Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-12-18

army and navy to compel attendance upon the religious
/ service of our national clergy.
/ BY Mr.. HUNTER: Several of like character from
the State of Virginia
By Mr.. DAVIS From owners and other persons inter-
ested in steamboats, the Western waters giving it as
their opinion that the law passed at the last session in
relation to steamboats, for the preservation of lives of
passengers propelled in whole in part by steam should
go into operation early Said law contemplated
/ Also, from Selma C. Sumner asking to be allowed a
consideration for discovery made by her husband who
was shipmaster for finding method of ships
position at in state Of the weather in which no mer
dian observation of the could be had and in which
other method Of attaining it to certainty had
been before known. The lady's petition says that the
Importance Of this discovery has been verified by the es
monias of Professor Pierce of Harvard University Of
Lieut. Maury of the navy of the United States and Of
the London Nautical Magazine in which the discovery is
pronounced highly ingenious"
/ BY Mr.. GWIN: Sixty-one memorials from different
postmasters in the State of California urging an increase
of their salaries and allowances They say the salaries
of all the officers have been nearly doubled and
the salaries of judges attorneys marshals and other
civil officers Of every grade except the post Office largely
increased.
| MEXICAN BOUNDARY COMMISSION
/ Mr.. MASON introduced a bill to amend the act APP
proved 3lst August 1882 in reference the appropra
ton for continuing the survey of the Mexican boundary
which read and referred to the Committee Foreign
/ Relations.
| TRIBUTE TO THE MEMORY OF DANIEL WEBSTER
Mr. DAVIS, of Massachusetts, and addressed the
| Senate follows:
Mr. President, to bring to the notice of the Sc
nate event which has touched the sensbilities and
awakened sympaics in all parts of the country;
which has appropriately found place in the message Of
the President and ought not to be passed in silence by
the Senate.
| Sir we have within short space mourned the
death of succession of men ilustrious by their
vices their talents and worth Not only have seats in
this Chamber in the other House, and upon the bench of
the Court been vacated but death has entered the Exc
cutive mansion and claimed that beloved patriot who
filed the chair Of State.
The portals of the tomb had scarcely closed upon the
remains of great and gifted member of this House be-
fore they again opened receive another marked
of day. who stood out with singular prominence
before his countrymen challenging by his extraordinary
intellectual power, the admiration of his feow-men
DANIEL WEBSTER, "a name familiar in the remotest
cabin upon the frontier after mixing actively in the
ellis of his country for forty years. and having reached the
limits of life assigned to mortas has descended to the
mansions of the dead and the damp earth rests upon
his manly form.
That magic voice which won't to fill this place with
admirng listeners hushed in eternal silence The null
ttude will longer bend in breathless attention from
these galleries catch his words and watch the speak
ing eloquence of has counenance animated by the fervor
of his mind Nor will the Senate again be instructed by
the outpourng Of his profound intellect matured by long
experience and enriched by copous streams from the
fountains of knowledge The thread of life is cut the i'm
moras separated from the mortal and the products of
great and cultivated mind all that remain to of
the jurist and legislator
Few men have attracted so large share of public at
tention maintained for long period equal de-
gree of mental distinction In this and the other House
there rivals for fame and he grappled in debate
with the master minds of the day. and achieved in such
manly conflict the impershable connected with
his name
Upon of the questions which have been much agi
tated in Congress during his period of service his voice
heard Few orators have equalled him in mastery
power of condensation in that clear logical arrange
ment of proofs and arguments which the attention
Of the nearer, and holds it with undated interest
These speeches have been preserved many Of them
ha Sic will nd
mraton for the great display of intellectual power and
extensive research This is suitable occasion to
discuss the merits of political productions to compare
them with the eusons OF great contemporaneous minds
to speak of the principles advocated All this belongs
TO the future and history will assign each great name
the of its enduring fame.
Mr. Webster conspicuous not only among the most
ilustrious in the halls of legislation, but his fame
shone with undmnished lustre in the judicial tribunals
advocate, where he participated in many of the
most important discussions. On the bench was Marshall
Story and their brethren of patient research and
comprehensive scope of intellect who have left behind
them in judicial annals proofs of greatness which will
secure profound veneraion and respect for their
At the bar stood Pnkney Writ Emmett and many others
who adorned and gave exalted character to the profess
sions Amid these umnaries of the bar he discussed
many of the great questions raised in giving construction
organic law and shone with intense bright
ness or brought into the conflict Of mind learning,
higher proofs Of mental discipline copous
illustration.
l. Among such men and in such honorabes combat the
foundations of that critical knowledge of constitutional
law which afterwards became prominent feature of his
character, and entered largely into his opinions as
legislator, laid The arguments made at this forum
display careful research into the history of thesfounda
on Of the federal Union, and acute analysis of the
fundamental provisions Of the constitution Probably
has penetrated deeper into the principles or taken
comprehensive and complete view Of the union Of
the States than that great man, Chief Justice Marshall
No question subtle 10 elude his grasp so
complex to defy his penetration Even the great and
the learned esteemed II condescenson to listen to the
teachings of his voice, and profted more by his
wisdom venerated his character than Mr. Webster
To stand among such men with marked distinction ms
did Mr. Webster is an association which might satisfy
any ambition, whatever might be its aspirations.
But there among those illustrous men, who have fin
shed their abors and gone to their final homes he made
his mark strong and Deep which will be and traced
by posterity
But need not dwell that which is familiar to oil
readers who feel interest in such topics; need
notice the details of his private f since hundreds of
pens have been employed in revealing s facts and
in describing in the most vivid all the
which been deemed attractive Nor need reiterate
the fervent language of euogy which has been poured
out in oil quartcrsfrom the press the pulpit the BAR
legislative bodies and public assemblies since his own
productions constitute has best eulogy.
could not If were to attempt it. add any thing to
the strength beauty of the manifold evidences which
have been exhibited Of the length the breadth, and
heghtof his fame there occasion for such proofs
where many Of his greatest efforts made and where
his intellectual powers appreciated
Here he and heard and nowhere else will his
claim TO great distinction be cheerully admitted
But the places which have known him will know him
His form will never rise here again. his voice
will not be heard his expressive countenance seen
He is dead In his last moments he surrounded by
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