The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-06-08

L
sentation he proceeds to consider the defects o The
ancient historical writer's, the true sourees OF his
tory, particularly the materials contained In stat
utes and the proceedings of courts of law These
| general remarks are followed by brief sketches OF
| the principal historians OF Greece and Rome-ie-
rodotus, Thucydides, Xenophon, Sallust, Livy,
and Tacltus In this part OF The discourse he makes
| II tecItous application TO kossuth and lntcrVen-"
ton, of the history of Adherbal, who, having been
| expelled from his country by Jugurtha, invoked
| the interpositon of the Roman people. Here too,
| MIR. Webster shows the finenees and delicacy OF
| his literary taste by little episode on graphic
style illustrating his criticism by passages happily
| selected from Milton and Gray, and the graphic
use of minute circumstances in the prose writings
| of Daniel De Foe
| The next topic discussed is the connection be-
tween the origin Of the art OF Historical Compost
ton, in it's higher sense, and the institutions OF 10
litical Freedom. And this naturally leads the
tor to the consideration of the historical subjects fur
nished by the United States OF America The his
tory Of the United States he divides into three
| epochs. The first extends from the settlement OF
the colonies to l714; the second from IVA to the
| adoption of the Constitution in 1882 the third,
from 1883 to the~present day. The great features
of these three periods are traced with masterly
| hand and here occur several OF those bursts OF
peculiar eloguence, the cang Of whose sentences,
as well as the noble thoughts and picturesque i'm.
| agery embodied in them, dwell upon the ear and
sink into the heart. Whit can surpass the de-
| scription of Washing ton taking upon himself the
administration of the Government in 1889!
81 am in the city in which Washington first took
| upon himself the administration of the Govern
| ment; am the spot which all hearts and
| all hopes were concentrated in 1859. / bring the
whole scene, with all its deep interests, before me
see the crowds that fill and throng the streets;
the ten thousand faces anxious to look on him,
10 whose wiadom, prudence, and patriotism, the
destinies of the country now committed see
the august form, behold the serene face OF Wash
| ington; observe his reverent manner, when he
rses in the presence OF countless multitudes, and,
looking up with religious we to Heaven, soemnly
| swears before those mutitudes, and before Him
that siteth the circle of those Heavens, that he
will support the Constitution OF his country help
him God!
| "And can hear the shous and accamations
that rend the air. see outpouring tears of JOY and
hope; see men caspng each others hands, and
hear them exclaim, 1--WE have at last country;
have Union; and in that Union is strength We
have Government able to keep us together; and
we have Chief Magistrate-an object of conf
| denCe, attachment, and love to US oil. "
10 speaking of the proceedings of the first Con-
| gress, Mr.. Webster quotes and dwels upon
luton adopted on the l4h of March, l776. con-
tanning certain recommendations OF measures OF
precaution and defence to the several assemblies,
conventions, councile, or committees Of safety. In
several Of the States these recommendations were
acted upon; and promise or pledge was subscribed
by the citizens to resist the hostile proceedings OF
| the British fleets and armies against the United
American Colonies to the utmost of their power at
the risk of their lives and fortunes, with arms AT
ter quoting the promise or pledge, Mr.. Webster
adds the beautiful and noble passage-a passage
which, in the delivery, was received with indsscrlb
able enthusiasm:
'In the mountainous State of New Hampshire
and among the highest OF its mountains, then con-
| tanning only few scattered settle ments, the
| township Of Salisbury. The Merrimac river form
ing its eastern boundary, now 60 pleasant in scene
! ry and with much richness and industry on its
banks, was then roaring and ioaming stream,
| seeking Its way amidst immense forests on either
side, from the White mountains to the sea. The
settlers in this township collected. and the
promise or pledge proposed by the Continental
| Congress, OF life and fortune presented to them.
'All.' the record says freely signed except two
"In looking to this record, thus connected with
the men of my own birthplace, confess i was
gratihed to find who were the signers, and who
| were the dissentients. Among the former was he
from whom am Immediately descended, with all
his brothers, and his whole kith and kin. This Is
sufficient emblazonry for my arms, enough of
heraldry for me-"
Nothing can be more exquisitcly appropriate, to
the man and the OCCASION than this allusion TO his
native place, and the political course of his father
in those trying times; and the manner in which it
was received by that immense and cultivated nu
! dience showed how IL told upon their feelings And
IT will not be inappropriate TO the general object OF
this notice TO say few words on an associated
topic, and TO state a few facts not generally known
Eoeneyer Webster, the father Of our great states.
man, was remarkable man. In person he was
tall and commanding. His height more than
six feet; lie had complexion as dark bic con
Roman nose, and a most piercing black eye His
long military experience in the OF the Reyolu-
ton had given him a martial bearing and dcci-
sive manner. He had enjoyed only the common
opportunities Of school education; but he a
man, not only of strong natural sense, but Of rich
intellectual endowments. These personal and in
tellectual qualities, and the sturdy honesty Of his
encc over the rural population of that part Of the
State; and his name was held in respect through
| all that region OF the country.
In those times and in that remote part OF the
country the people seldom assembled, except on
Sunday, TO hear the news and discuss the political
questions of the tmes No newspapers penetrated
into those thinly- settled regions. In the interval
between the morning and evening services the peo
pie assembled TO hear the information public al.
fairs, communicated by those who had represented
them in the general court. Colonel Webster bad
often been chosen representative from Salisbury;
and, when the State Convention was called 10 con-
cider the question of adopting the Constitution, be
! was appointed delegate. The people Of the town,
! and Colonel Webster with the rest, were doubtful
on the subject having some fear OF the consequence
II establishing powerful central government, and
feeling that they were well enough off without II
The convention fret sat at Exeter, and Mr.. Web.
stor went there to take part in lite deliberations On
hearing the subject discussed, bis doubts and fears
entirely vanished, The convention adjourned to
meet some months afterwards at Concord. Colo
! mel Webster returned home, and at one OF these
meetings between the services the Sabbath be
! gathered about him the whole adult population OF
the new township, and stated to them the argu
ments which he had heard for and ag ainst the Con-
sitution; and as he had come TO the conclusion 10
vote for IL, and he had reason TO suppose their
inclnatons were rather the other way he proposed
to resign and leave II TO them TO choose another del
eg.te. They said they would think of 1t for aweek;
and at the end Of that time they informed him that
| they bad made up their minds to rely on his judg-
ment; and when the convention reasscmbled at
| Concord be took a decided and active part in favor
Of the Constitution The substance OF brief speech
delivered by him in the course OF the debate-the
only speech Of his recorded or. remomberod-has
/ been somewhere preserved. IL was as follows
"Gentlemen, have listened TO the arguments for
and against the Constitution. ! am convinced
! such government as that Constitution will estab.
lisb, If adopted-a government acting directly on
the people Of the Statc-is necessary for tho com
mon defence and the gen ,ral welfare. IL is the
! only government which will enable us TO pay of
the national debt-the debt which owe for the
! revolution, and which we are bound in honor fully
| and fairly to discharge. Besides, have followed
the lead OF Washington through seven years OF
| war, and ! have never been rnisled. HIS name 10
subscribed to this Constitutions he will not mislead
us now. shall vote for it's adoption"
| This ebort speech of Ezekiel Webster, recovered
very recently from long oblivion, strikes the key
note Of the whole public policy of his illustrious
son. II almost the text Of that reverence for
Washington, and that profound appreciation and