Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1852-11-11
Gbc DaiIp bireinion.
REMARKS OF Mr.. CHoATE
On the Death Of Mr. webster.

/ cannot aiempt To grasp nnu sum W 1o
aggregate and services of his public life at
such a moment as this; and it is needless. That
life comprised a term gilmore than thirty-three
years. II produced a body of performance of
which | may say generally 1t was oil which
the first abilities ofthe country and time en-
ployed with unexampled toll, simulated by
the noblcst patriolism; in the highest places OF
the State, in the fear Of God in the presence OF
nations, could possibly compass.
lie came into Congress after the war of 1919
had begun, and though probably deeming 1t
nnnec essary, according tot the highest standards
ofpubc necessity, IN his private character,
and objectng in his public character to some
OF the details of the policy by which II was
prosecuted. and standing by party ties IN gen.
era opposition to the Administration, he never
breathed n sentiment calculated to depress the
tone of the public mind. to aid or comfort the
enemy; to check or chill the STRINGS oil that
new, passionate, unouenchable spirit of nation
atty which then was revealed, or klndlcd 10
burn ill We go down to the tombs of States.
With The peace Of 1915 his more cherished
public abors began; and thenccforward has he
devoted himself; the ardor of his civil youth;
the energies of his mature manhood; the an-
tumnal wisdom of the ripened year. TO tho ofii-
ccs of legislation md diplomacy-of preserv.
ing the peace, keeping the honor. establishing
tho boundaries. and vindicating the neutral
rights ofhs country; restoring sonud currcn-
cy, and laying its foundation sure and deep; In
upholding public credit in promoting foreign
commerce and domestic industry; in developing
our uucounted material resources; giving the
lake and river TO trade; and vlndicatlng and In
terpreling the Constitution and the law. On
all these sublects--on all measures practically
in any degree affecting them-he has inscribed
his opinions and left the traces of his hand.
Every where the philosophical and patient
statesman and thinker will find that he has
been before him, lighting the way, sounding
the abyss. His weighty languoge'hls sagaclons
warnings, his great maxlms Of empire will be
raised TO view, and live to be read, when the
final catastrophe shall lift the granite foundation
IN fragments from it's bed
In this connection, cannot but remark 10
how extraordinary extent had Mr. Webster,
by his acts, words, thoughts, or the events OF
bis life, associated himself forever in the mem.
ory of all of us with every historical incident.
or at least with every historical epoch !; with
every policy, with every glory, with every
great name and fundamental institution and
grand or beautiful image which are peculiarly
and properly American. Look back to the
planning OF Plymouth and Jamestown; to the
various scenes ofcolonlal life IN peace d war /;
the opening, & march, and close oil the rovolu-
tionary drama; to the age oil the constitution; To
Washington, and Franklin, and Adams, and
Jefferson; TO the whole train of causes, from
the reformation dow nwords, which prepared
us to be republicans; TO that other train OF eau
scs which led US to be unonists: look round on
field, workshop, and deck, and hear the music
of labor rewarded, fed, and protected look
on the bright sisterhood OF the States, each
singing as n scraph in her motion, yet blend
ing in a common beam and swelling common
harmony, and there is nothing which does not
bring him by some tie to the memory CT A.
merca.
We seem TO sec bis form and hear his deep
grave speech every here. by some felicity
of his personal life;by some wise, deep or beau
hful word spoken or written; by some service
of his own or some oommemoratlon oil the
services of others, it has come to pass that tour
granite bills our inland seas and prairies and
fresh, uubounded magnificent Wilderness" our
encircling ocean; the rock Of Pilgrims; our new
born sister ofthe Pacific; our popular assem-
blies; our free schools; all our cherished doc.
trnes of education, and ofthe influence Of re-
ligioo, and material policy and law and the
Constitution give US back his name. What A
merican landscape will you look on; what
subject of American interest will you study;
what source Of hope or of anxiety as an Amer
can will you acknowledge that it does not re-
call him
shall not venture, in this rapid and gener-
al recollection of Mr.. Webster, to attempt TO
analyze that intellectual power which all ad.
nit to have been so extraordinary, or to COM
l-.lz i
others in variety or degree, of the living or the
dead; or even to attempt to appreciate exact
ly and in reference to cannons of art, his single
attribute of eloquencc. Consider however, the
remarkable phenomenon of excellence in three
unkindred, one might have thought icnompat.
ble, forms fpubic speech--that ofthe forum
with its double audience Of bench and jury, of
the halls oflegislation and of the mos. throng-
ed and tumultuous assemblies ofthe people.
Consider further that this multiform eloquence
exactly as his words fell became at once so