The primitive Republican. (Columbus, Miss.) 18??-1852, 1852-11-25
NEW SERIES, VOL. 8 NO. 80.
Daniel Webster.

Daniel Webster was eideal of an Amer
lean citizen. The simple grandeur of his
style and composition, the strong basis Of
good sense, the frmness of purpose, the d.
rectness of expression, the unanswerable log
ic, and above all, the clear, emphatic state
ment Of his Thoughts are all characteristic
of the American mind in its highest deEel-
opment. The charmof hisintellectualQ5W-
er, when genially exeted, was an attractive
as Hamilton's, while his practical wisdom
resembled that Of franklin. I recall, with
pleasure, a conversation once held with him
with regard to that lllustrious sage. No in
dividual throughoS, our wide domain cherish
q a deeper reveres for the talents and ser
toes of this neon 4rable man than did Mr..
We. "a dis, lSsion which arose am
.o' rs, at asocial board, Mr.. Web
ste n, Union concerning the po-
litical anNl l-sCal integrity Of Franklin, a sub
ject which had been agitated with some as
.perity. Gentlemen" answered Mr.. Web
ster, the topic is too broad for present dis
cussiOn. Among all our political men,
Franklin stands prominent for astuteness,
sagacity and integrity Amidst all his ne
gotiations through the depository of innumer-
able State transactions, he was never known
to betray the slightest secret, or to utter a
hint from which sinister revelation might
occur. As to his fiscal integrity, who knew
him better than Washington? and had the
slightest blemish rested upon that portion Of
his character, would that exalted man have
nominated him as the FIRST PRESIDENT OF
THIS UNION, and at the time when he him
self was waited upon by authorised delegates
to urge him to accept that vast trust? !
want no other demonstration of the incorrupt-
ible principles Of Franklin than that nOnsii-
nation By Washington" The universally
of Mr.. Webster's knowledge was remarkable.
He riValled Burke in the instructiveness of
his conversation. Who that has ever en-
IjOyed the luxury of listening to his anecdo-
teal incidents, touching the career of our
illustrious patriots of Revolutionary renown
John and Samuel Adams, Hancock, Sec
rotary Thompson, Patrick Henry, Madison,
and others-can ever forget the vivid por-
traits he presented of those chilvalric person
ages? Upon agriculture he would talk By
the hour, with a cognizance of details truly
surprising in man who performed such in
cessant duties to the State. Hear him OF
trees and their properties, and you would in
fer he had long lived an agriculturist. Hi
, reading in natural history was very extensive
ranging from Theophrastus on stones to Au
dubon on birds. He gave great credit t
Jefferson for his researches in this depart
: ment Of science, made by so young man a
SO immature period Of physical knOWledg
f in our country. Professionally, I may be a
f lowed to say that Mr.. Webster offered an ez
. traordinary instance of the influence of a
s enlarged and active mind upon NATURAL
f fine physical organization. His brain ma
d fbe SAID TO have confined his body. The col
,e slant drafts upon his nervous powers, his il
= cessant exercise of the thinking facuis,
T. made gradual but visible threads upon b
& vital powers. And yet how serenely triur
plant that mind at the close. How the i
tellect retained self possession and clearne
=, to the last. Never did a great man die wi
more unaffected courage, grateful submissio
and true reliance in God. Carlyle said
OF him that he was the only man he had ev
Id seen who realised his idea Of statesma
e, That massive, broad and noble figure stan
OF out indeed on the tablet Of memory, as dc
ne his name on the roll of his country's beI
e. factors. There wasa proportion no less gral
~ and harmonious in his career and genius.
an The uniform self respect which marked
w intercourse with others the utter freedC
of his most private discourse from eve
a thing exceptionable; the sustained dign
ST. of his bearing; his love of nature, of
en- old English bards-these and kindred ira
'm conform to the enlarged grasp Of his mil
mt and the majestic simplicity Of his eloqueF
ed His revised and collected discourses are
most valuable literary bequest yet M
M the Republic. His fame is the most
AN jewel in her casket, save that of Was
as and his example should be a new
ne to every citizen who glories in
re American.-Dr John W. Fran