Southern standard., 1852-11-13
G COLU M B U S:
wednesday Morning. Nov. 10, 1852.
Correspondence of the Mercury.
WAsHINGTnN. Oct. 81


the last struggling utterances of that mighty, i'll
erring and wayward spirit, still attract much of
the public attention, and distract it from the living
who are competing for the prize which Slip
ped from his grasp. Such interest, ever must
centre around the last thoughts and savings of
such man, especially when passing down to the
dark valley in the full possession Of his mental fac
ules It's strange, and almost unprecedented
thing, that the three greatest brain workers of one
day, who had for half century, each tasked to
the strainng point, body and brain, and lived in
the incessant fret and fever of public ife should
have retained all their senses and faculties un-
clOuded up the moment of dissolution. The spirit
in each seemed rather to abandon worn out tene-
ment than TO have gone out of one fit for further
occnpancy-the physical not the intellectual broke
down, and caused that divorce of body and soul
which miscall death, the vista opening to a
higher and an eternal life, where the war of mat
ter and spirit ceases.
Many as are the commentaries made on the dy-
ing utterances of Daniel Webster, and his thoughts
as gathered from the broken words that fell from
his lips, soon to be sealed forever, they vet do
not convey the same impressions which those frag-
mentary utterances have produced on the writer
of this. To his mind the last struggling of the
old Statesman showed desire to wrcstle with
death-a reluctance 70 abandon life and dim
dr.ad of the dark unknown, so soon to be opened
20 NlHi LHOu5n cAtiDltltl8 no craven Icdf, no
unworthy weakness, and nerving himself to face
the inevitable, Daniel Webster evidently dreaded
death, and looked to the future more with fear
than with hope Ii would be needless TO repeat
these last sayings and words Of his, familiar to ev
cry mind that takes an interest in topics beyond
the triyialties of the hour. The citation of two
or three of these remarks will suffice to show the
Justice of this comment, and the reasons which
have wrought that conclusion on one mind at
least.
As his hold upon the things of this world loos-
ened, his thoughts evidently driiled onward to
the shores Of that silent sea wherever his journey
ay and the religiosity of his nature assented it
s dt tne same time that he ielt himself destitute
ut that sustaining faith for which he cried aloud
il his troablcd spirit. When his Physician told
lu ta- remedy used would give him "reIief." 1t
j, no. that Doctor, that l want want restora-
uon " said the dying man.
Memorable words these-uSed by one, who Of
all men understood the use Of words. And this is
bat one Of many similar utterances even when
he felt all hope had fl d. Similar was the feeling
that prompted the request that his friends should
'be with him to the last''-should not leave him
that no one should leave Marshield until all was
over! !' He even desired the numerous friends
present to be near he shrunk from that solitude
on which he was so soon TO enter, and cung to hu-
man companionship in those last hours which Sc
rcner and more hopeful spirits devote to silent and
solitary communion with the Creator, who is sum-
moning to his presence. This desire of sustaining
sympathy he manifested to the last. Most sgnih-
cant too was his request to his son to read him
Gray's Elegy. That sad summing up of the moth
ngneSs of human effort, the variety of human
pride, suited well with the ripenng and bitter spirit
which the Great Publicist bore with him to hi,
home from this scene of his many triumphs anc
last sore discontinue, from which he never rallied
ranking sore at his heart, and shortening his spar
of life Yet words of human utterance would no
suffice him, nor the pain of that sore sadden
ed heart and troubled spirit and he turned for con
ISOLATION to that higher point in the revealed wort
of God and (if human Judgment may presum
to scan mysteries such as this not to find it
stumbling down''-as Carlyle says of Mirabeau-
'Iike a mighty Heather and Titan to his rest"
For his kind physician, who seems to have fel
and appreciated the spiritual as well as physica
wants of his patient solemnly repeated to the dy
ing man the soothing promises of the Great Phys
clan of Souls, as set forth in these words i; "Th
rock and thy staff, they comfort me-" eyes,
said Mr.. Webster, "that is what | want-th
rock thy staff" He no hypocrite, and woul
not pretend, with all his remorseful strvings, thu
''that peace that passeth all understanding ha
possession of his soul, though he poured forth h
soul in prayer. But even after this he wrestlc
with death as strong man with bodily foe fc
ten from Marshfeld just after the event.
"Frem u to 10 o'clock the great man faile
rapidly. Arousng from ethargy at 10 oclocI
his countenance became animated, and his ey
flashed with its usual brilliancy; he exclaimed
Il still live p and Immediately sunk into sta
of TRANQUIL Inconsistencies His breathing no
became fainter, and bic strength became entire
prostrate. He fingered in this condition un
twenty-five minuteI to O'Clock, WHEN the spl
returned to its God. - tf
Il still live r. and so saying died That "
his parting word. But he dees live, and "
live, in another sense from that which he spob
Of him, as of his great rivals, may well be char
ed the thrilling requiem of that solemn strain
''Their bodies sumber in the dust
But their names liveth forever more"
Mr.. Webster as before remarked, he had
greatdeal Of religiosity in his nature. but he "
not what is commonly termed religious man
and the distinction is a broad and an importa
One No man possessing his high intelligence a
great gifts could be devoid of reverence, that "a
atty which elevates while it humiIiates, viii
turns the aspirations upwards because of the We
elevation of the character, above the things viii
make upthe stapleof tie existence andthe thougl
OF meancr men and narrower intelligence.
truly great man was ever devoid of this u