The daily union., 1852-12-04

himsel for all time with the records OF his county He Is
him here will nd that he has e upon minds and
hearts strong and lasting impression of his person, his
live will never be obliteraied We shall hereafter am
sure indulge in il grateful recollection that lived
have him. and heard him, and know him. We shall
delight speak Of him TO those who rising up fill
our places And when The time shall come that we our
selves ha after another in succession graves
we shall carry with us deep Of his genius and
character his honor and integrity his amisble de porie
in private life, and The purity OF his exalted patriotism
II was noble tribute worthy of him who bestowed it,
and of him on whom II was bestowed.
After four years service Mr. Webster retired from Con-
gress, and removing TO Boston devoted himself exclu
svey to the practice of his profession Soon afterwards
the celebrated Dartmouth College enabled him 10
establish still wider reputation as constitutional law
yer But pass the details Of his the bar
nieresng TO all but members OF the profession and
TO them it is already familiar,
We next find him member OF Congress from The dis
tric OF Suffolk in Massachusetts, and in 1928 he dev-
cred in the House of Representatives his famous speech
upon the Greek revolution. How far the opinions he
then avowed to be adopted rule of action in our
intercourse with foreign nations is question which may
be said even now 10 be ponding. Certain il that in
few years we shall be called to meet great reality
The widely different opinions entertained will then
become diverse; and neither the public taste
the public judgment would altogether approve its in
PRODUCTION an occasion like the present. Whether he
right wrong must be left TO the decision Of later
poseIily But the speech itself may without mproprety
be subjected TO present criticism For touching pathos
compact logic and the extensive knowledge displays OF
the history OF his and other lands, il has rarely
been surpassed even by the efforts OF his rper years
There breathes in every line unconquerabe love of
liberty-a deep trust that overung Providence will
extend lis favor 10 people struggling in good
firm conviction that the banner of freedom raised
will float on through night and tempest until the light of
victory comes 10 settle on ils glorious folds. Still all is
simple, plain, unadorned His description Of the
Of Scio has few parallels in English oraory, and yet
il is but bare recital OF the facts He seemed to feel
that truth, however simply told, here the highest
reach of human eloquence. Indeed such the gene
raj character Of his speeches Never travelling out OF
his way for ornaments-using freely those which came
in his way, but sacrificing clearness sound, or
force TO beauyselectng always the planest words and
those in common usethe most Ignorant Listened with de-
light, compehe nded all his arguments and swayad
backwards or forwards at the will OF the speaker. In
his eulogy upon Mr. Adams, he gives description OF
true eloquence which he seems TO have taken for his
model, Certainly no ever lived to whom it better
applied:
!" Cleamess force, and eaEnestness the qualities
which produce conviction. True eoquence, indeed does
consist in speech. 1t cannot be brought from alar Las
bor and learning may toll for II, but they w III toll in vain
Words and phrases may be marshaed in every way, but
they cannot compass H. 1t must exist in the man, in the
subject, and in the occasion Affected passion
preston, the power OF decamaiona may aspire after it,
but they reach it, Ii eomes if it ali, like
the ontbreaking OF fountain from the the BURST
ing forth Of volcanic fires with spontaneous original
force. The graces taught in the schools the costly
ornaments and studied contriyances of Speech shock and
disgust men, when their lives, and the fate of their
wives their childen and their country, hang the de-
cison OF the hour. Then words have lost their power,
rhetoric is vain, and all elaborate oratory contempt
ibe, Even genius itself then feels rebuked and sub
dned Us in the presence of higher qualities Then pa
rriosm is eloquent, then seldeyotpn is eloquent The
clear conception, ouuanning The deductions Of logic
the high the firm resolve tne dauntless spirit
speaking the tongue, beamng from the eye inform
ing every feature. and urging the whole onward,
right onward, TO his obect-ths this is eoquence or
rather it is something greaer and higher than eoquence
il is action, noble, sublime godlike action"
Mr.. Webster did not confne his efforts in the cause
OF human freedom 10 Gfeeee alone The South Ameri-
colonies heard the magic tones OF his voice, and
gathered new life and energy as it swep, over the land
Everywhere and al all lines he has spoken words Of hope
10 the oppressed, and cheered them in every struggle
10 break the letters which power had fastened abou,
them No one Of our statesmen has surpassed him
in the prompt and earnest manifestation OF his feelings
when freedom was ~ question such times the gen.
eral bensvoence OF his character strkingy manifest
With him il is not hatred OF the yran but love for the
subject He INDUCES in no malediciions Of kings and
emperors, but he pTocams the blessings of liberty and
tbs right OF every intelligent being 10 their enjoyment,
Living n land where liberty of speech OF conscience,
and Of action compose part q lls fundamental law
seeing daily the good effects which dow from the work
ing Of our insiiiutons-he earnestly desired 10 sec
those institutions taxing root IN other lands that kings
might be punished but that subjects might be blessed
his speech laying the OF The Bunker Hill
monument he barely mentions the naughty exclamation
OF Louis XIV, 81 am The State" and then turns to
the people. was the people who filled his thoughts
The powers OF government, be argued, but trust
for them and could be law fully exercised save for
their good However strange il may sound those Who
have been accustomed 10 look at Daniel Webster only
through The medium OF party preludicewho remember
his early association with the iederaiists and habiluay
connect him with all that is arsocalc and ant-repubv
can in our land-l venture 10 assert that one ever
breathed who was more empbaticaly man of the peo
pie In whatever situation be placed the people
constantly before his eyes and never did he utter
sentiment advocate principle which be did rot ear
nesty and sincerely believe was for the good Of the
masses. Nor this in any degree the result OF that
low spirit of demagogusm which seeks popular favor re-
gsrdess OF the public good Respecting every sates
ought 10 respect the popular will he yet pursued his
path firmly and unf hchngy, trusting to argumen',
and II that failed TO time, TO Justify his course. Con.
Just confidence the soundness OF his judgment,
be dared to do, at all times and under all circumstances,
what be believed TO be right and he paid the people the
compliment OF sdpposing that sooner or later they would
do justice TO him and his motives
Mr.. Webster was soon transferred from the House OF
Representatives 10 The Senate OF the United States. IL
there in that high council chamber that it
served for him 10 put the finishing touches 10 renown
already among The brightest in history The election oil
is2S had overwhelmed the federal party, and bloted its
very name from existence But new combinations had
been formed and the President struggling against
an opposition headed by Clay, Calhoun, and Webster
Any other mas bgt Andrew Jackson mus, have sunk,
and even he might not have ridden out the storm in
safety but for the noble and patriotic course OF Mr. Web
ster South Carolina bad proclaimed ihe doctrine OF nul
hcalion, and maintained il with The fiery enthusiasm
which threatened 10 dssolye the Union Gen. Jackson
force the laws every hazard, and controversy bad
arisen which for exasperaled bitterness has had but
few parallels in any age or country. Mr. Webster might
have seized that moment 10 emharass the administration,
he might have remained sueny slent and permitted
things 10 take their course. He did neither Acuatea
sveed the bosom Of his revolutionary SIRE he laid aside
his party pfsudces, and stepped forward at 10 de-
fend and maintain the principles promulgated by Jack
SON II was no light task be had undertaken. Hsyne.