The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-11-24

position in the imperial family of Russia which
seemed to destine him to higher honors. His death
is announced at the very moment when his cousin
France, and the only link which connected the
B0naparte family with that of Russia is thus dis
solved u seems as IL in spite Of the extraordinary
advantages OF fortune which have followed the des.
cendants of the Empress Josephine, some fatslity
iDterposed to prohibit the permanence of their
honers, and to obterate the traces they have left
amongst the reigning families Of Europe.
There is every reason 70 suppose that Louis Napo
leon will guard himself much as possible ag ainst
these contingencies, and that his marriage will
follow very shortly upon his proclamation and ac
cession. But the support which he still finds in the
confidence Of large portion Of the French people,
and in the timdty Of the rest. is personal to him
self lt will not be transferred to the mere object
of his choice or the kinsmen who have oven less
claim than himself to bear great name; and in the
present rapid course of events, who shall say that
man Of forty four, on the eve Of entering for the
first time, into the IN arried state, will leave an heir
of an age to conduct the affairs Of nation which
has not permanently renounced the liberties it
enjoyed! Nothing can be more uncertain or more
chin than such specuations; and it is an essen
tial characteristic of the institutions which have
lately been imposed on France, that the security
they confer is limited to the duration Of single
life, II, sdeed, that be not curaed by the anxiety
and the accidents of such reign.
Daniel Webster's Death In England.
From the London Times November 0
To the remarkable deaths which will hereafter
signalize the obituary Of 1852, we may now add
that OF the man who. by common conseut, was re-
puted the greatest among the statesmen Of the New
World. The knowledge generally possessed by Eng
lishmen respecting the life and services Of Daniel
Webster will, perhaps. hardly prepare them for the
sensation which his decease has created in the
try of his birth He is spoken Of in America almost
as Peel was spoken Of in England. The journals of
the States appear in mourning for the departed
statesman, writers of all political denominations
concur in eulogistic biographies, and the reception
OF the intelligence in every town OF the Union is
chroniced with Uniform testimony to the popularity
Of the subject. AS far, indeed concurrence Of
admiration be taken for proof we should be JUS
titled in ranking Daniel Webster among the truly
great men Of his age.
In this opinion, however, it is not probable that
the voice Of Europe tie decision Of history will
entirely concur The truth is that Mr.. Webster s re-
putation was eminently American, and the apparent
grandeur Of its proportions was due, in small de-
gree, to that spirit of hyperboe in which the cit
zens of the States are accustomed to address
themselves to all national topics They magnify
their statesmen rs they magnify their scenery or
their strength, not, it must be owned, for pur-
poses of delusion, and still less with the empti-
ness of Asiatic boasting, but with the exaggera-
tion incidental to democratic institutions and
national adolescence. Besides this, Mr. Webster's
qualities appealed directly to the passions and
timents of his countrymen. His oratorcal powers
were remarkable, and in country does popular
oratory exercise 80 great an influence as in the
United States. Americans are enchaiued by
speeches, and when Daniel Webster addressed an
audience, already predisposed to admiration, his
eoquence rarely failed to rouse them to enthu-
siasm. In justice to his memory, it should be
added that this eloquence was usually employed on
the side of genuine policy. Nor would it, indeed,
be easy. with certain recent exceptions, to point
out any question in which his authority was not
ultimately exerted in the general interests of
ciliation and peace.
But it was not from this personal gift that Mr.
Webster reputation derived its most charac serisic
feature. He, above ali others. was peculiarly the
IN vvhn lrnpr al fn nQh n
played before tho eyes of Europe. He was the
conventional representative OF his countrymen in
their diplomatic relations with the other great
powers Of the world. III was not that he enjoy ed
any extraordinary tenure of those ministerial
appointments to which such functions are com .
mitted, but his terps of office coincided remark
ably with some OF the most critical conjunctures
of the foreign policy of the Union, and to the
consideration of these subjects he brought an
extensive store Of jorisprudential information,
great personal aptitudes, and WISDOM if not
liberality of view beyond that usually prevailing
around bin. 1t is true that he was an American.
but he wss an American who had seen the world,
and he recognized those necessities OF International
intercourse for which republican politicians
sometimes fain to substitute the suggestions Of inn
pulse, interest, or power. In this capacity ho COM
| manded respect moro universal than attached to
| him as q whig Senator or popular speaker. Ho
filled with considerable success what Tould other
wise have been almost void in the pTeteneiOn5 of
| bis countrymen. In him they saw an Americ an
| who had not only carried American elections and
| guided the discussions of Congress, but who had
met the diplomatsts Of Europe fair ground with
out discIedit, and who enjoyed in the capitals OF
| the Old World distinction which in other cases
| was limited to the etowns of the Union The extent,
If Dot the character, OF this renown is sufficiently
| evinced by the attention now paid to his memory.
| We DO not im8gine as we have already intimated,
that the verdict of Europe will altogether support
| the natural partialties Of America; but, ut any
rate, the event now announced will be esteemed Of
European importance, and it will be universally
| th.fo uka nf thn vnrII has harv
| lest in the Senator OF Massachusetts.
II is In this representative capacity that he has
| been so remarkably endeared to the people of the
! Union; nor was there any more striking feature in
the recent political rvalries than the respect which
in the most passionate heats Of conflict was uni
fermly paid to his general Fretensions, Even
those who opposed his elevation acknowledged his
claims, and so universally was he recognized as a
"great man." that his adversaries were COM
PEELED to show cause why great men should not
| always be made Presidents. He was dis.
| tinguished and successfu lawyer, writer Of con.
siderable repute, triumphant orator, veteran
parliamentaTian, and, above all, celebrated
| American. il is unfortunate snat mis- latest ais
| plays should have been unfavorable to his
| renown. On the present occasion we should be
naturally reluctant to bring these blemishes con-
| slicuousIy into view, but it cannot be denied that
the questions Of the bay fisheries and The Lobos
Islands placed the departed statesman in no credit
able light either as minister or civilian We
are the less called upsn, indeed, to conceal or qua
| was afterwards confirmed by the reversal of Ameri
| can policy in Mr.. Webster's own hands. Either
from declining strength or incidental disability,
| or some increase of that extraneous bias from
| which few American politicians can remain
! exempt, it is manifest that he took wrong
course, without evidence Of any laudablo mo-
| tive In his earlier views Of foreign policy
be was both more successful and correct. At
various times it became his duty to assist at or
conduct some fthe most important negotiations1in
which the government Of the Union was ever en-
gagged The NORTHEASTERN boundary, the provi-
sions Of mutual oxtrsditon, the right Of search on
the high SEAS and the Oregon frontier, constituted
successive questions Of policy, involving the highest
interests Of more than one State; and in all these
discussions the influence of Mr.. Websters authority
was both powerfully and meritorousy cvinced. On
points, too, Of more exclusively local interest,
such as the annexation Of Texas, the Mexican
war, the reception of new States into the Union,
and the compromise Of the slavery disputes, his
voice was heard on the side Of moderation and
equity. Indeed when not biased by the tempta-
n L. - onf .,nts-