The southern press. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1852-03-02
From he Jssr York Commercial.
The Cooper TcstImen laI.


politan hail. on "Wednesday evening, to CON-
memorate the life and genius of James Feni-
more Cooper. The platform was occupied by
the Rev. Drs. Bethune and Hawks; the Rev.
Mr. Osgood, Ogden Hoffman, Luther Bradish,
Geo. Bancroft, G. p. r.. James. Chas. O'Couor,
and r. w. Kimball, esq, Elk. Chief Justice
Jones; Gen. George p. Morris, DR. Francis
and other distinguished persons. The Hon.
Daniel Webster entered the hall, shortly after
six o'clock, accompanied by Washington Irving
and Mayor Kingsland, and took the chair, amid
enthusiastic and repeated cheers. When silence
had beeh restored, Mr.. Irving introduced Mr..
Webster to the audience, as the president of
the evening, and the cheering was again re-
newed. Mr.. Webster then spoke in substance
as follows.
Ladies and gentlemen--I deem it a very high
distinction to be called upon to occupy the
chair of this meeting. The object OF the meet
ing, ladies and gentlemen, is to contribute to the
erection of an appropriate statue to the memory
of distinguished citizen of New York, who
has not only honored the State TO which he be-
longed, but who has honored the country Of
which he was>a citizen, by his large, and distin-
guishcd and eminent contributions to American
literature. There, are ladies and gentlemen, roads
to fame of various characters military achieve
ments transmit distinguished individuals to the
knowledge of posterity-polical ife.also pre-
sents to the contemplation of mankind, and to
the history Of the country, those who have
rendered service to their country ip their day
and generation. (Applause)
He, in whose memory and whose honor we
are now assembled, to bear part and make con-
tribution, was not soldier in arms, nor was II
his lot to command the applause of listening
Senates, although, by the great diffusion Of his
literary productions his taste and talent, and
industry--he had become, before his decease, SO
much the object Of national regard, that we may
all say of him, with truth, that he was enabled
to read his history in q nations eyes, Ladies
and gentlemen, is there anything more to be de-
sired than that reputation which is made by adj
dressing the taste and the cultivation, the moral
ity and religion Of civilized men in a civilized
country? Can any person deserve more praise
than he who contributes TO the literature and to
the moral culture of the age in which he lives
should not be here, tonight, ladies' and gentle.
men, to raise my feeble voice in praise Of Fem
nimore Cooper, however distinguished by genius,
talent, education, and the art Of popular writing,
if, in the character of his writings, there WAS
anything to undermine tile principles of our re-
ligious faith, or to debauch the morality of the
country. Nothing could atone, in genius or in
talent, for such an injury. as that would be to
the young and rising generations of the commu-
nifty.
Ladies' and gentlemen, as far as I have become
acquainted with the writings of Mr.. Fennimore
Cooper, those writings uphold all true religion,
sustain all good morals, and maintain just taste
and after religion and morals, and good taste the
next thing have to say is, that all his writings
from beginning to end, are American, thoroughly
American in character, thoroughcut and through
out. Great applause. II is, therefore, ladies'
and gentlemen, that deem it an honor to be here
on this occasion, to perform my humble part in
whatsoever may bs necessary to rear proper
statue or monument to the memory Of Fenni-
more Cooper. / consider him as having con-
tributed largely to the character of American
literature at home and abroad. He is known
everywhere. His writings have been read not
only all over this country but wherever our Ian
guage is read; and wherever they have been
read, they have inspired good morality and good
taste. Mr.. Fennimore Cooper showed the power,
imbued with deep principle, of amusing, and, to
great extent, enlightening the present genera.
lion, without any injury to their morals or any
solicitation of depraved passions This is his
great praise; and what is more honorable, what
is more likely TO endure, than the fame which is
secured by writings of this tendency-ful of
amusement and information, founded on our
own American habits, and our own American
scenery?
suppose there is no author, living or dead,
who imbued his own mind with fresher and
stronger feeling of the generation which went
before him in his own country-who understood
our original forest scenery--who understood
the character Of those who preceded us, from
the settlement Of this country 10 his own time,
better than himself, or who has infused more
largely the spirit of that time into his compost
tons, and thereby transmitted them for the ed-
ication of those who shall come after us. He
has gone. He has left name and fame which
il is ours TO cherish and TO honor and SO far
as marble or bronze can perpetuate il, let mar
bic or bronze be employed; but it is rather, |
think, for the purpose of manifesthg our own
sense of his merits-our own gratitude for his
well deserving rfforts, that we contribute by
these material fabrics TO testify our sense Of his
merits 10 our children. The monuments Of
Fnnimore Cooper are his works. IApplause
" Letters" says Cicero, "remain-as 10 brass, it
may perish-as 10 columns, they may be thrown
down. The earth itself may be shaken until its
structures are FRUSTRATED"
But living in an enlightened age-in an age
Of literature and Of science-in an age Of bisto-
~ and poetry, the monument Of Fennimore
Cooper exists IN The minds OF n en-, and will be
transmitted from man 10 man in the ordinary
succession of generations. While mind, memo
", anu 'asec-'Ofe VI TellglOn-lOVe OF country,
and good morals prevail, his monument is in
the hearts Of the people. applause Ladies'
and gentlemen, my duty on this occasion il
very simple. II Is TO signify my sense Of the
honor conferred on me by being called to the
chair Of this meeting, and to prepare you for the
discussion and remarks which are now TO fol-
low, on the life, character, and literary merits Of
Fennimore Cooper.
A number Of letters from eminent gentlemen
in various parts of the country, regretting their
inability TO accept invitations to be present on
this occasion, were then read, afier which, Viii
liam z. Bryant, esq, pronounced an extended
and elaborate discourse, reviewing Mr.. Cooper's
life, and critically noticing his volumnous
writings.
Mr. Bancroft returned the thanks Of the as-
semblage to Mr.. Bryant, I" for proving 20 them
how satisfactorily one man OF genius can do
justice TO another" and after paying an eloquent