The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-12-17

nd all the tender and mournful beauties of that
nmitabe eiegy clustered around his soul
But, sir, will not venture to say more on this
theme. have said thus much, in the name oil my
native State, TO testify her veneraton ior worm,
patriotism, and departed greatness, ana 10 aou
with proper reverence a handful oil earth TO the
mound q nation raises to the memory oil the Grfdl
Secretary, and to say, Peace be to the names OF
Daniel Webster.
Mr. SrANLY said Mr.. Speaker, feel that il is
proper and becoming in me, as the representative
OF people who claim the reputation oil Daniel
Webster part OF their most valuable property,
20 add few words to what has been already said.
/ do not think that it is necessary to his fame to
do SO. have no idea of attempting an eulogy on
Daniel Webster. Ii would be prcsumptuous TO
attempt it. Long before my entrance into public
life heard FROM IN ilustrious citizen OF my IA
tive S,ate-the late Judge Gaston-thst hlE- Web
ster, who was his contemporary in Congress, gave
early indication Of the wonderful abilities which
he afterwards displayed. There giants in
the land in those days, and by them Webster was
regarded as one who would earn great Distinction
Before he reached the height OF his fame the young
men in our land had been taught 10 respect MINI
This was the feeling Of those who came forward on
the stage of life with me. In what language,
then, can / express my admiration OF those splen,
did abilities which have delighted and Instructed
his countrymen, and charmed the lovers of re.
publican government throughout the earth
How shall find fitting terms to speak of has pow
ers in conversation, his many good qualities
in social life, his extraordinary attainments,
bis exalted patriotism? Sir, | shrink from the
task. Gifted men from the pulpit, eloquent Sena-
tors at home and in the Senate, orators in North
ern and Southern and Western States have gra'i
fed the public mind by doing honor to his memory.
To follow in a path trodden by 80 many superior
men requires more boldness than possess. But
cannot iorbear TO say that we North Carolinians
sympathize with Massachusetts, in her loss We
claim him as our Webster, we do the memories
OF her great men of the Revolution Though he
has added glory to the bright name OF Massachu
sets, he has been the defender OF that Constitution
the Invaluable blessings of civil liberty. When
he made Massachusetts, hearts throb with pride
that she had such a man TO represent her In the
councils OF the nation too felt proud at her JOY,
for her glory Is our glory.
Faneuil Hall is in Boston, and Boston in Mas
sachusets; but the fame OF those whose eoquence
from those walls famed the fire of liberty in the
hearts of American patriots, and made tyrants
trembc on their thrones, is the lame OF the Anne
rican people.
Faneuil Hall! Daniel Webster
The American patriot who hereafter performs
his pilgrimage to that time honored hall and looks
at his portrait appropriately placed there, will in
voluntarily repeat what the poet said OF the web
ster of poets:
/" Here Nature listening stood, while Shakespeare
played
And wondered at the work herself had made
Daniel " ebster was to the revolutionary patriots
Of Massachusetts,. to. the founders Of our Con-
stu,ion in the Old Thirteen States, what Homer
to thu ancient heroes Their deeds would
have lived without them. Their memories would
have been cherished by their countrymen had
Webster never spoken. But who can say that his
mighty ability, his power of language, unequailed
throughout the WORLDWIDE can say he has not
enbslmed their memories, painted their deeds in
beautiful drapery, and by the might oil his genius
held them up in captivating form to his coun-
trymen? Who is there on the habitable globe,
wherever man is struggling for freedom, wherever
WashinEton's name is heard and reverenced-
who IL there who will ever read the history of
achieved
and founded with almost supernatural wisdom our
Constitution and republican form of Government,
who can ever read the history of these great men
without saying they achieved much, they per.
formed great and noble d. eds, but w, bster's ora
tory has emblaroned them TO the world, and
erected monuments to their memories more
during than marbles ian man aspire to higher
honor than TO have his name associated with such
men! This honor, by universal coneent, Daniel
Webster, the son Of New Hampshire farmer, has
secured. Wherever liberty is priced on earth, in
whatever quarter OF the globe the light of our great
Republic is seen, sending ts cheering beams TO
the heart OF the lonely exile of oppression, in that
land and to that heart will the name OF Webster be
held in grateful remembrance. As cannot
think Of the founders of Republic without
thinking OF Webster, we cannot speak on his
vice. PROPERLY except in his own words. How
many OF US, in and out Of Congress, since his death,
have recalled his memorable words, in his eulo-
GUM on Adams and Jefferson. Hear him in that
Discourse:
"Adams and JEFF. rson have said, are no more.
AS belngS, 1ndeed, tney are no more
They are no more, i'll l776, bold and fearless ad
vucatCs Of independence; more, subse.
quent periods, the head of the Government; no
more, as we have recently seen them, aged and
venerable objects OF admiration and regard. They
are no more. They are dead. But how little is
there vi the great and good which can die ! To
their country they yet live, and live forever. They
live In all that perpetua'es the remembrance OF
men earth in the recorded proofs of their great
aeIions in the offspring of their intellect; in the
deep engraved lines of public gratitude end in the
respect and homage Of mankind. They live in
their example,; and they live, emphaticaliy, and
will live, in tt influence which their lives and ef
forts, their principles and opinions, now exercise,
and will continue to exercise, the affairs OF men,
not only in their country, hut throughout the civ
ized world superior and commanding human
intellect, truly great man, when Heaven vouch
safes so rare n gift, is not a temporary flame,
burning bright Tor a while, and then expiring,
giving place TO returning darkness. 1t rather
spark Of fervent beat as well radiant light with
power to enkiude the common mass of human
mind 30 that when il gmmers in ts own decay.
and finally goes out in death, no night follows, but
il leaves the world all light, all on fire, from the
potent contact of iis own spirit. Bacon died, but
the human understanding, roused by the touch Of
his miraculous wand 10 the perception OF the true
philosophy, and the just mode Of inquiring after
truth, has kept on is course, successfully and go-
Tiously. Newton died, yet the courses OF the
sphcres are still known, and they yet move on in
the orbits which he a. nd described for them in
the infnity OF space
Who can hear these words without feeling how
appropriate and applicable to the great American
statc4mani To his country he "still lives" and
will live forever.
Mr.. Speaker, fear to go The thoughts
which are in my mind not worthy of the great
subject. have read and heard 60 much from the
able, learned, and eloquent of our land in his
praise, shrink from attempting to add any thing
more.
In justice to the fcelings Of those l represent,
felt Bolcitous TO cast my pebble on the pile which
was erecting 70 his memory. They vcuerate his
memory not only for those services to which have
referred but also for his later exhibitions Of patri
otisn, in stemming the torrent Of temporary ex
element at home. The year 1852, Mr.. Speaker,
will long be memorable in the annals OF our coun
try. In this year three great lights Of our age and
our country have gone out. But a few months since
the voice OF iamentation was heard, from the At
lhniir To tho Pacific shore, that Henry Clay no
more. Tue sounds of sorrow had scarcely died in
our care, when incxora|le Death, striking with
remorseless hand at the cottage Of the peasant and
the palace OF the grcatDeeth as if TO send terror
TO our souls, by showing us that the greatest in
place and in genius but men, has destroyed all
that was mortal of Daniel w ebster
And even while we were celebrating his obse-
quies, the sagaciOus statesman, the wise council
lor, the pure and upright man, John Sergeant, Of
pennsylvania, tho man who more happily COM