Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-12-18

great Confederacy; and when Henry Clay,
ciated with all that is daring in action and splendid in
eloquenee rose Witnesses before the tribunal Of his
tory, and gave their testimony to the character and
services Of their iusrious compeer John Caldwell CAL
houny They embalmed in historical immortality their
rival, associate and comrade.
woud that could borrow from the spirit of my great
ccuntryman something of its justice and magnanimity
that might make requita for the distinguished tr
butes PAID to his memory by his ilustrous compeers
Sueh an occasion the one have referred to is with
out parallel in the history Of this Senate and sir fear
that there is no future for such another one. Cal
houn, Clay, and Webster like Pitt Fox and Burke, have
made picture on our history that will be looked upon
as It's eliminating spendor. They were lumnaries that
IN many points of view essentially dferedfrom each other
as one star dfereth from another but they all stars
of the FIRST magnitude Distance cannot destroy,
time diminish the simple splendor of their light for the
guidance ana instruction of an admiring postcrity.
Rivals they were great and eyentful theatre Of
political life but death has given them a common fame.
Their contest in life for the awards Of public opinion
be influenced
" With more than mortal powers endowed,
How high they scared above the crowd
Theirs was common party race
Jostling by dark intrigue for place
Like tabled gods, their mighty
Shook Realms and Nations in its jar"
Before became member of the Senate of which
found Mr. Webster distinguished ornament had form
ed very high estimate of his abilities, and from various
sources of high authority His mind remarkable for its
large capacity, enriched with endowmentswth
the knowledge of statesman the learning Of juris
and the attainmens of scholar In this Chamber with
unsurpassed ability Mr. Webster has discussed the great
est subjects that have influence the destnes of
this great Confederacy.
Well may apply to him the striking remark which he
bestowed Mr. Calhoun, We before Senator
of Rome, when Rome survived"
have always regarded Mr.. Webster noble model
of parliamentary debater. His genial temper; the
courtesy and dignity of his department; his profound
knowledge Of his subject and his thorough preparation
gave him great command, not only over his immediate
audience, but gave his mastery speeches impressive
influence public opinion.
In the Supreme Court Mr. Webster engaged in the
greatest that decided by that tribunal
and it is not saying too much to assert that his arguments
formed the basis of Of the ables judgments of that
court His exuberant but rectfed imagination and bril-
liant literary attainments impaired to his eoquence
beauty simplicity, and majesty, and the finish of taste
and elaboration He seemed to prefer the more debu-
atye style Of speaking but when reused and assaulted he
became formidable adversary in the war of debate dis
charging from his full CULVER the of sarcasm and
inyective with telling effect
Mr. Webster was born in forest and in his childhood
and youth lived amid the of rural life and it
doubt under their inspiring influence that he imbibed
that love of nature which has given such charm and
touching pathos to Of his meditated productions.
1t always struck that he had something of Burns
ure but controlled by the discipline of higher degree
of education. Lifted above the ordinary level of
kind by his genius and various intelligence Mr. Webster
looked upon extensive horizon than could be
by those below him. He had too much information from
his various intercourse with great and his acqnant
with the opinions of all ages through the medium of
books allow the spirit of bgotry have place in
his mind have many to conclude that he was
not only tolerant of the opinions of Others but was even
generous in his judgments toward them will conclude
by saying that New England especially, and the Confede
racy at large have to be proud of the fame of such
man.
Mr.. Glass; of Michigan said Mr.. President, How are
the mighty fallen the pathetic lamenation, when
the leaders of Israel were struck down in the midst of
nir nd of fhairr MAJ we
that national wall, How MIGHTY FALLEN, when
the impressive dpensaons of Providence have recently
carried mourning to the hearts of the American people,
by summoning from life death three of their eminent
citizens who for almost half century, had taken part
and prominently too, in all the great questions, well
of peace Of war, which agitated and divided their
country Full they were, indeed of days and of
honors, for
:" The hand of the reaper
Took the ears that were hoary,"
but brighter in intellect purer in patriotism
powerful in influence than when the grave closed
upon their abors leaving their memory and their
incentive and example for their countrymen,
in that long of trial. but trust of freedom and
prosperity ALSO which is open before Often divided
in fe but only by honest convictions of duty, followed
spirit of generous emulation and not of personal OPP
position, they united in death, and may ap
propratey adopt upon this striking OCCASION the beau
tiful language addressed the people of England by
mourn as We called, bereavement which spread
sorrow dsmay almost through the nation and under cir
of difficulty and danger far greater than any
can now reasonably anticipate in the progress of
history
Seek not for those separate doom
Whom fate made brothers in the tomb;
But search the land Of living men,
Where shall we find their like again"
And to-day in the consideration of the message of the
Chief Magistrate il becomes to respond to his annun
citation commenting ITSELF as it does to the universal
sentiment of the country Of the death of the last of these
lamented statesmen national misfortune This mark
of regret and respect due alike to the memory of the
dead and to the feelings of the living And have lis
tened with deep emotion TO the eloquent testimonials TO
the mental worth and services of the departed
patot which to-day have been heard in this high place.
and will be heard tomorrow and commended too by the
American people The voice of party is hushed in the
of such national calamity and the grave closes
upon the asperity of political contests when it closes
upon those who have taken part in them.
And well may we, who have often witnessed his la
bors and his triumphs well may here upon this thea
tire of his services and his renown recalling the effort of
his mighty understanding, and the admiration which al
ways followed its exertion well may with our
tribute of acknowledgement 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 for
ward upon the Of history, impressng their cha
racterstcs upon the age in which they live and almost
making il their by the force Of their genius and the
spendor Of their fame. The time which elapsed between
the middle of the eighteenth century and day
prolific Of great and Of distinguished men, who
guided we're guided by them far beyond any other
equal period in the history of human society But in my
opinion, this favored epoch has produced man
possessing more massive and gigantic intellect who
exhibited more profound powers Of investigation in the
great department of political science to which he devoted
himself in all its various ramifcations, than Daniel Web
ster The structure of his mind seemed peculiarly adapt
ed the work he called upon do and he did it as
no other of his country of his age indeed could