The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1852-10-27
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICE OF DANIEL
WEBSTER.
(C ON NJ + ID :.

tanned IN his naive State, Hiust nave 'oHo"S"
him TO Washington, for we find that he was APP
pointed, at once, member OF the COMMITTEE
on Foreign Affairs, at that time, and under the
pecular circumstances, the most important OF
ALL Ii was not long before he justified the
confidence which had been reposed in him.
His first speech, upon a resolution offered by
himself, to enquire Of the President in what
manner the intelligence was first communica.
ted to this government Of the decree of the
French Government of 2Sth April, 1911, pur-
porting to abolish the Berlin and Milan DEGREES.
These resolutions, introduced not to embar-
rass the Administration, but TO elicit informa-
ton upon matter of great importance, were
sustained by MIR. Webster in a speech OF 80
much ability that Chief Justice Marshall, who
heard il, said shortly afterwards in letter to
a friend, 81 did not then hesitate to say that
Mr.. Webster was very able man, and would
become one of the very first statesmen in
America, and, perhaps, the very first. In times
of high excitement every thing assumes par
ty aspect, and this proposition was not exempt
from the common fate. The debate upon il
was lung, citilHy anu idIuods. w HSh NhA'
Webster saw the turn it had taken. he declined
entering further into it. The resolution was
passed by large ma GRITTY, and MIR. Madison
very readily sent in the desired information.
Though opposed to the war, and sometimes
disposed to find fault with the manner in which
it was conducted, MIR. Webster always voted
in favor of measures which he conceived pro-
per to defend the country, and on one occasion,
when Portsmouth as threatened was placed at
the head ofthe Committee raised for its defence.
He was particularly favorable TO an increase
of the navy, and one Of his best speeches was
made upon proposition in favor of that poll
cy. MIR. Clay, who had been elected Speaker
Of the House during the war session, having
been appointed one of the Commissioners to
Gottenburg, to meet the British Commission
ers, under an overture made by Great Bri.
tain for peace, he was succeeded by Langdon
Cheves, of South Carolina. This was in the
beginning of the year 1914. During that SEES
sion, frequent discussions took place between
Messrs. Calhoun, Forsyth, Lowndes, and
Cheves, on the one side, and Messrs. Webster,
Pickering, and Oakley, on the other, and so
we'll did Mr.. w. sustain his part, that Dir.
Lowndes afterwards said, "the North has not
SO able man, nor the South one ADLER"
Mr.. Webster having been reelected to Con.
gress in 1914, distinguished himself bv his on
D-,ru1 PrVPUoEIuu IUr L unit
ed States Bank, denounciing it as a scheme
to defraud the people, by making use of the
sanction of the General Government. He was
assisted on this occasion by Messrs. Calhoun,
Lowndes and Cheves, and the proposition was
finally lost by the casting vote of the Speaker
Mr.. Cheves. Having been reconsidered, and
amended in many important particulars, il was
finally carried by large majority, Mir. Web
ster voting for it. MIR. Madison returned the
bill, with his reasons for refusing TO sign it,
The war being at an enc, Mr.. Webster return
ed to New Hampshire in 1915, and for the first
tine began to think seriously of changing his
residence. He, however, was prevented during
the important session Of 1915 16, when, strange
as 1t may appear, he found himself in opposi-
ton to MIR. Calhoun upon the subject of the
tariff OF that year, the latter gentleman urging,
and the former opposing it with great vehe-
mence. He likewise opposed MIR. Calhoun
upon the charter of Bank and Internal I'M
provements, Of both which schemes of policy
Mr.. G. was the enthusiastic advocate.
After the adjournment of Congress, MIR.
Webster removed to Boston, having yet one
year to serve in the House as a member from
New Hampshire. Having served out that ses-
sion, he settled, for the rest of his lfe in Bos-
ton. In 1917, he made his famous speech in
the Dartmouth College Casa speech which
is said to be almost without rival in the whole
history of the bar. This was the last time he
sver spoke in New Hampshire court. His
practice in Boston Immediately became nor
nous, yet he found time to prosecute his lite.
rary pursuits, amidst the avocations of bust
ness. In 1920 he delivered his speecb upon
the anniversary of the landing of the pilgrims,
and In 1921, sat as member Of the Convention
called to revise the constitution of Massachu.
sets.
In 1877, upon the earnest solicitation of his
trends, he consented to run for Congress- and
"aselected. He took his seat in 1923. His fra,
s'ep was TO offer resolution to defray the ex
pehses OF Commissioner or Agent IN C;,eecs
s Gnu aals resolution he introduced by speech,
o.. 10 aii our readers. This was on the
om Of december, 1923. The resolut;on and
.n were but the echo of Presiden, Mon
80. message, IN which he had expressed b;n,
%" N favor OF the cause Of Greece. ., H.;
smuggling 'or her'very existence. M. -
e".'' session he made one of his ab,es, -
Go III opposition TO the aAme,;. Nfo.eA
s the Tariff of 1924, had been called '''"'' as
: inthe fall Of this year 1884,
Presidential election, the csnaida,e d. o,i Inc
Messrs. Adams, Jackson, Cravford ~, Using
The three first were returned to The nn'
o. representatives Gene Jackson with
20 electoral votes. Mr. Adams with "a, and
Mr.. Crawford with 43. The election came on
in February, in the House. and Mr. Adams w., !.
declared to have received the majority OF votes