The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-11-01
The Death or MIR. weh.ter.
Addrsss of Hon. EDWARD EvERErT in Fansui Hall,
October "a, 1882.

The Death OF MIR. Webster.
Address of Hon. EDwARD EvEHErr in FansuiI Hall,
October "a, 1892
Mn MAYOR AND FELLOW CITIZENS: i never arose
to address assembly when was 30 little fit, body
or mind. to perform the duty; and never felt SO
keenly now Inadequate are words 10 express such
emotion manifestIy pervades this meeting IN
common with the whole country. There is but one
voice that ever fell upon my ear which could do
justice to such an occasion. That voice, alas I! we
shall hear no more forever. No more at the bar
will 1t unfold the deepest mysteries of the law;
more will it speak conviction to admiring Senates;
more in this hall, the chosen theatre of his in
tcectual dominion, will ii lift the soul with the
swell OF the peaing organ, or stir the blood with
the tones OF n clarion, in the inmost chambers Of
the heart. u,
We are assembled fellow-citizens, to pour out
the fulness Of feelings not in the vain attempt
to do honor to the great man who s taken from Us;
most assuredly not with the presumptuous hope
on any part to magnify his name and his praise.
They are spread throughout the land From East
to West, and from North to South, (Which he knew,
as he told you, only that he might embrace them
in the arms of loving patriotism,) avoce of amen-
tation has already gone forth, such as has not
echoed through the land since the death of him who
was first in war, first in peace, and fret in the
hearts OF his countrymen, .,
You have listened, fellow citizens TO the resolu-
tions which have been submitted to you by Colonel
Heard. thank him for offering them II does
honor to his heart, and to those with whom he acts
in politics, and whom have doubt he we'll re-
presents, that he has stepped forward literally
ON this occasion. The resolutions are emphatic,
sir, but feel that they do not say too much. No
will think they oyerstate the magnitude of our
loss who 10 capable OF approaching character like
that Of Daniel Webster. Who of us, fellow cit-
zens, that has known hm-that has witnessed the
mastery skill with which he would pour the full
etfuigence of his mind some contested legal aud
constitutional principle till what seemed hard and
obscure became plain day; who that has seen
him in all the glory OF intellectual ascendency
"Ride on the whirlwind and direct the Storm
Of parliamentary conflict; who that has drunk of
the pure fresh air OF wisdom and thought in the
volumes Of his writings; who, alas, sir, that has
seen him
e. in his happier hour
OF social pleasure, ill-exchanged for power
that has come within the benignant fascination Of
his mile, has felt the pressure Of his hand, and
tasted the sweets of his Preside eloquence, will
think that the resolutions say too much?
No, fellow citizens; come together not to do
honor to him but to do justice to ourselves. We
obey an impulse from within. Such feeling can
not be pent up in solitude. We must meet neigh
Dor with neig hbor, citizen with citizen, man with
man, to sympathze with each other. If we did
not, mute nature would rebuke The granite
hills Of New Hampshire, within whose shadows he
drew his fret breath, would cry shame; Plymouth
rock, which all but moved at his approach; the
slumbering echoes of this hall, which rang so
grandly with his voice; that 'silent but majestic
orator." which rose in no mean degree at his com.
our degeneracy and ingratitude. @..s'l .'a
Mr. Chairman, do not stand here to pronounce
the eulogy Of Mr.. Webster; it is not necessary.
Eulogy has already performed her first offices 10
his memory. AS the mournful tidings have flashed
through the country, the highest offices of nation
and State, the most dignifed official bodies, the
most prominent individuals, without distinction of
party-the press of the country, the great voice of
the land--all have spoken, and with one accord of
opinion and feeling, with unanimity that does
honor at once to the object of this touching attesta
ton, and to those who make it. The record of his
life. from the humble roof beneath which he was
born, with no inheritance but poverty and an
honored name,) up through the arduous paths of
manhood, which he trod with lion heart and giant
steps, till they conducted him to the helm of State
this stirring narrative, not unfamiliar before, has,
with melancholy promptitude, within the last three
days, been again sent abroad through the length
and breadth of the land. 1t has spread from tho
has been cheered afresh; honest ambition has been
knded; patriotic resolve has been invigorated,
while all have mourned. .,..,
The poor boy at the village school has taken
Daniel Webster, whose father told him he should
go to college if he had to sell every acre of his farm
to pay the expense, laid his head on the shoulder
of that fond and discerning parent, and wept the
thanks he could not speak. The pale student who
ekes out his scanty support by extra toll. has
gathered comfort when reminded that the first ju-
riat, statesman, and orator Of the time. earned,
with his weary fingers by the midnight lamp, the
ton to beloved brother. Every true. hearted citi
zen throughout the Union hae felt an honest pride,
as he reperuses the narrative, in rejecting that he
lives beneath Constitution and Government
under which such man has been formed and
trained, and that he himself is compatriot with
him. He does more, sir; he reflects with gratitude
that in consequence of what that man has done, and
written, and said-in the result of his efforts to
strengthen the pillars of the Union-a safer inherit
ance of civil liberty, stronger assurance that
these blessings will endure, will descend to his
children. .. .n,
know, Mr.. Mayor, how presumpuous 1t would
be to dwell any personal causes of grief, in the
prese of this aug gust sorrow which spreads its
dark wings over the land. You will not, however,
be offended. If by way of apology for putting my
self forward on this occasion, say that my rela-
tons with Mr.. Webster run further back than al
most any one in this community. They began the
first year he came to live in Boston. When was
but ten or eleven years old attended little pri-
vate school in Short street. Gas it then called;
ii is the continuation of Kingston stree,) kept
by the late Hon. Ezekiel Webster. the elder bro
Their to whom have alluded. and brother worthy
of his kindred. Owing to illness, or some other
cause of absence on his part. the school kept
for short time by Daniel Webster, then student
Of law in Mr.. Cores Office; and on this occasion,
Al or 4s years ago, and child of ten, our acquaiu
lance, never interrupted, began. ,, -
When I entered public life, it was with his
enlargement. In 1888 acted, fellow: citizens. as
your organ in the great ovation which you gave
him in this hall. When he came to the Depart
ton that ], living in the utmost privacy beyond
the Alps, was appointed to very high office
abroad; ard in the course of the last year he gave
me the highest proof of his confidence, in cntrust-
ing to me the care of conducting his works through
the press. May venture, sir, to add that in the
last letter but one which had the happiness to
ceive from him, alluding with a kind of sad pre-
sentiment, which could not then fully appreciate,
but which now humans me, to these kindly rela-
tons of half century, he adds: eve now aud
then see stretching across the heavens clear,
blue, cerulean sky, without cloud, mist, or
haze. And such appears to me our acquaintance,
from the time when heard you for week recite
your lessons in the little school house in Short
street, to the date hereof 2lst July, 1852.
Mr.. Chairman do not dwell upon the traits Of
Mr.. Webster's public character, however tempting
the theme. Its bright developments in long life
of service are before the world; they wrought
into the annals of the country. Whoever, in after
times, shall write the history of the United States
for the last forty years. will writeth fc Of Daniel
Webster; and whoever writes the life of Daniel
Webster as it ought to be written, will write the
history of the Union, from the time he took lead
ing part in its concerns Iprefer to allude to those