Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-11-06

the tone Of voice. the Of the Intellectual king Of
men recall him thus and in the language Of Mr. Justice
Story commemoratng Samuel Dexter, may well "re-
joce that have lived in the age, that have
listened to his eoquence, and been instructed by his
wisdom"
cannot leave the subject Of his eoqucncs. without re-
turning to a thought have advanced already Al that
he has left or the irer portion Of ALL i the rncord 81
spoken words His works, as already collected, extend
many Volumes library Of and eoquence, as
Gibbon has said Of Ciceros but they are volumes of
speeches only mainly and yet who does not rank him
great American author; author as truly expound-
ing, and enthusiastically exempfyng in pure, ge-
nune and harmonious English STYLE the mind, thought
point Of view Of objects and essential nationality OF his
country as any other of our authors professionally de-
nominated. Against the maxim Of Mr. Fox, his speeches
read WELL and yet good speechesgreat speechesn
hedevery For were they so and true
much the eoquence Of alast srikngy always
they contrved to link the immediate topic with other and
broader principles ascending easily to widest generaza
tons, so happy the reconciliation of the qualities
which engage the attention Of hearers yet reward the
perusal Of studentsso critically did they keep the right
side OF the line which parts eloquence from rhetoric and
far do they rise above the penury of debate that
the general reason Of the country has enshrned them at
once, and forever, among classics.
1t is common belief that Mr.. Webster was various
reader and think it is true to greater degree
than has been believed In his profession Of politics.
thing think worthy of attention had escaped him. no.
thing OF the ancient modern Jurisprudence nothing
which Greek Roman European speculation in that
walk had explored or Greek Roman, European
universal history, public biography exemplfed.
shall not forget with what admiration he spake at
an interview to which he admitted me while in the Law
School Cambridge Of the politics and ethics of Ars
ote and of the mighty mind which, he said seemed
to have thought through all the great problems which
form the discipline Of social American history and
American political literature he had by heart; the long
series of influences which trained for representative
and free government that other series of influences which
moulded into united Government the Colonial
the age of controversy before the Revolution every
and every person in that great tragic action every
ton which has successfully engaged our politics, and
every name which has figured in themthe whole stream
of time open clear and present to his eye
Beyond his professou Of peiitias call it, he had
been dgent and choice reader, his extraordinary
style in part reveals and think the love Of reading
would have gone with him to later and ripper age, if to
such age it had been the will Of God to him.
This is no place or time to appreciate this branch of his
acquisitons but there is interest inexpressble in
knowing who any of the chosen from ameng the
great dead in the library of such Others may
rect but should say of that interior and cir
Gle were Cicero, Virgil, Shakespeare, (whom he knew
Familiarity the Constitution, Bacon, Milton, Burke
Johnson-to whom hope it is not pedantc fancifu
to say often thought his nature presented
bance the abundance Of the general propositions
required for explaining difficulty and refuting sophism
copiousy and promptly occurring to himthe kind
ness of heart ana wealth Of sensbity under manner
and gracious yet sovereign
the sufficient yet not predominant imagination stoop-
ing everto truth and giving aiuence vvacy and atrac
ton powerful correct, and weighty style of prose
cannot leave his life and character without selecting
and dwelling amoment two of his traits vir
tues, or feicities, little longer. There is coec-
tive impression made by the whole Of an
life beyond and other than and apart FROM that which the
general bographer would afford the of explain
ing There is influence of great man derived from
things ndescrbabe almost incapable of enumeration,
sngy insufficient account for it but through which
his spirit transpires and his individuality goes forth
the contemporary generation. And thus should say,
grand tendency of his life and character to elevate
the whole tone Of the public mind He did this, indeed
hr r1a Ha hu ha
thought truly and in manly fashion with that public
mind He evinced his love of the people much by
honeyed phrases as by good counses and useful ser
vice--perd pro gratis.
He showed how he appreciated them by submitting
sound arguments to their understandings and right
tves their free will He before them less with
fattery than with instructions less with vocabulary
arded with the words humanity and philanthropy and
progress and brotherhood, than with such scheme Of
politics. an educational social and governmental system
which would have made them prosperous happy and
What the Greek historian said of Percles we all feel
might be said Of hms he did not much follow as lead
the people, because he framed his words to please
Them like who is gaining power by unworthy means
but able and dared the strength of his high charac
ter to brave their anger by contradctng their will
should indicate it another influence of his e acts
and opinions that in extraordinary degree uni
tormly and literally conservative. He with vision
as OF prophet that if system of united Government
can be maintained till nationality shall be generated
due intensity and due comprehension glory indeed mil
lennal progress without end-a triumph of humanity
hitherto onrs, and therefore he addresse,
himself to maintain that united Government.
Standing the rock of Plymouth he bid distant gene
rations hail. and them rising. g demanding life0im
patient from the skies from what then fresh
bounded magnificent wildernesses from the shore
the great tranquil sea- not yet become observe
to what he welcomes Them by what he would bless them
1t is good government" 1t is to treasures of sci
ence and delights Of learning" 1t is to the sweets
domestic life-he Unreasonable good of rational exist
ence-the immortal hopes Of Christsnity-the light Of
everlasting truth"
1t will be happy if the wisdom and temper of his ad
minstration Of foreign affairs shall preside in the
time which is at hand Sobered instructed by the exam
Piles and warnings Of all the past he yet gathered from
the study and comparison of all the eras that there
silent progress of the without pause without haste
without return to which the counsengs of history are tc
be accommodated by q wise philosophy More than 0,
much that Of any of public characters his
manshp which recognised Europe an old world
yet gasped the capital idea of the American position
and deduced from it the whole fashion and color OF its no
Icy which dscerned that to play high part in hu
affairs but dscerned also what part is peculiar dis
tant distinct and grand hemisphere an influence
not a contact-the stage-the drama-tbe catastrophe
ak but the audience all own and if ever he felt him
self at loss he consulted reverenty the genius Of Wash
ngton.
many things because dare not trust myself speak
them shall not be misunderstood or give offence If
hope that other trait in his public character one
doctrine rather of his political creed may be remembered
and be appreciated 1t is Of the two fundamental
preccpts in which Plato expounded by the great
of Latin eloquence and reason and MORALS compre-
bends the duty Of those who share in the conduct of
State" at gugcunque dgun, TOTUh corpus repu6icG
current medium parton akquam aenfv, reiquas degant,"