The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1852-12-18
Tribute to Mr.. webster. memory.

Tribute to Mr.. wsbster's Memory.
In the House Of Representatives on Tuesday, on
the occasion Of paying suitable honors the mem
DRY Of Mr.. Webster
Mr.. BAYLY, Of Virginia, remarked: had been
sir, nearly two years member Of Congress before
! made Mr.. Webster's acquaintance About tina,
time a proceeding was instituted here of deli,
| cate character so far as he concerned, and in
cidentaily concerning an eminent constituent and
frienp oil mine. This circumstance fret brought
me into intercourse with Mr.. Webster. Subse-
qoently transacted good deal Of official bust
ness with him, some of II also of delicate char
actsr. thus had unusual opportunities Of forming
an opinion VI the man. The acquaintance made
with him. under the circumstances TO which have
referred, ripened into friendship IL ia to these
circumstances that ], political opponent, an
indebted Tor the honor, as esteem It, OF having
peen requested 10 say something this occasion.
From my early manhood, OF course, sir, 1 have
been we'll acquainted with Mr.. Webster's public
character, and l had formed roy ideal Of him as u
| man-and what nisconcepton OF it was that
ideal! Rarely seeing him in public places, in ia.
niliar intercourse with his friends, coute z
his grave statue like appea In the Senate and
the iorum, had formed the conception that he
was frigid iron bound man, whom few could up
preach withoGt coDstraint; and l undertake TO
say that until oflate years, In which, through per
| sonal sketches OF him by his friends, the public
has become acquainted with his private character,
| that such was the idea most persons, who knew
him only ms did formed Of him. Yet, sir. what
| msconception! No man could appreciate Mr..
Webster no did not know him privately No
man could appreciate him who did not zee hln in
familiar intercourse with his friends, and especial
ly around HIS own hreside and table. There, sir,
he was conhding, gay, and sometimes downright
boyish. Full OF racy anecdote, he told them in the
most eaptivating manner.
| Who that has ever heard his description of men
aud things can ever forget them! Mr.. w ebster,
| sir. attached peculiar meaning to the word talk
and In his sense OF the term he liked to talk and
who that heard him talk can ever forget that
talk! Sometimes 1t was the most playful wit,
then the Inost pleasing philosophy. Mr.. Webster,
sir, owed his greatness to large extent to his
| tive gifts.
Among his contemporaries there were lawyers
| more learned, yet he was, by common consent,
ASST gned the fret place at the American bar. As
| a statesman there were those more thoroughly
informed than he, yet what statesman ranked
him? Among orators there were those more grace
| iui and impressive, yet what orator was greater
than he? There were scholars more ripe, vet who
wrote better English3 The characteristics Of hi.
mind were massive strength and classic beauty
combined with rare felicity. His favorite studics
| II may judge from bis conversations, were the
history and the Constitution OF his own country and
the history and constitution Of England; and un.
dertake to say that there is not man Twin e
who was more perfectly familiar with both. His
| iavorite amusements too, If may judge in the
| same way, were feld-sports and outdoor exer
else. have frequently heard Mr. Webster cay il
| he had been merchant he would have been an
out door partner. Mr.. Webster was, as all great
men are, eminently magnanimous As proof Of
this, see his whole life and especially that browning
| act of nagnanInity, his letter to Mr.. Dickinson.
Mr.. Webster had no envy or jealousy about him
| as no great man ever had Conscious of his
own powers, he envisd those Of no else. Mr..
| Calhoun and himself entered public life about
| he same time; each Of them strove for the first
honors Of the Republic. They were Statesmen OF
rival schools. They frequently met in the stern
fiict was conflict Of giants Yet how delightful
II was to hear Mr.. Webster speak, MS have heard
him speak. in the most exalted terms of Calhoun;
and how equally dele htiul it to hear Mr. CAL
houn, as have heard him, speak in like terms OF
Webster. On one occasion Mr.. Calhoun, spea king
to me OF the characteristics of Webster as deba-
ter, said that he was remarkable in this, that he
always stated the argument Of bis antagonist
him state the argument of Ills opponent more for
chilly than his opponent had stated 1t himself and
If he could not answer he would never undertake
to weaken 1t by misrepresentingit What COM
rival in constitutional laws have also heard Mr..
Calhoun say that Mr. Webster tried to aim at truth
more than any statesman OF his day.
short time since, Mr.. Speaker, when address
ing the House at the invitation of the delegation
from Kentucky, on the occasion of Mr.. Clay q
death, used this language:
"Sir, ii is but a short time since the American
Congress buried the first one that went to the
grave Of that great trunvirate, (caihoun;l We
The third, thank God still lives, and long may
ho live to cnlighten his countrymen by his wis
dom, and set them the example Of exalted patriot
ISM (Alas! how little did think when uttered
these words, that my wish so soon to be dis
appointed.) Sir, in the lives and characters of
these great inen, there 10 much resembling those
of the great trumvirate Of the British Parliament.
and Pitt to the tomb. Webster survives Clay and
Calhoun. When Fox and Pitt died. they left no
peer behind them. Webster still lives, now that
Calhoun and Clay are dead, the unrivailed states
ms psfhi ,ntr \ la To- Il
Calhoun lived in troubled times. Like Fox and
Pitt, they were each of them the leader Of rival
parties Like Fox and Pitt, they were idolized by
their respective friends. Like Fox and Pitt, thew
died about the same time, and in the public SER
vice; and as has been said Of Fox and Pitt, Clay
and Calhoun died with 'thcir harness upon them.
Like Fox and Pitt
"With more than mortal power endow'd
How high they soar'd above the crowd;
Theirs was no common party race,
Jostng by dark intrigue for place
Like tabled gods their mighty war
Shook realms and nations in its jar.
Beneath each banner proud to stand
Looked up the mobiles. Of the land. ....
Here let their discord NTH them die
Speak not for those q separate DOOR,
Whom fate made brothers in the tomb;
But search the land of living men,
Where will thou find their like againr"
may reproduce on this OCCASION with proprie.
ty, what then said, with the addition Of the
names OF Burke and webster. The parallel that
undertook to run on that occasion, by the aid OF
poet wns not designed to be perfect, yet it might
be strengthened by lines from another poet. For
though Webster's enemies must admit, as Burke'l
satirist did, that ....' .-s '.
"Too fond of The right to pursue the erpedient,"
yet what satirist with the last years of Webster
life before him. will undertake to shock the public
| sentiment Of America by saying, as was unjustly
said of Burke by his satirist-
"Born for the universe, he narrowed his mind,
And to party gave up what was meant for man
kind" . ..
Mr.. Speaker. during the brief period have
| served with you in this House, what sad havoc has
death made among the statesmen Of our Republic
Jackson, Wright, Polk. McDuffie, and Sergeant
| in private life, and Woodbury. from the bench
| have gone to the tomb We have buried in thai
| short time Adams, Calhoun, Taylor, and Clay
and We are now called ON to pay the last tribute
| Of our respect to the memory Of Daniel Webster
Well may ask, in the language of The poem o l.
| ready quotcd Ntst rs
, Where wilt thou find their like AGAIN.
There was little, fear. In tho history of the lat
| ter days of some of those great men 10 whom
have alluded TO inspire the young men of our