Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1852-11-03
Amonr eminent citizens of commanding mower


and influence while was in the Senate, he stood
perhaps pre-eminent. In his rich combination as
an orator, lawyer and statesman, it may be safe
ly said he had no rival. How fprcibly and sadly
are we reminded of the great naen with whom he
was associated in the Senate chamber, and who
preceded him in his transit through the sdark val
ley % White, Grundy, Forsyth, Southland, Linn,
Wall, Sewer, Silas Wright, Hill Woodbury.,
Calhoun, Clay-men who left their impress upon
the age-names indissolubly connected with the
fame and history of their country; all like him,
whose death we are now called upon to deplore,
were links in the chain which bound the past gem
Grafton to the present. and all like him are now
on the other side of that narrow line which divides
time from eternity. Upon whom have their man.
ties fallen Who are to take their places in the
perils through which our country may be called to
pass !! Who, with patriotic courage and states
manlike forecast are to guide in the storms that
will, at times, inevitably threaten us, in our un-
exampled development of resources as nation
our almost fearful progress, our position of anna
zing responsibility as the great confederated,
selfgoverned power of the globe These are
questions which will press themselves upon all
minds. but who, alas? can satisfactorily answer
them -
, To speak of Mr.. Webster's geuius, his varied
and solid attainments, his services, would be to
discourse of matters as familiar, even to the chill
dren of his native State, as household words
Besides, this must be left to vigorous pens and
eloquent tongues, after the first gush Of grief and
the oppressive of loss, shall to some extent
have passed away. 1t is, and long has been, my
firm conviction that Mr.. Webster had hold upon
the minds and hearts of his countrynen, which
will fail to be justly estimated, only because there
has been no full opportunity to omeasure it. You,
Mr.. Chairman have truly said Mr.. Webster's
greatness was of that rare character which no
earthly position could exalt. He came to official
stations, as he approached all subjects presented
to his mind, their superior and their master, He
has reared for himself vast pillar Of renown,
which will stand in undiminished strength and
grandeur, when the works of mems hands erect
ed to his honor, will be like Nineveh; and fear
when this Union may have shared the fate which
was the dread of his latter years. A few years
ago, when the distinguished brother of the de-
ceased was called in an instant from time to eter
nifty, in the Court room, in this place, with the
words of perfect sentence lingering upon his
lips,- another citizen most eminent and beloved,
(the late lamented George Sullivan,) exclaimed,
ssWhat shadows we are, what shadows we pur-
sue ~ How these emphatic words come back to
us here, as by an echo. How mere earthly hon
ors and distinctions fade amid gloom like this;
how political asperities chastened; what les
son to the living; what an admonition to personal
malevolence, now awed and subdued, as the great
heart of the nation throbs heavily at the portals
of his grave.
I have no heart to speak, or to contemplate
the extent of the loss we have sustained AS a
personal friend-as son of New Hampshre-as
an American citizen, i shall be, with thousands,
a sincere mourner at his obsequies.