The daily union., 1852-11-02

eIIs
SION 10 permanent literature IN the sireest sensesod
attractive. and Iichand ask how often In the history
OF public life such Thing has been exempi6ed Rerx
what peyaded all these forms OF display and every Effort
in every iomthai union OF max ed intellect in lis
which peneraes 10 the truth OF the matter
IN hand BY intuition OF By inference and dscens every
thing which may make il Ineligible, probable and cred
be TO another, with an emotional and moral nature pro-
found, passionate. and ready TO knde, and with mag
nation enough 10 supply hundred fold more OF Illus
ualon and aggrandzement than his taste suffered him 10
aceepi-tha union OF greatness OF soul with depth OF
heart, which made his speaking almost more an exhib
non OF character than OF mere genus-he style not
merely pure, clear SAXON but so constructed so numer-
GUS. as lar as becomes prose- so orcbe, aboundng
IN unlabored feices, the words choice the epbet
so pictured, The matter absolute TRUTH or the most exact
and spacious resemblance the human wit devise the
treatment OF the subject ii you have regard 10 The kind
OF truth he had 10 handle. political ethical legal Deep
complete Payeys or Lockes, or Buffers, or Alex
ander Hamons, Of their subjects, yet that depth and
that completeness OF sense made transparent through
crystal waters-al imbodied in harmonious or well
composed periods; raised on winged language, vyihed
fused and poured along in tide OF emotion, feryd and
incapable 10 be wiihsiood-recal the form, the eye the
brow, the tone oil voice, the presence OF the intellectual
king OF menTecal him thus, and, in the language oil
Mr. Justice Story commemorating Samuel Dexter, we
may well "rejoce that have lived in the age
that we, have listened 10 his eloquence and been in
srucled by his wisdom
cannot leave the subject OF his eloquence without
returning 10 thought have advanced already All
that be has ell-oI the larger portion OF ais The rec
ord OF spoken words His works, already collected
extend 10 many volumes-a library OF and elo-
quence, Gibbon has said OF Ciseros; but they are
volumes OF speeches only mainly; and yet who does
not rank him great American author-an author as
ulyexpounding, and as Enthusiastically exemplfyng in
pure, genuine and harmonious English syle the mind,
thought, point OF view oil Objects and essential natonal
" OF his country, any other OF authors profession
ally so denomnaed' Against the maxim of MIR Fox,
his speeches read well, and YET were good speeches
great speechesin the deyey for so grave were they,
thoughtful and true, much the eloluence OF reason
last, sirikngly always they conrved TO link the
Immediate topie with other and broader principles,
y IN a1Izastn ham
the reconciliation OF the qualities which engage the aiten
lion OF hearers yet reward the perusal OF sudentsso
critically did they keep the right side OF The line which
parts eloquence from rhetoric, and Tar do they
above the penuy OF mere debatehat the general reason
of the country has enshned them al and forever
among classics.
II is common belief that Mr. Webster was a various
reader and think IT is true to greater degree
than has been believed In his profession OF politics.
nothing think, worthy OF attention had escaped him
nothing of the ancient or modern prudence, nothing
which Greek or Roman or European speculation in that
walk had explored. or Greek Roman or European
universal history, or public biography exemPihed.
shall not soon forget with what admiration he spake
an interview 10 which he admitted while IN the Law
School Cambridge, of the politics and ethics OF ATs
toe. and Of the mighty mind which, he said. seemed
TO have though through all the great problems which
form the discipline OF social man American history and
American political Literature be had BY hear-the long
OF influences which trained for representative
and free government; that other series of influences
which moulded US into united government; the colo
NAL the age OF controversy before the revolution
every and every in that great tragic action
every question which has successfully engaged our poll
itics, and every which has figured in them-he
whole stream OF our time was open clear and present,
ever, 10 his eye.
Beyond his profession OF politics. so to call it. be had
been digent and choice reader, as bis extraordinary
siye in part reveals, and think the love of read ng
would have gone with him 10 later and age, ii
TO such age it had been the will OF God 10
him This is no place or lime to appreciate this branch
OF his acquisitions; but there is interest nexpressibe
ia knowing whe were any Of The chosen from among
great dead in The library OF such man. Others may
correct but should say OF that interior and narrower
circle were Cicero. Virgil, Shakspeare-whom he knew
Familiarity as the consiituion-Bacon. Milton. Burke,
Johnson 10 whom, hope IL is not pedanic nor fanciiul
say, often thought his nature presented some resen
blancethe abundance OF the general propositions
required for explaining adifcuy and reuiIng sophism
coplousy and promptly occurring TO hm--ihe same kind
ness OF heart and wealth OF sensibiy, under manner,
OF course more and gracious, yet more
eregnihe sufficient, yet not predominant magma
ton, shopping truth and giving alnence yivacy,
and attraction TO powerful correct and weghty style OF
prose.
lcanno leave this life and character without selecting
and dwelling moment on one or two OF his traits or
virtues or elicilies, little longer There is collective
impression made by The whole Of eminent persons
life Ls ond and other than and apart from that which the
mere general biogspher would afford The means OF
planning There san influence OF gieat man derived
from things indescrbabe almost incapabs OF enumer
aton sngy insufficient to account for II. but through
which his spifit iranspies. and his individuality goes
forth The contemporary generation And thus, should
say one grand tendency OF his lite and character 10
elevate the whole OF the public mind He did this.
indeed not merely by example he did by dealing, as
be thought truly and in manly fashion with that public
mind lie evinced his love OF the people not much
by honeyed phrases by good counses and useful
vce-pera pro gratis He showed how he appreciated
them by submitting sound Arguments 10 their understand
ngs and right their free will He before
them less with laiiery than with instruction; less with
vocabulary larded with the words humanity and phi
lanthropy, and progress and brotherhood, than with
scheme OF politics. educational, social, ard govern.
mental system which would have made them prosperous,
happy, and great
What The greatest OF the Greek historians said OF Peri
ces all iee might be said OF him "He did not so
much follow lead the people, because he framed not
his words TO please them like one who is gaining
power By unworthy means, but able and dared on
the strength OF high character 10 brave their anger
By conlradicng their will.
should indicate il another influence OF his life,
acts, and opinions that Il in extraordinary degree
uniformly and literally conservative He with yls-
ion as OF prophet that II our system ol united govern.
men be maintained TIL nationality shalt be gene
rated oil due intensity and due prehenson, glory in.
deed millennal. progress without enda triumph OF hu-
manity hitherto unseen-were ours; and therefore be
addressed himself TO maintain that united government.
Standing on the rock Of Plymouth be bid distant gene.
raons hail, and saw them rising" demanding life--
inpatient for the skies" from what then fresh,
unbounded magnificent wildernessesfrom the shore Of
the great tranquil sea-not yet become ours. But OBJ.
serve 10 what he welcomes them-by what he would
bless them II - 10 good government" II Is 10 treas
ures OF science and delights OF learning" IL is 10 the
" sweets OF domestic lleihe unreasonable good Of
tiona exsieBce-the immortal hopes Of Chrstianityhe
light of everlasting truth"
Il Ii will be happy il the wisdom and temper Of his ad-
ministraion Of our foreign aisirs shall preside IN the