Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-12-25


enemy attempts to trace his political associations
So it will be in the future Of this republic The batt
OF New Orleans will disclose Jackson the hero and TIL
patriot saving his country ffom her enemies The de
bates Of the Senate Chamber will exhibit Clay Calhoun
and Webster illustrating and defending the great prnc
pies Of our Government by their lofty patriotism and eo
quence. On neither picturewin be observed whateve
we OF the present time may Judge to have savored of the
mere politician and the partisan. We, from our neal
proximity may see, or think We see the shapen rocks
and the unseemly Which disiigure the sides
these mighty Alpine peaks future ages will only deser,
their ever-gildcd SUBMITS.
Who, then, shall say thAt Fame
| Is but an empty name @8
when but for these the mighty dead,
All ages past, blank hid been
i Sunk in Obivion's murBy bed
j desert waste, tracklss sea
i These are the SUBMITS een from far;
i The lofty marks Of what hath been
i The guides that point to- Immortality"
Sir Isha not attempt here to even briefly review the
public life deneate the character of Daniel Web
ster. That public life, extending through more than
forty years OF the growth and progress Of country
doubtless be sketched by those Of his compeers who
have shared with him his public service That charac-
ter too, will best be drawn by those intimate nds who
| knew him best, and who enjoyed the most favorable
opportunities for observing the operations of his giant
mind.
In looking at what he has achieved not only in the
fields of legislation but in those of literature and urs-
prudence, may say he has left Of his indus
try and genius of which his countmen may well be proud
HIS speeches in the Senate and before the assemblies of
the people, and his arguments before highest courts
taken together form the most valuable contribution to
American literature language and oratory whieh it has
been the good fortune of any individual have yet made
Were to attempt it, should be unable to determine on
which OF the varied scenes of his abs his genius and
stood can here only speak his abors
as whole. They the result OF great effortgrand
In their conception effective in their execution and per-
manent in their influences
As son of his native New England, am proud to re-
Ter back to the plain and unosenltious manners, the
rigid discipline, and the early and thorough mental train
ing to be found among the yeomanr of that part of our
country as contributing primarily to the eminent success
of Mr. Webster in the business of his life Born reared
and educated among the granite hills If New Hampshire
although his attachments to the place of his birth were
strong to the last yet upon the broad theatre upon which
he was called to act his part public man. his sympa-
thies and his patriotism bounded only by the con-
fines Of the whole republic
Although, in common with many of us differed in
opinion from the late Secretary upon grave political
questions, yet, with the great mass of our fellow citizens
acknowledge his patriotism, and the force and ability
with which he sustained his opinions! However we
may view those opinions, thing will be conceded by
all his feelings thoroughly American and his aim
the good of his country In his whole public e and by
his greatest efforts as orator, he has left deeply i'm
pressed on the American mind great truth never to
be forgotten-the preservation Of american liberty depends
upon the support Of the Constitution and hc union Of the
States To have thus linked his name indssoluby with
the perpetuty of institutions enough OF glory for
any citizen of the republic.
Mr. CHANDLER, of Pennsylvania said: Mr. Speaker,
the selection of the present time make special and off,
cia reference to the death of Mr. Webster may be re-
garded fortunate and judicous An earlier
would have exposed euloges those exaggeratons
which, while they do justice in to the feel
ngs whence they spring proofs Of sound Judgment
in the uterer nor Of honor to their amented OBJ
ect The great departed little TO the record Of their
worth which is made in the midst of sudden emotions
when the freshness of personal intercourse mnges with
recolectons of public virtues and the object observed
through the tears Of sorrow bears with il the prs
matte hues which disort its fair proportions and hide
that simplicity which is the characteristic of true great
ness. And equally just is it to the dead whom we would
honor, and to feelings which would promote that
honor that have postponed the season to period
when time would have mtgated just regret rs to
direct our euloges only to those lofty points of Mr. Web
sters character which strike but from afar; which owe
their distinction less to their antes with public sympa-
thy than to their elevation above ordinary and or
binary computation.
That distance too, in Government like ours is dan
gerous to AUST homage to the distinguished dead how
ever willing may be the survivor for smaller objects in
ervene and by proximity hide the proportions which we
survey from afar, and diminish that Just appreciation
which is necessary to the honorable praise that per-
petuate public fame.
Mr. Webster a distinguished statesman, tried sir
in nearly all the various positions which in our Govern
ment the civilian is called TO FILL and in all these
places, the powers Of gifted mind, strengthened and
improved by practical education were the great
Of their devotion With all Mr. Websters professional
greatness, with all his unrivaled powers in the Senate
with his great distinction dpomatis he fond Of
credit as scholar; and his attachments if not Of the
KIND which gives eminence TO merely literary men, were
such gave richness and terseness to his own compost
uon and yigor and attraction to his conversation His
mind was moulded to the strong conception Of the epic
poet rather than the gentle phrase of the ddacc and
ms preference for natural scenery seemed to partake
his literary tastet was for the strong, the elevated the
grand His childhood and youth oyed in the rough sides
Of the mountains Of New Hampshire and his age found
delightful repose the wild shores Of Massachusetts,
Day lie was lover of nature in her hoyday suit
OF held and flower but in those wild exhibitions VI broken
coast ana isolated hills that stir the mind into
activity and provoke it into emulation Of the grandeur
with which il is surrounded Yet sir Mr. Webster had
with him much of the gentleness which gives beauty to
social life, and dignity and attraction to the domestic
scene Just as the rugged coast is often placid the
genuest ake and the summit Of the toughest hill is fire.
quenty bathed in the soes sunlight and clad IN flowers
Of the most delicate hues Mr. Webster's person was
strongly indicative Of the character Of his mind: not
formed Tor the lighter grace but graceful in the nobes
uses OF manhood remarkable in the stateliness Of its
movements ana dgnihed IN the magnifcence Of its re-
pose Mr. Webster could scarcely pass unnotced even
where unknown. There was that in his men which at
racted attention. and awakened interests and his head
whether his countenance lighted by smile such
only ne could give, or fixed by contemplation such
only he could indulge) seemed an
i "Arched and ponderous roof
BY its own weight made steadfast ana immovable
Looking tranquility
With all Mr. Websters lofty gifts and attanments h
was ambitious. Toing upwards from the base Of the DO
tical ladder 1t is not to be denied that he desired
his foot upon the upmost round This could not hay,
been thirst for power nothing Of desire for the exer
OF absolute authority could have been in that aspira
ton Tor the only absolute power left III any be left b.
the Constitution in the Executive Of this nation i
MERCY. IN Mr.: Webster i was the distinction
lrrla n n Qno Tanf oNwo1 A.