Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-10-30


prefer leayea word that would give unnecessary
| main to any honest man, however opposed 10 me-.
But need not tell YOU citizens, that there is no
one of our distinguished public men whose speeches con-
tain less occasion for such injunction Mr. Webster
habtuay astaned from the of the poisoned weapons
Of personal nyectye party odum NO one could more
studously abstain from all attempts to make political
opponent personally hateful If the character OF Com
gresona discussions has Of late years somewhat declined
In dignity no portion Of the blame lies at his door With
Mr. Calhoun who for considerable portion Of the time
his chief antagonist and with whom he was brought
direct collision he maintained friendly personal
relations. He did full justice TO his talents and character
You remember the feeling with which he spoke of him at
the time of his decease Mr.. Calhoun, in his turn enter
tanned just estimate of his great opponents worth lie
said toward the close of his life that of all the leading
men of the day there was not one whose political
had been strongly marked by strict regard
to truth and honor than Mr. Websters
One of the resolutions speaks Of permanent memorial
to Mr. Webster. / do not know what is contemplated,
but trust that such memorial there will be- trust
that marble and brass, in the hands of the most skul
artists country has produced will be put in requis
ton to reproduce to us-and nowhere SO appropriately
in this halthe lneaments OF that noble form anu
beaming conntenance which have so often gazed
with delight But after ALL feow-citizens the noblest
monument be found in his works. There he viii
live and speak us and children when brass and
marble have crumbled into dust As repository OF po-
itcal truth and pracal wisdom applied to the affairs OF
Government know not where shall find their equal
The works of Burke naturally suggest themselves to the
mind the only writings in our language that can sus
tain the comparison Certainly no compositions IN the
English tongue take precedence of those OF Burke in
depth of thought reach Of forecast or magnfcence Of
style. think however it may be said without partia
ty either national personal that while the reader IS
coyed at last with the gorgeous finish OF Burke dlcon
there is simplicity and significant planness In
Websters writing that tires 1t is precisely this
which characterzes the statesman in distinction from the
political philosopher npolitical dsquisiton elaborated
the closet the palm must perhaps be awarded to Burke
| raIn tharc c,artn in he antn n
conflicts of the Senate against man, and opinion
against opinion in the noble of debate where meas
be sustained and opposed which the welfare
OF the country and the OF the world depend where
often the line of intellectual battle is changed III mo-
ment time reflect no leisure to Gull words gather
UP illustrations, but all to be decided by vote, although
the reputation Of life may be at stake-al this is very
different matter and here Mr.. Webster was immeasura
bly, the superior Accordingly, find historically, Tin
credible it sounds, and what ready TO say will
not believe though it is unquestonably rue that these
nmitabe oratons Of Burke which cannot read with
thrill of admiration his fingers ends, actually
emptied the benches of Parliament. All, gentlemen it
very different with great parliamentary orator
He not only chained to their seats wiling or If there
such thing, unwilling Senators, but the largest
hall was too small for his audience. On the memorable
9TH Of March, 1850 when he expected TO speak upon
the great questions then pending before the country not
only the Senate chamber thronged to its utmost
pacity at early hour but all the passages to it, the
rotundo of the Capitol and the OF the city,
alive with the crowds who DESTROYS Of gaining
adnittance Another Senator, not political friend was
entitled the floor. With equal good and good
feeling he stated that he was that the great null
ttude had not together to hear him; and he
pleased to yield the floor to the only he believed
who could draw together such assembly" This SEN
tment-the efusion of parliamentary couresywill per-
haps be found inadequate expression of what will
finally be the judgment of posterity.
Among the many memorable words which fell from the
lips OF friend just before they closed forever the
most remarkable are those which my friend Hard has
just quoted, STILL LIVE They attest the
posure OF his mind the christian herosm with which he
able to his consciousness in upon itself and
plore, step by STEP the dark passage dark u.s. but
him trust already lighted from above which
this world with the world to But know not, Mr.
Chairman what words could have been better chosen to
express his relation to the world he leaving y still
i've This poor dust is just returning TO the dust from
which il taken but feel that live in the affections
of the people whose service have my days
still live. The icy hand Of death is already laid my
heart but shall still live in those words Of counsel which
have uttered to my felow-citizens and which now
leave them as the last bequest Of dying friend"
Mr. Chairman, in the long and honored career Of our
lamented friend there efforts and triumphs which
will hereafter fill Of the brightest pages in histo-
ry But greatly err if the closing scenethe height of
the religious subme-does not in the judgment of other
days far transcend in interest the brightest exploits of
public life Within that darkened chamber at Marshed
Witnessed Of which shall not readily find
the parallel The serenity with which he stood in the
presence Of the King of Terrors without repidation
hutter for hours and days of expectation the thought
funess for the public business, when the sands
nearly OUT the hosptable for the reception Of
the friends who to Marshfeld that aeconate and
solemn leave separately taken, by name, Of wife,
and children and kindred and friends and family down
the humblest members Of the household the desgna
ton of the coming day, then at hand when " all
that mortal of Daniel Webster would exist
the dmyrecolected strains Of the funeral poetry Of Gray
last faint flash Of the soaring intellect; the feebly
INJURED words Of the Holy Writ repeated from the lips Of
the good physician who, when all the of human
art had been exhausted had drop Of spiritual balm for
the parting SOUL the olasped hands, the dying prayers
Oh! my fellow-citizens, that is consummation
which tears Of pious sympathy will be she'd ages after
the gores Of the forum and the Senate are forgotten
" His suferngs ended with the day,
Yet lived he at its close;
And breathed the long, long night away,
In staue-like repose.
But ere the sun, in all his state
! Iumed the eastern skies,
/ He passed through glory's morning gate,
And walked in Paradise"
At the close Of this beautiful speech, the question
was taken upon the resolutions, and they were adopt
ed by unanimous vote
| The committee was then appointed, and the meet
ing adjourned.
The scene exhibited on the occasion (says the
Courier "will long be remembered by every one
present. All hearts we're touched and subdued by
the solemn thoughts aroused by the deep and NOV
ing eoquence of the speakers. There was no affec-
tation Of grief in that assembly. Tears flowed in
abundance, and the unbroken and solemn silence
that reigned throughout the Hall during the pro-
ceedings showed how completely the mournful in