Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1852-12-30
INDIANA STATE SENTINEL.
[From he PhiIadelpia Leager
Mr.. Cass,s Eulogy
ON TEE pEATH on HON DANIEL WEBSTER

ON The DEATH HON. DANIEL
Mr.. Prssident;-How ARE THE MIGHTY FALLEN, was
the pathetic amentaon when the leaders Of Israel were
srsck down in the midst of their services and their re-
nown. Well may we repeat that national wall, How
Are THE MIGHTY FALLEN, when the impressive dspen-
satons Of Providence have recently carried mourning
to the hearts Of the American people, by summoning
from life to death three OF their eminent citizens VINO
for almost half century, had taken pat and Promin
emily too in all the great questions, as well oil peace -
Of war, which agitated and divided ther country ru
indeed, they were Of days and OF honorsi Tor
Took the that were hoaryi
but never brighter in intellect purer in patriotism, nor
more powerfu in influence than when the grave closed
pnon their abor leaving their memory and their career
at once an incentive and example Tor their country
men, in that long course oil trial. but trust Oh reeuo
and prosperity also which is open before us. often
divided in life, but only by honest convictions oil duty,
followed in spirit of generous emulation ana not OF
personal opposition, they are now united In dean ana
we may appropriately adopt, upon this striking occa-
sion the beautiful language addressed TO the people oil
England by Of her most gifted sons, when they
were called mourn as we are now called bereave-
ment which spread sorrow, dsmay almost through the
nation and under circumstances of difficulty and dan
GER far greater than any reasonably antlcl
pate in the PROCESS Of our history
.seek those seperate doom
Whom fate makes brothers in the tomb
But search the land Of living men,
Where shall we their like again.
And to-day in the consideration OF the Message oil
the Chief Magistrate, it becomes us to respond 10
his annunciaton, commencing itself asst does 70
the universal sentiment Of the country; OF the death
of the last Of these lamented statesmen, as ma
tional misfortune. This mark OF regret and respect
was due alike the memory OF the dead and TO the feel
ines of the living And have listened with deep emo
ton the eloquent testimonials to the mental power
and worth and services of the departed patriot, which
to-day have been heard in this high place, and will be
heard Tomorrow and commended, too, by the Ameri-
can people The voice Of party is hushed IN the pre-
sence Of such national calamity, and the grave closes
upon the asperty OF political contests when 1t closes
upon those who have taken part IN them And wei
may who have often witnessed MS laoors anu MS
triumphs-weI may here, upon this theater OF his
and his renown, recalling the efforts oil ms
mighty understanding and the admiration which always
followed its exertion-well may we come with our
tribute of acknowledgment to his high and diversified
powers and the influence he exercised upon his audi
tory, and, in fact upon his country He was indeed
one Of those remarkable who stand prominently Tor
ward upon the of history, impresslng the
characteristics upon the age in which they live, and
almost making it their own, by the force oil their genius
and the spender of their fame The time which elapsed
between the middle Of the eighteenth century and our
own day prolific Of great events and OF distinguish
ed men, who guided, guided by them, lar beyond
any other equal period in the history of human society
But IN my opinion, even this favored epoch has pro-
duced no man possessing more massive and gigantic
intellect who exhibited more profound powers Of in
vestgaon the great department OF political SCIENCE
10 which he devoted himself in all Its various ramihca
tons than Daniel Webster. The structure of his mind
seemed peculiarly adapted TO the work he was called
upon TO do and he did il, other of his coun
try of his age indeed, could have done it. And his
and his fame indssolubly connected with
Of the most difficult aud important questions which our
peculiar institutions have called into discussion. 1t was
my good fortune to hear him upon Of the most
memorable OF Ihes9 occasions when in this very hall
filed to overlooking with audience whose rapt aten
ton indicated his power and their expectations he
tered into analysis OF the Constitution and of the
great principles Of our political organization, with
vigor of argument force of illustration and felicity
of dicton which have rendered this effort OF his mind
one Of the proudest monuments Of American genius,
and OF the noblest exposons which the operations
Of our government have called forth. speak of its
general effect, without cOncurring all the views he
presented though the points Of difference neither impair
my estimate Of the speaker, nor of the power he dis
played in this elaborate debate. at
The Judgment Of his contemporaries upon the charae
of his eoquence will be confirmed by the future his
torian He grasped the questions involved in the sub
leet before him. with union OF force and dlscrim
nation and he presented them order Of arrangement
marked at with great perspeuiy and with logical
acuteness that when he arrived at his concnsion he
seemed to reach it by process of established PROPOSE
tons, interviewer with the hand Of master And
topics, barran Of attraction from their nature, were
dered interesting by illustrations and illusions drawn
from vast storehouse Of knowledge, and applied with
a chastened TASTE formed upon the best models Of an
cent and modern learning And to these eminent quail
hcations added uninterrupted flow OF rich and
often rscy old fashioned English worthy Of the earlier
masters Of the language whom he studied and admired
AS and politician his power felt and
knowledged through the Republic, and oil bore willing
testimony OF his enlarged views and TO his ardent pa.
tflOtlSm. And he acquired European reputation by
the state papers he prepared upon various questions of
foreign policy; and Of these, his retuaton and
exposure Of absurd and arrogant petenson Of
tra, is distinguished by lofty and sentiments
becoming the age in which he lived and the great Peo-
pie in whose name he spoke and it is stamped with
vgor and research not less honorable in the exhibition
than conclusive in the application. And 1t will
take rank in the history Of diplomatic among
the richest contributions to the commentaries upon the
public law Of the world
And in internal in external troubles, he was true
and tried and faithful and in the latest may be the
last the most perlous crisis of our country
rejecting all sectional considerations and exposing him.
self TO sectional denunciations, he stood up boldly
proudly indeed, and with ability for the con-
sttutona rights OF another portion oil the Union fierce
y assalled by spirit OF aggression, patibe
with mutual obligations with the duration Of the
Confederation ITSELF In that dark and doubtful hour
his voice was heard above the Storm recalling his
uymen to sense OF their danger and th0ir duties and
emperng the lessons OF reproof with the experience of
age and the dictates OF patriotism He who heard this
memorable appeal 10 the public and conscience
made in this crowded chamber with all eyes fixed upon
the speaker and almost all hearts swayed by his words
OF wisdom and Of power, will sedulously guard its
collection as one Of those precious incidents which,
while they constitute the poetry of history,
permanent and decisive influence upon the destiny of
nations.
And deceased eolleage added the kindlier aiec.
tons Of the heart to the lofty endowment Of the mind
and recall, with almost painful sensibty the assoc
atoms OF boyhood, when we were schooelIows to-
gether, with all the troubles and the pleasures which
belong TO that relation of life in its narrow world Of
preparation. He rendered himself dear Ivy his DISPOSE.
ton and department and exhibited Of those pecu
mar characteristic features, which, later IN life made
him the ornament OF the social circle and when study
and knowledge Of the world had ripened his faculties
endowed him with powers Of conversation have not
iound surpassed in my intercourse with society," home
or abroad His conduct and bearing at that early Pc
rod have left enduring impression upon my memory
OF mental traits which his subsequent course in life de-
veloped and confirmed and the commanding position
Of he had 49, ta
standing and influence Of the boy among the comrades
VINO surrounded him. Flfy-ive years ago we parted-