The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-12-15
THE REPUBLIC.

How ARE THE MIGHTY FALLEN, we may yet ex-
claim, when reft OF our greatest and wisest; put
they fall to rise again, from death to HE, when
such quckening faith in the mercy oil GOD, ana IN
the sacrifice of the Redeemer, comes to shed upon
them its happy influence, on this side OF the grave
and beyond it.
MIR. SEWARD said:
When, in passing through Savoy, reached the
euinence where the traveller is promised his first
distinct view of Mont Blanc, asked, "Where 10
the mountain ?' "There," said the guide, point
ing to the rainy sky which stretched out before e.
1t is even so when we approach and attempt TO
scan accurately great character. Clouds gather
upon it, and seem to take ii up out OF our sight
Daniel Webster a man OF warm and earnest
affections, in all the domestic and social relations
Purely incidental and natural illusions IN his con-
versatious, letters and speeches, have made US IA
miliar with the very pathways about his early
mountain home; with his mother, graceful, intel
lectual, fond, and pious, with his father, assidu
Gus, patriotic, and religious, changing his pursuits
as duty in revolutionary times commanded, from
the farm to the camp, and from the camp to the
Provincial Legislature and the Constituent Assem-
bly,. 1t seems we could recognise the very form
and features of the most constant and generous
Of brothers. Nor are We strangers at Marsbheld
We guests Hospitality admitted, and then left
to wander at our under the evergreens on the
lawn, over the grassy fields, through the dark,
native forest, and along the seashore. We
know, almost as well as we know our own, the
children reared there, and fondly loved, and
therefore perhaps early lost; the servants bought
from bondage, and held by the stronger chains OF
gratitude; the careful steward, always active yet
never hurried; the reverent neighbor, always well
come yet never obtrusive; and the ancient Usher
men, whose little fleet is ever ready for the sports
Of the sea; and we meet on every side the watch
full and devoted friends whom no frequency OF
disappointment can discourage, and whom even
the death of their great patron cannot all at once
disengage from efforts which know no balancing
of probabilities nor reckoning OF cost to secure
his elevation to the first honors Ct the Republic.
Who that was even confessedy provincial was
ever co identified with any thing local, as Daniel
Webster was with the spindles of Lowell and the
quarries of Quincy; with Faneuil Hall, Bunker
Hill, Foreiathers' Day, Plymouth Rock, and what
ever else belonged to Massachusetts? And yet,
who that was most truly national has ever 30 sub
timely celebrated or 30 touchngly commended to
our reverent affection our broad and ever. broaden
ing continental home; its endless Rivera majestic
mountains, and capacous lakes its inimitable
and indescribable Constitution; its cherished and
growing capital; it's aptly conceived and express
sive flag, and its triumphs by land and sen and
it's immortal founders, heroes, and martyrs! How
manifest it was, too, that, unlike those who are
impatient of slow but cure progress, he loved his
country, not for something greater or higher that
he desired hoped she nigh be, but just for what
she was, nnd she already, regardless of fu =
ture change.
No, sir; believe me, they err widely who say
that Daniel Webster was cold and passone less. II
is true that he had little enthusiasm, but he was
nevertheless earnest and sincere, as well calm;
and therefore he was both discriminating and com.
prehensivc in his affections. We recognise his
Likeness in the portrait drawn by Roman pencil:
-"W Who with nice disco rnment knows
What to his country and his friends he owes;
How various Nature warns the human breast,
To love the Parent, Brother, Friend, or Guest,
What the great offices Of Judges are,
OF Senators, of Generals sent to war"
Daniel Webster was cheerful, and on becoming
occasions joyous and even mirthful; but he was
habitually engaged in profound studies on great
affairs. He was moreover, consitutionally fearful
- Al, L.. 49,,
and SO, in public walk conversation and debate,
he was grave and eerious, even to solemniy; yet
he never desponded in the darkest hours of per-
sonal or political trial; and melancholy never in
spirits.
1t must have been very early that he acquired
that just estimate of his own powers which was
the basis of self reliance which all the world saw
and approved, and which, while it betrayed no
feature of vanity, none but superficial observer
could have mistaken for pride or arrogance.
Daniel Webster was no sophst. With talent
for didacc instruction which might have excused
dogmatism, he never lectured on the questions of
morals that ngitatcd in the schools. But he
seemed, nevertheless, to have acquired a phioso-
ply Of his own and to have made II the rule and
guide of his life. That philosophy consisted in
improving his powers and his tastes, so that he
might appreciate whatever was good and beautiful
in nature and art, and attain to whatever was
| excellent in conduct He had accurate perceptions
of the qua lities and relations of things. He over
valued nothing that was common, and undcrva lued
| nothing that was useful, or even ornamental. His
lands his cattle" and equipage, his dwelling, IL
brary, and apparel, his letters. arguments, and
orations--every thing that he had, every thing
that he made, and every thing that he did, "a
far possible fit, complete, perfect. He thought
decorous forms necessary for preserving whatever
was substantial or valuable in politics and morals,
and even in religion. In his regard order was the
first law, and peace the chief blessing of earth,
they are of heaven. Therefore, while he desired
justice and loved liberty, he reverenced law the
first divinity of States and of society.
Daniel Webster indeed ambitious, but his
ambition was generally subordinate to conven-
| tional forms. and always to the Constitution. He
aspired to place and preferment, but not for the
mere exercise OF political power, and still lees for
plessurable indulgences and only for occasions to
| save serve bis country, and for the fame which
such noble actions might bring. Who will cen
sure such ambition! Who had greater genius
subjected to severer disciplia.? What other mo.
tives than those Of ambition could have brought
that genius into activity under that discipline and
sustained that activity so equally under ever
changing circumstances 90 long? His ambition
never fell of into presumption. He was, on the
| contrary, content with performing all practical
duties in common affairs, in the best possible
manner and he never chated under petty restraints
from those above, nor malicious annoyances from
those around him. If ever any man had intellcc-
| tuai superiority which could have excused want
of Difference due to human au horitv, skeptcisI
concerning that which was divine, he WAS such ar
| one. Yet he was, nevertheless, unassuming nd
| courteous here and elsewhere, in the public coun
ellis; and there was, | think, a time in his
| life when he was not an upquestioning believer IL
that religion which offers the meek the inheri
| lance OF the Heavenly Kingdom.
| Daniel Websters mind was not subtle, but i
was clear. 1t was surprisingly logical in the ex-
ercse of induction, and equally vigorous and en-
ergetic in all its movements, and yet he possessed
an inn ginatlon so strong that if it had been con-
bned with even moderated enthusiasm Of tenn
per, would have overturned the excellent balauc,
| of his powers.
| The civilian rises in this, as in other republics
by the practice Of eloquence, and Daniel Web
| ster became on orator-the first of orators.
| Whatever else concet ming him has been contro-
verted by nybody, the fifty thousand lawyers o
| the United States. in,erts ed to deny his preten-
| sions, conceded to him an unapproachable supre.
| macy at the bar. How did he win that high place
| Where Others studied laborously, he meditatec
| intensely. Where others appealed to the prcju
dces and passions Of courts and ures he addressed
only their understandings. Where others los,
themselves among the streams, he assembled to tn,
fountain. While they sought the rules of Law
among conflicting preceden,s, he found them il
! the eternal principles OF reason and Justice.
But it is conceding too much to the legal profos
sion TO call Daniel Webster a lawyer. Lawyers
speak for clients and their interests; he seemed