Hannibal journal. (Hannibal, Mo.) 1852-1853, 1852-11-04
HANNIBAL JOURNAL
IlC. NOVEMBER 4, 1852.
FUNERAL EoNoRs
To the Memory Of Daniel Webster.

military, Of the State and National Govern
ments, the Military and Fire Companies, ard
all other public bodies, societies, and citizens
disposed to unite, formed at fpast ten o'clock
A. M, and moved, under the direction of a
Chief Marshall, TO the place Of the delivery of
the eulogy, by CnAs. d. Drake, Esq.
The following gentlemen were appointed
pail bearers: Hon. Thomas II. Benton, Judges
Hamilton r. Gamble, Ryand, Scott Hamilton,
Treat, Colt, Ferguson, Bowlin, Krum; Honor
ables H. S. GOyer, Ed. Bates, w. V. N. Bay,
II. A. Garland, F. NJ. Haight, John O'Fallon,
James II. Lucas, Edward Walsh, Wayman
Grow, Andrew Elliott, William Rsley, Sem,
]. B. Brsnt, w. G. Pettus, w. King, George
Mcguire, H. Won Phul, Trusten Polk, Robert
Simpson, and Sullivan Blood, Esqs.
We make room for the following extract from
Mr.. brakes grafton, as reported in the Repub-
lican:
Mr.. Webster's career as legislator pre-
sents a portion Of his life which future genera
tions will study with profound interest. 1t ex-
tended, with occasional intCfmissions, through .
period of thirty-seven years. His field Of action
was in the Councils Of the Nation, which he en-
tered without any previous training in the halls
Of State legislation, but, as his first effort, to
which we have referred, evinced, entered fully
armed, and fully equal to the exigencies of his
new position. He commanded from the first,
the unqualified respec. Of the body iE which he
sat; but when, in $780, in the great debate in
the Senate on Foot's resolution, he met opposing
champions Of power, on question fitted TO
sound, as il were, with deep sea-line, the ut
termost depths of his mind, he astonishcd the
Senate and the country with display of lucid
argument, of brilliant Imagination, Of overpow-
ering intellectual grandeur, such as the hstor-
an endeavors TO describe in vain. II lives in the
memory of those who witnessed it, and with
them will die; for no where else can its true
character be impressed.
Says one, writing .of this Seldom,
if ever, has a speaker in this or any other coun-
try had more powerful incentives TO eXertion; a
subject, the determination of which involved the
most important interests, and even duration, of
the republic; competitors, unequallcd in reputa-
ton, ability, or position; name to make still
more glorious, or lose forever; and an audience,
comprising not only persons of this country
most eminent in intellectual greatness, but rep
resentatives Of other nations, where the art Of
eloquence had tlourished Tor ages. All the SOL
der seeks in opportunity was here.
Mr.. Webster perceived, and felt equal TO,
the destinies Of the moment. The very great
ness of the hazard exhirated him. He awaited
the time of onset with a stern and impat ent joy.
He felt like the war horse of the scriptures,
who paweth in the valley and rejoiccth in his
strength: who goeth on to meet the armed men,
who saith among the trumpcts, Ha, ha! and
who smelleth the battle arar of, the thunder Of
the captains and the shouting.
ga confidence in his own resources, spring.
ing from no vain estimate of his own power,
but the legitimate offspring Of previous severe
mental discipline, sustained and excited him.
He had gagged his opponents, his subject, and
himself
"He never rose on an ordinary occasion to
address an ordinary audience, more sell-possess-
ed. There was no tremulousness in his voice
nor manner; nothing hurried, nothing simulated.
The calmness Of superior strength was visible
everywhere in countenance, voice and bearing
A deep-seated conviction Of the extraordinary
character Of the emergency, and OF his ability TO
control it, seemed to possess him wholly.
"Those who had doubted Mr.. Webster's
ability to cope with and overcome his opponents,
were fully satisfied Of their error, before he
had proceeded far in his speech Their fears
soon took another direction. When they heard
his sentences Of powerful thought, towering in
rceumulatve grandeur, one above the other, as
if the orator strove, Ttan-like, to reach the We
ry heavens themselves, they were giddy with
an apprehension that he would break down I'M his
flight. They dared not believe that genius,
learning, and intellectual endowments, however
uncommon, that was simply mortal, could sus-
tain itself long in q career seemingly so perious.
They feared an Icari0n fall.
"rhe exulting rush Of feeling with which he
,,.ant tLrouc,h the rcroration threw a GLOW over
his countenance like inspiration. Eye, brow,
each feature, every line of the face, seemed
touched, as with a celestial fire.
"The swell and roll of his voice struck upon
the ears of his spcll-bound audience, in doop
and melodious cadence as waves upon the shore
of the far-resounding sea. The Mlltonlc gran
deur of his words was the fiji expression OF ms
thought and raised his hearers up to his theme.
His voice, eXerted to its utmost power, penetra-
ted every recess or corner OF the Senate pen
etrated even the ante-roons and stairways-as
he pronounced in deepest tones OF pathos, lhese
words of solemn signihcance: when my eyes
shall be turned to behold, for the last time, the
sun in heaven, may | not see him shining on
Che broken and dishonOred fragments of once
glorious Union--on States discovered, dlScord
ant, beligerent; on a land rent with civil IeudS
or drenched,' il may be, in fraternal blood
Let their last feeble and lingering glance rath
er behold the gorgeous ensign oil the republic
now known and honored throughout the earth
still full high advanced its arms and tropme
streaming in their original lustre, not strip
erased or polluted nor single star obScured
bearing for its motto no such miserable ln'erfoS
ntorv as What is all this WORTH or those othe
words Of delusion and folly, Liberty first an
Union afterwards but everywhere, spread a
Il, f. lfrlt