The daily union., 1852-12-04


which would drag angels down When shall be found
sir, 10 my place here in the Senate, elsewhere sneer
the le limits Of my own State or neighborhood when
refuse ios any such cause for any the homage
devotion TO liberty and the country or, Il see uncom
mon endowment OF Heavon-ifl extraordinary cana
local prejudice gangened by State eaIousy gci %
here 10 abate the 1.-THE of hair from his JUST
just iame, may my tongue cleave to the roof Of my
There spoke Daniel Webster His heart like his in
ielect, grand, massive. immense rising as high above
sectional as he was above personal jealousy; squirting
with loity scorn the mere suspicion that feeling OF
Wy could hnd place in his bosom embracing the whole
country in his great American affections and paying a
willing tribute 10 The merits OF those whose names had
been invoked in his dsparagement he stood proudly
erect IN the American Senate not merely the representa-
tive OF s highest Intelligence, but OF IFS nobest traits
its manliesl attributes
resented or more misunderstood and 10 could the
language OF King Henry to Cardinal Wosey have been
more appropriately addressed:
Why they SO, bat, like village ours,
Bark when their fellows do" aa
By his constituents he was understood and appre-
ciaed but elsewhere IN other sections, il for many
years the fashion TO abuse him. His intellectual superb
ory could not indeed be questioned but his patriotism
was doubted and his personal character attacked by
those who were no more capable of comprehend.
ing Daniel Webster than they of navigating the
ocean without chart or compass. In land like ours
much must be allowed TO the spirit of party Preudces
must be engendered, and every public man must ex-
pect TO come in for his share OF detraction ii is
not otlen IN the heat OF the struggle that men can
be found capable of rising superior TO the passions
of the hour, and bestowing mered commendaiion
on an enemy; but now that he is gone. | sure
those who knew him best will agree with me that
it was much impossible for such man to commit
baseness for the TO its revolutions and
rise in the west He felt coDscous--he could not but
feehat every act OF his life would become part of his
tory and be kept constantly before his eyes the necessity
OF so performing his part as to meet the approving verdict
OF postery.
From the period II his controversy with Hayne, Mr.
Webstes political history is too well known to require
comment To most OF the opinions he advanced many
OF his counirymen did and do not subscribe But we
ought always to remember that they the opinions Of
great man, sincerely enertaned and even if erroneous
his name will secure for them high deg of respect
long as eoquence and wisdom appreciated in coming
times.
My acquaintance with Mr. Webster commenced in the
Senate OF the United States in December, lS49. Ii was
then the most usrious body the world has known
Clay and Calhoun were there in The full maturity OF their
powers Others oi scarcely inferior renown were there.
In truth there were few very few, within that hall who
had not won regulations as wide the republic. To
stand at the head OF such assembly is the highest
question The position oil Daniel Webster do not pro-
pose to institute comparison between him and his great
compeers That were an impossible task Contrast them
you may--compare them you cannot They were diG-
ferent in temperament in habits, and in the structure OF
their minds, that nothing like just comparison can be
made Mr. Calhoun surpassed hlm in power of conden-
ing in vasness Of comprehension grand and massive
intellect, he above them both. Each of them will
lye forever, but he will be studied in the schools and
read by the resIde, when they will only be familiar 10
the curious searcher into old documents and old histories
The simplicity OF his style and the purity OF his dico
will make his speeches standard work wherever the
English language is spoken and even if that should
pass away the grandeur Of hi. thoughts will secure for
him place in the minds of men long as earth shall
endure II said OF Mr. Clay, thai il letters should
become extinct tradition would transmit him from gen
n nt sn IN him.. for bit,,,r
diton has no Office 10 pelom-il is with letters that
he Is inseparaby linked. There is writer of Eng
poeon Bonapare. who is said to have made past milf
tary fame matter OF doubt, and future glory an i'm
possibility, in the world Of letters he is without rival
in the past, or the probability of an equal in the future
In other respects also he rose above other mep and
stood out prominent and distinguished He was not
only the profound lawyer the accomplished orator. and
the sagac'ous statesman, but he was one Of the very
best farmers in the land he knew all The different quail
iies OF the soil and TO what each was best adapted
he was familiar with all the varieties OF corn, wheat
and other productions He knew the ages Of bis CATTLE
their different breeds-eyey thing, IN short, which could
be useful to farmer Perfect order regned about him
and stranger on visiting Marshhed would have sup.
posed that lis owner had DEVOTED his whole attention 10
agricultural pursuits He never would have imagined
that be who seemed so intent adonng and enriching
that spot Of ground had yet found time TO traverse the
whoe range OF human knowledge-that he was ia
the stars OF heaven, and the flowers OF The field
have passed oyer purposely his diplomatic cores
popdeDce and other public performances They are i'm.
bodied In his works and vii proclaim his greatness in
every land and in every tongue II is not OF ihess that
friendship need utter word OF eulogy ID has gent.
Ter oce-io do justice 10 his personal character; for
like other who have been prominently before the
public eye, Mr.. Webster was compelled TO hear during
The greater PORTION VI his life the serpen, hiss OF calumny
Vices OF which be never dreamed were attributed 10
him meannesses 10 which II was absolutely impossi-
bic for his great soul TO soop were familiar charges
His social hours watched by those who were ever
ready TO
"listou the truth, accumulate the lie,
And pile ths pyamid OF ealumny."
That be had no faults will not assert; but that he
had fewer than any public man have known, except
Mr. Calhoun, do sincerely believe HIS heart was too
kind, and his nature too great for the weeds OF vice
TO flourish on such soil II they took root they
whered amostas soon as they sprang into existence
The very manner OF his death will witness for hm that
within that bosom goodness sal upon the same throne
with greatness. Calm collected and, resigned he called
his family and his friends about him. and uering word
OF Kindness 10 EACH he bade them afecliobate good
bye, Then requesting bis TO read Grey's Elegy, al
most before the last words OF that beautiful poem Tell on
his his eyes closed n everlasting sleep Thus
peacefully passed away the last OF the American trum-
yirae. He had lived TO witness and participate in the
funeral ceremonies Of his great rivals They had died al
the Capitol in the midst of the nations repre-
The sages of The republic, her battle veterans
her historians and her bards, surrounded the cofns in
which they lay, and gave lusre TO the solemn pagean
Try OF the hour His spirit took lis fight from the walls
oi hs own quiet home, and no pompous national funeral
gided the passage OF his body to the grave Bat the
hearts OF the wise and good will be sbrouded with as
deep gloom, and more reverential viii settle
upon the people they read the sad announcement that
he, the mishtlest and the last, Is gone.
Amid the general gloom which follows the departure OF
such man all private grief becomes contemplate The
heart nation hean fourhed and