdom And yet what a hur-
rah-what flying up of caps the Great Expoun-
der's expositions We fancy few things more ri.
5 dicuous-though it may be owing to our own obtusc.
ness and want of discernment-our lack Of doeihts
perhaps.
Mono The Constitution is not such an enigma
to the people. 1t may it is true, be subjected to the
lawyers INVESTIGATIONS. Men may mistake Ugh sound
ing and reverential panegyrcs for revealed wisdom
They may mistake talk for truth But the question oil
their advancement and enlightenment is quite another
affair. We question whether Daniel Websters pupils
have much of either TO boast of.-Mdachester IN III
Dem.