Windham County Democrat. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1836-1853, 1852-02-18
Is it Well.

Is IL well,
Mr.. William Story, of Boston, has just pub
lished life of his father In that life. there are
no letters from Daniel Webster and the bogra-
pher felt himself bound rs indeed he was bound,
to notice the fact. We quote what he says -
Z" Few measures of Importance affecting the
permanent institutions of his country, relating to
its commerce, manufactures, the administration
of justice, or TO its foreign relations were debated
in Congress during his judicial life in which the
aid of his learning and counsel was not freely
sought and as freely given; and the solid foun-
dations of many a constitutional argument on the
floor of Congress were laid in secret by him. His
entire freedom from all envy and Jealousy ofspiri
his learning and librality of view and his gener-
osty in giving, pointed him out specially as fit
oracle to be consulted, and some Of the most dis
tingushed public men of the day availed them
selves of his aid and assistance.
&C Much of this service from its nature, as well
as from the fact that it often rendered orally,
during personal interviews, must ever remain
hidden Almost without exception it has been
publicly and generously acknowledged by those
who partook of his bounty. 1t appears inciden-
tally throughout his correspondence, and is direct
ly shown in the comments on the judiciary bill of
1878, furnished to Mr.. Hinkey, from which ex-
tracts have already been made
His correspondence with Mr.. Webster, would
clearly show that services most interesting in their
nature, and very considerable in extent, in rela-
ton TO various important public questions, such
as the Treaty Of Washington negotiated between
Mr.. Webster and Lord Ashburon, the settlement
of the Northeastern Boundary, and many other
legislative, judicial, congressional and official mat
tiers were constantly rendered by my father du-
ring much of his judicial life. But as 1 have
been unable to obtain his most important letters to
Mr.. WeJSter, and as Mr.. Webster on my appli-
cation, has refused assent to the publication of
any Of his oUn letters IN my possession, no other
course is left me but simply to state the fact that
such correspondence is in existence, and to offer
as an ercuse for its non-appearance, that 1 hare
vainly endeavored to procure it."
The Biographer, with delicacy which every
one must appreciate, and yet with severity which
Mr. Webster will feel, meets the wrong thus done
to Judge Story, by quoting in Greek, from the
Ajax of Sophoces, part of Tecmessa's reply to
Ajax, when he threatens self-destructon, and
part of Teucers rejoinder TO Agamemnon, for his
ingratitude to Ajax. The Evening Post trans
lates them thus -
Iecmessd.-" Believe me, it is proper that his
memory should not fail any man who has received
any gratifying favors from any source whatever
for it is kindness that ever begets kindness, but
that man cannot be aoeN born from echom the re-
collections of benefits m,ehs a,oay."
7eucer.-" Alas, how soon does the grateful
of the dead fade away from among
men and desert them since this man for whom
thou did's toll with thy weapons, rsking thy life,
no longer even in rifling matters remembers thee,
Ajax. All this is now passed by, and treated
with scorn. Oh, thou that has just spoken many
and proftless words, forgettest thou the time when
Ajax here once came and delivered thee, when
pent up within your lines, already routed and
ready to be crushed? ?"
The Post makes the following remarks upon
the strange conduct of Mr.. Webster:
" Mr.. Websters refusal to comply with Mr..
Story's application, may admit of three explana-
tons lst. His own letters may contain sent-
ments which he does not now entertain, or which
if published now, might embarrass him political
ly. I'd. Judge Story's letters may contain evil
dence of the Secretarys obligation for past avors,
of which he thinks it important to his fame that
the world should remain in ignorance or, Sd.
He may desire to reserve his own letters for flu
ture publications, that the profits may enure to
himself.
1t is difficult to say which of these reasons I'M
der the circumstances, would be most creditable
to a person of Mr.. Webstcr's eminence and pre-
tensions"