The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-10-29
Respect to Daniel websser.

respect 20 Daniel Webster.
On the invitation Of Messrs. JOHN w. MAu-
Rr, W. w. SEAToN, R. C. WEIGHTMAN, Pc
TER FoRcE, and WALTER LENox-the first
named Mayor Of Washington, and the others
ex mayors of this city--a large number of the
cltlzens OF washington met, last night, in the
Council Chamber, City Hall, for "the purpose
Of adopting suitable measures with refer
ence to the death of DANIEL WEBSTER.
Mr.. LEsox called the meeting to order, and on
his motion his honor, the Mayor of the -. ma,
called to the ch"'- "' was
| Messrs. Nicholas Callan and John b. Blake were
| appointed secretaries.
| On motion of Mr.. CARLISLE, Nessrs. Seaton and
Lenox were requested to act vice presidents; and
on motion Of the same gentleman, it was
Rssolued, That committee of nine members be
appointed by the chairman to prepare resolutions
expressive Of the deep sympathy of this meeting
| and Of the community on account OF the death OF
| DANIEL WEpsTsn. 49,.
In pursuance of this resolution, the following
named gentlemen were appointed said committee:
]. NJ Carlisle, P. r. Fendall, Joseph Bryan, John
son HELEN, Jacob Gideon, Judge Crawford, s. II.
Hill, F. A. Tucker, and Benjamin A. Beall
The committee, after brief absence, returned;
| when
| Mr.. CARLISLE sad have been requested by the
l
solutions. In doing 80, do not feel myself equal
to the task of prefacing them by remarks which
| are usual on such occasions. l will not say that
feel on this occasion more than suppose every
other American must feel. Although 1t was my
fortune to know the illustrious deceased, and al
though was personally attached to him, all per-
| sonal affections which may have been felt for him
now merged in the feelings, akin to patriotism,
which absorb the whole heart Of the whole people
| when such q man dies. @.
Feeling as an American, and standing in the
presence of Americans. it is scarcely necessary
that should utter a single word If feel that the
Constitution has Lost its noblest prop, do they
feel. If my mind reverts to signal occasions
when be. has combatted dangers which surrounded
the Constitution, and riumphantly sustained it,
so do their minds revert in grateful reverence to
the same memorable scenes. If in my mind he is
associated with all that belongs to the glory and
dignity of our country and the perpetuity of our
institutions, are the like associations now filling
every mind and heart around me.
To morrow bis body is to be consigned to the
earth, at place far distant from u.s. l know that
many hearts here will swell, and the tear unbid-
den start from many an eye, when the imagination
| pictures that scene. Yet while we stand in spirit
beside his grave the feeling of fresh grief will be al
most lost in the triumphant recollection that such
man lie the offspring of our own soil-that such
mind and such powers and such greatand compre-
hensive heart have been developed by own home.
bred institutions; that what he has done has been
done not for to-day, or to morrow, but for all time;
that 1t has been grated by him in the Constitution,
to grow and flourish with that Const tution-to last
while the Constitution lasts. Beyond that day he
would not look, will And yet sir, who have
| been accustomed to zee him day by day in our
walks; witnesses of tho constancy of his devotion
| to duty; who have seen, and felt, and known the
happy influence which such q man and such a
mind must ever exercise, we do not cannot look
at him a being merely existing in history, but
realizing him a man whose hand we have
pressed, but shall press no more; as a man whose
bright and friendly smile We have witnessed, but
shall witness no more. we VINO saw MN s as nus nus
| on this earth
'Nor wife nor children more shall he behold,
! Nor friends, nor sacred home"
While the nation mourns, let her not forget that
| the came blow which has made great void in her
great theatre, has pierced the hearts which nature
and the dearest friendship had drawn around him
At home, abroad, in cities, hamlets, and in fields
and forests, everywhere there are, and will be,
mourners for DANIEL WEBSTER.
1t becomes US, therefore, this location, to
semble here as assembled-men of all par.
ties-men without distinction of any kind-all
men who have American hearts in their bosoms,
all who can feel what 1t is to be proud Of such
a man as DANIEL WEBSTER, and grateful for his
services, to testify, BY some appropriate resolu-
lions, those sentiments which the tongue or the
pen can but nadequately express Such are the
resolutions which, by direction OF the committee,
| ! now read:
The citizens of Washington here assembled
are conscious that the occasion which has convok-
ed them is an event in the national history.
| DANIEL WEBSTER Is DEAD.
| In these simple words our countrymen have read
| all that eulogy utter-al that the storied urn
can tell-of public loss and private bereavement.
He lived to see his name the token and epitome
of highest eloquence-of largest craftsmanship
| of widest patriotsm-of profound wisdom. Ora
tor, statesman, patriot and sage, though the grave
now claims his mortal body. and, as we humbly
trust, his soul already rests "where no enemy en-.
ters and no friend DEPARTS" yet all of DANIEL
WEBSTER has not left the earth, shall leave it,
| till time shall be no more.
Here in this New World august and ever glo-
rious BEING has sprung into existence-a being
whose radiant body, like the sun, freely sheds it's
| light on all the world-ITsELF A SUN, set in the
armament, to iIlumne THE SOULS of men, now
and through all time to come.
This offspring of our country is the CoNsTIru-
| TON Its wonderful immortality, its world like
influence, 10 shared by DANIEL WEBSTER.
WHILE STANDS THE CONSTITUTION, HE SHALL
STAND! MAY 1T De PERPETUAL!
The citizens of Washington. here assembled feel
that they not unfit, on this occasion, to repre-
sent the heart of the Republic. Nowhere, in the
wide limits of the land, from ocean to ocean, has
of men heavier deeper. Here the theatre
of his noblest efforts. Here he met and COM
batted, and, by the force of his great mind
and patriotic heart, felled one by one as many
factions as arose to assault that CONSTITUTIONS to
which he had devoted life fraught with gigantic
influences. Here he gave to the forum a new
glory-here he commanded not merely the up-
pause of listening Senates, but welded the hearts
and minds of American Senators. going before
them like pillar of fire to lead them the way they
should go-here he bore his appointed burden of
the State upon his Atlantpan shoulders, day by
day-hcre he walked among men, gather ng their
affections as the reaper his harvest:
Resolved therefore, That to morrow being the
day when the mortal remains of DANIEL WEBSTER
are to be conveyed to the earth, where we cannot
personally follow them to the grave and pay them
the last honors, shall be observed by as day of
ma ional mourning; and that we recommend to the
citizens generally that oil business be suspended,
| and all places of business closed at noon to- NOR
| row for the residue Of the day.
| The resolution having been read, Colonel SEA-
TON rose to second it, because, he said, form re.
quircd this course. He regretted that he was not
competent to follow the second with some tribute
worthy of DANIEL w EDsTRR's name and expressive