The daily union., 1852-12-04

Delivered by request Of hs 1Oten Couneii 9 HunsoHs
4dla., on the l3h at, "a hs Meihod1t church
FEIow. CITIZENS cannot more appropriately com
menee ihls address than by borrowing the lines OF a
Scottish poet
"open wide the vaults OF Athol.
Where the bones Of sages rest
Open wide It's hallowed portals
To receive another guest "ts
Whatever is mortal of Daniel Webster has pershed.
and the tears OF whole people raining the path
way which leads his final resting place The hand OF
the great Destroyer has stricken down The patriot the
orator. and the statesman, whose eloqueDce Tor nearly
forty years mas stirred The heart OF the nation, and
whose wise and prudent counsels have assisted TO GUIDE
and direct II through every period OF trial ana aangef
Well may mournnot for him, but for The republic
he could afford TO die He had attained the three score
years and ten allotted to man. He had been again and
again called TO the highest stations Long since Genius
and Patriotism had crowned his lofty brow Tor immortal
ty The of his fame was full and like The sun
OF the tropics which sinks beneath The horizon with eve
ry gorgeous ray undmmed and shining 10 the last. he
passed away in the full blaze OF all those honors which
a life of devotion to his country had so nobly earned
Not for him. then, let the eye grow mcist but Tor those
who are left TO struggle on unaded by the wisdom on
which we have been accustomed to lean for support
Biography and history usually regarded as separate
and distinct. Each has its accustomed pahs--each lis
prescribed and acknowledged rules but In this case lhey
blended into one that it IS almost impossible 10
separate them biography of Daniel Webster is neces
sarily history OF the times in which he lived. He has
been intimately connected with every great measure
and has left the impress OF his genious SO lndeibly
stamped everything he touched, that il is difficult to
separate the from the euent In the brie sketch OF
his life which propose 10 give shall confne myself
much as possible to the individual without attempting
a recital OF historical events familiar TO all
He was born in The little town OF Salisbury, IN the
State OF New HAMPSHIRE, on the 18th day OF January, in
the year OF our Lord l7s2 His ancestors were among
the earliest emgrants to America, and his father served
with distinction in tue revolutionary war lie was
captain under Sarks commando at the battle OF Bennng
ton, and also at the surrender OF Bugoyne After the
peace, he elected 10 the Legislature OF New Hamp
she and in 79l appointed judge OF the court OF common
pleas. The accounts of Daniel Webster as boy are mea
gIe and perhaps il is as well they are 30. The human
mind, indeed has natural proneness Tor travelling back
to the early lives OF distinguished men to hunt the ind
cations OF that greatness which in after times the ad
miraon OF nations, but in nine cases in len the anecdotes
thus extracted from the traditions OF the past cli
tous, and those which elfounded are unimportant
The young bud bears but little resemblance to the ripe
fruit, and the highest intellect is not always that which
is earliest developed. Our first authentic accounts OF
Mr.. Webster student at Exeter Academy thea
under the charge OF Dr. Abbott who had also the hap
ness to be the instructor OF Lewis Gass and OF others
distinguished in every walk of life To this gentleman
Mr.. Webster was fond of acknowledging his obligar
tons and the latest period of his life never mention
ed him but with affection and respect From Exeter
Academy he 10 Dartmouth College, and when his
education was completed he removed to Fryburg in
Maine TO take charge OF an academy. Thus like many
others OF the great names which have adorned our
counlry's history. he who destined to become
instructor of nations commenced his course as an n
strucer Of children The father staked life, fortune
and sacred honor in doubtful contest 10 secure the
establishment OF free institutions and the son has reaped
the reward In other land but ours, from SO humble
beginning could the mightest genius have carved out
SO high a But here the young teacher met with
no impossible barriers of rank custom. No titled lord
could irown him into silence, or strike IRON his hand
the very bread necessary 10 sustain existence Poverty
indeed about HIN and around him. but not that pow
ey which chs the fire OF intellect and compels the mind
to direct all lis energies TO the attainment OF food and
rament With US the door TO profession is closed,
and with the foundation OF good education the struggle
for bread becomes struggle for honor also So Mr.
Webster found it, Commencing the practice Of the
law at Portsmouth, in bis native State, he was soon
furnished with occasions for the display OF that vast
learning and that powerful oralory 10 which at later
period listening Senates were proud TO do homage To
most men professional reputation comes but slowly Ii
only step by step through long years OF labor that the
lawyer erpeci 10 arrive at emlnence. He was
fortunate His rst case was one well adapted TO the pc
cular characteristics OF his mind u was trial Tor mnr
der, the defence resting on the plea OF insanity. The
TACT skill and energy with which The defence was con
ducied-he wonderful Knowledge exhibited by the
speaker OF The human mind and all the springs OF hui
man acon-asonished and delighted his hearers. And
lhRn his powerful delineaons oil the different forms in
sanity may assume, from the time the first spot begins TO
dim the light OF reason TO the extreme paroxysms oil
madness the struggle 10 shaks oft the first dark symp
toms, and 10 shut ont The first strange sights the hor
rbe sensations OF the wTelched victim day by day the
gloom gathers thicker and thicker-Dow the star OF
hope shining on him Tor moment through The DARKNESS
and then again despair Juggling at his heart. strings
this depicted with ylydness and power which drew
from the BENCH the BAR and the jury those gushing tears
which are the highest tribute orator can receive. His
reputation was al once established and from that day he
moved steadily on with giant strides 10 tbe summit OF
professional renowH.
But another theatre now demanded his appearance In
1919 be was elected 10 Congress- and in May following
took his ssat as representative from New Hampshire
War was then upon VS. and in the fierce struggles which
grew out of the difficulties Of the times il was Mr
Websers misfortune to associate himself With the led
eral party II is not my province but that OF the hso.
ran, TO defend his course, and to seek in the ciEcu
stances by which he surrounded for his
justification believe there never moment when
every impulse oi bis heart upon the side OF his
couniry but his opposition 10 The gave his enemies
In kan nAanNn
incurred clung 10 him until within the last ew years Of
has lie Then, indeed when with heroic courage and
surpassed self devotion he breasted the storm OF northern
fanaeism and irGyersed State after State plead the
OF the constitution sEd The Union, the howlngs Of
The enyious and malignant were in great degree 81.
fenced, aud bis countrymen with eager hands prepared
for him the crown oil patriotism
Discharging faithfully all his duties representa-
tive from New Hampshire, Mir Webster did not conine
himse alone TO them. He entered the Supreme Court
OF the United States Pinkney was there and Ogden,
and Sergeant and Writ bat amid that bright galaxy the
young peader took his place an acknowledged equal In
his old age he delighted TO refer to this period OF his life,
and the friendships then created. His conversation
such occasions possessed charm beyond expression In
general conversation have known men who excelled
Mr. Webster. Mr. Clay ans Mr. Calhoun we're both his
suparors but in description OF character, in accurate de-
neaion of ihs peculiar traits OF The different PUBLIC men
he bad known, be neyar bad an equal. | remember 10
have heard him very lcBg since describe William
Pnkney 10 few friends who bad assembled at his
house The picture clear, vivid, 80 Glelike
that almost fanced the departed lawyer bad risen among
vs. Throughout all his descriptions there vein OF
kindness which could have sprung from but good
heart with noble and generous impulses. Thus, when
he mentioned MIR. Pinkneyia excessive vanity, he added
bat be had cause TO be vain he great and