The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-11-17


telf embent fer his profound with that
other branch Of jufsprudence enti sns
y American which affects the rights and obligations,
legal and political growing out OF the ions co.,
tuucton OF our confederaoy, and its various members
ana their relations and depsndepciss He dtios uished
himself while YET young by very able Arguments 20 the
respective powers of the general and State
and foon secured reputation constitutional LAWYER
Of which II the highest praise to that i Is not ns
tribunal adornsd by whom and In whose presence that
reputation was deserved and or his peculiar traits
lawyer VIII not here speak in detail They are we'll
understood by all his legal brethren But II Is gratifying
to state that to the very ce of his life he priced his
puation as lawyer lovet and hopored all who proved
worthy the distinctions of his profession and evinced
urchanapg belief in what he said with so much beauty
and force when the Bar OF Massachusetts, convened to
pay attribute OF respect to the memory OF Judge Story
Justice FIR k the great interest OF man on earth 1t Is
the lgament which holds civilized beings and civilized
nations together Wherever her temple stand. and so
long as 1t daily honored there Ia foundation for social
security general happiness and the improvement and
progress Of our race And whoever labors this edhcs
dations strengthens its pillars. adorns Its entabls
lures or contributes 90 raise its august dome still
fame, and character, with that which i, and must
be as durable as the frame OF human society,"
i will always be delightful reminscsnss Of my life
Mr. Webster In the last to which, counsel, he
brought the influences mot only Of his great name but OF
seemed neither time nsr debility Of body could impair
while his intellect remained alive. 1t was memorable
association Youth as felt myself beside the veteran
the aged but sturdy oak which sought to maintain
preserved its pristine vgor, and that could
. sublime illustration Of the consoling truth that tho
divine intelligence which the Almighty kndlcs in
may continue to burn with the brancy Of its first lu
minaton, when the temple, made radiant BY its holy
flame has begun to perish He required to perform
labor from which many younger man wsuld have
shrunk and at times what physical Of the man
freted under its TOLL but the mind reproaches the ma
chine it governed and sesdfastly and steadily without
murmur complaint pursued its investig never
fn be MN IF fv,t~n .G~A
until it capable Of demonstration During all the
time allotted to this preraration he performed oil his
duties In the State Department with his usual attention
and industry In his journey through the devious pss
ssgss Of complicated history it sufficient pleasure
to me il could lend the gimner of my feeble capacity
to prevent his stumbling obstacles which might
arrest his attention he contemplated the higher
regions Of the investigation was delighted with his
patience his willingness TO be informed the anxiety he
evincd to be conducted to the real merits Of the conro
yersy cheerfuy accepting the services Of any guide il
he could At lat be led fren the darkness into that
ting in him as intellectual sun, he could diffuse
ever the cause and the tribunal that the fertizing
justice IN full maturity You can excuse the pride
with which refer to the kind attention he paid to my
poor effort in the struggle which it remained for him to
emotion with which large and intelligent auditory
listened to the clear learned, logical and conclusive
demonstration by which he to the point he set
out to reach taking captive with him the judgment OF
s his hesrers man OF more years than prescribed
the limit Of human existcnce-a lawyer at period Of
chilled the interest in materially lessened care
to Its decision on evertaken by indifference the ap
tory and yet old as he was as one might wen
conclude ne suggested to all Of us how gigantic how
irresistible must have been his efforts in years
gone by, when thus In his age he ou.stripped
all competitors in tho race for fame.
But higher nebler result, attended his last profess
nonal triumph He made us all feel what dignity and
honor the profession could derive from lofty
display of courtesy and consideration By its greatest
member, where smaer intellect might have exhibited
01lv a linz toft tAfo
ponent in debate, SO often secured by means which in
uriousy affect the profession itself He spoke and acted
as to present in the most interesting the character
of true educated and refined lawyer, from whose de
mel nor the principle and breeding Of the gentleman
should never be absent He closed his professional
career in State which deserves all honor for its
ostentatiou devotion to law and order and the eomp
nent Vbich he paid to its Jurisprudence and judiciary
boasfu Of what It has done the repubc
State, like an individual. too often exhibits, may
last forensic effort Of the greatest American
lawyer was made in her presence and on her soil
his actions in the great theatre where he met the con
slant gaze Of his countrymen-where he very often com
handed the attention Of the whole civilized world
where he performed for he benefit Of mankind those pa
triotic deeds gratitude for which shall abide for
in the heart OF this nation But before passing
to that most important part Of bis career ex
hiot BIN to you in other and interesting relations
Certainly not in this country age-I think in 10
country or erahn intellect quite equal that Of
dome Of thoughthse expansive brow, and the search
ing expression Of his profound eye indicated that there
distance to which his intelligence might not reach
mo combination. process or result Of thought too large
for the grasp Of his conception. Unlike most men who
enjoy at distance from close and familiar examination
reputation for more greatness than they possess Web
tter actually enlarged as approached him and in the
quiet Of parlor Impressed you more possible then
the ant efforts before the public Lis mini
was Iro6eious in compass and power. Ideas IA niar
amongst men when submitted to bis reflection seemed
to enlarge and after being forged and ia hioned in
ftfa I~stn f,r1
rather 10 beftov strength language than to
force from it. Though his perceptions rapid, it
hs naoit 10 subject to bis reason and Judgment even
what seemed tef evident and to utc no expression 10
deem rome ready fer until 1t fitted precisely the
thought he meant to convey In this he was cautious
and distruHing man; he formed no opinion except
nature copsideratjon-he troke from preparation-hs
avoided the bcctation of parey extemporaneous epsech
when the importance Of occasion required tbs. speech
should be judcious and valuable he Athenan in the
elaboration OF his great public sdarcseshe trusted his
Language to no hurried or loose report where it posi-
vision. Approaching subject, be not satisfied with
comprshsve glance az lis general character of bear
ing put car end closely surveyed all it's paris, cons
dered them in their various relations and gathercg
liable judgment from tho whole examination la it be-
fore you In words as poEderous they were clear He
utttr mystical sentence. There inlper-
lection in tbs thouQhtn, ambiguity in the expression
He made all men understand him by thoroughly uaier-
stsndpg himself lie knew that if we 10 no. express our
selves clearly its because have nothing clear
lie made thoughts simple and not az aid 10 aim
PIE words in utterirg them And yet when the dignity
u
corresponding dignity OF language the
gahdtt words bore hs ideas along and his ssntsnces
moved frTsrd with majestic march He a scholar.
He had ,torsd bis mind with Of classic lore aud
received lie ttye the Impress Of that which oelighed
him in the great authors Who that heard it will
TO get the last and elegant address which he delivered
before The American Historical Society In this city Oar
ripeet scholars distiI gusbod in every intellectual
around the old man, and watched,
with an interest that increased AZ every step he took his
journey over the literary world OF antiquity The great
lawyer the great statesman the patriarch of thresscoro
ana ten was gathering flowers and forming gsrlsnds In
the classic eds where he had often rcyeed in hi.
youth. He Fpoke u the old authors from familiar
with them, led them before intro.
duced them as his dear friends aud described their
qualities at once with The familiarity of friend
ship and the discrimination az Censor The
great httorisBs lived before us We grew ntiaats with
Tacitus, Levy. saIust and Ihucydd We spent de
ghtf1l hour In society which Of had never
before been admitted and from which Others wise
y sbseuted themselves too long While Webster enrich
cd his mind with acquisitions from the past, he aso
profted BY modern literature He had the
highest admiration OF Shskspsa,e, whose works he not
mere, read but studied To this may often attribute
his happy selection Of words. Perhaps it explains how
cbained the purity and power Of dcion for which