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

The Journal of yesterday having been read
A message received from the Senate by the hands
of AsBURY DIcKINs, Esq., its Secretary, communicating
to the House its proceedings the death of the late
Secretary of State, the Hon. DANIEL WEBSTER
These proceedings having been read
Mr.. DAVIS, of Massachusetts,, and addressed the
House follows:
Mr.. Speaker, | rise for the purpose of proposing
action of this House in response to that which,
learn has taken place in the Senate in reference
the death of Mr.. WEBSTER; and | have little 20 add
the proposition itself beyond brief expression of
and of atfectionate recollection At this seat
Of government where thirty years of Mr. Webster life
were penin this Capitol still populous with the echoes
OF his voiceto this House, of which there is not an in
dvidual member but something of his nteec
tual wealth, political faith, to the fountain Of that
mighty intellect would be useless and worse to pass
in review the various acts of spoken and written hough
by which he impressed himself nefaceably upon his
time. Master of the great original ideas of which our
social institutions but the material expression
master OF style which clothed each glorious thought in
garb of appropriate beauty possessed of conauerinc
nature that " like the west wind brought the sunshine
with it, and gave US, wherever he was, the sense of
security and power he has his appropriate race
and has left to feel that day Of life will henceforth
be wintry that that light has been withdrawn
have no intention Of undertaking here to measure his
abors interpret his ideas. But feel tempted to say
that his great field of acton-the greatest which any
statesman can havewas in undertaking TO apply general
principles to artificial and complicated system; to re-
conce liberty with law; to work out the advance of
liberty and civilization through and under the rules of
law and government TO solve that greatest problem of
human government how much of the ideal NAV safely be
let into the practical.
He sought these objects, and he sought the political
power which would enable him carry these objects
and he threw into the struggle the great passions of great
naturethe guod r III pade Uul of the elder Brutus He
sought and not unsuccessuy to throw around the cold
impersona idea of constitution the halo of love and
which in the old world gathers round the dy
nases of thousand years. for in the attachment thus
created he thought he the Of safety and per-
nd iroad
forecast gave him notice of national dangers which all
did not as the wires of the electric telegraph convey
news OF startling import unknown to the slumberng vii
lagos through which they pass Whether his fears were
well founded the future, the best guardian of his
fame, will show but whether well or i'll founded matters
nothing to him. He has passed through that last and
verest trial. which he has himself in anticipation described
in words never TO be forgotten One may live (sad he
as conqueror, hero, magistrate, but he must die
as man. The bed Of death brings every human being
TO his pure individuality; the intense contemplation OF
the deepest and most solemn of all relationship relation
between the creature and his Creator Here that
fame and renown cannot assist us that all external
things must fail to aid u.s. that friends, affection
and human love- and deyotedness cannot u.s. This
relation the true foundation of all duty relation per-
ceyed and felt by conscience and confirmed by revelation
ourilustrous friend deceased always acknowledged
lie reverenced the scriptures Of truth honored the pure
morality which they teach and chung the hopes Of
future life which they impart" Mr. Webster died in ac-
cordance with the prevailing sentiment Of his fe in the
spirit of prayer to God, and of love to man Well might
those who watched his dying bed say in the words which
the greatest English poet applies to legendary hero who
also had been the stay Of bis country in peril
/ Nothing is here for tears, nothing to wall
i Or knock the breast; weakness contempt
i Dispraiso or blame nothing but well or fair
Il And what may comfort US in a death noble"
Mr.. Speaker | move the following resolves:
Resod That this House with the Senate its
expression of geor the death Of DASIE WEBSTER
Tor his memory and Of estimation Of the services which he
rendered to his country.
Resored That the members Of this House will Grape
( on the left arm for the space Of thirty days
Reotre That the Speaker be requested make these
solves known to the surviving relatives Of the deceased
Resotred That this House do now adjourn
Brief addresses followed from Mr.. APPLETON, Of
Maine Mr. PRESTON, Of Kentucky; Mr.. SEYMOUR,
OF n. l.; Mr. CHANDLER, Of Pa. Mr. BAYLY of Va;
Mr.. STANLY, Of n. c.; and Mr. TAYLOR, Of Ohio
after which the resolutions unanimously adopted
and the House adjourned.