The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1853-01-18
iel Webster became an orator-,he first of or

ici w eoster became an orator-tne nrst OF or
ators.
Whatever else concerning him has been con-
troverted by any body, tho fifty thousand law
yers of the United States interested to deny
his pretentions, conceded to him an unapproach-
able supremacy at the bar. How did he win
that high place. While others studied labori-
ously, he meditated intensely. Where others
| appealed to- the prejudices and passions of
courts and juries. he addros ssed only their un-
derstandngs. Where others appealed to the
prejudiccs and passions of courts and uries, he
addressed only their understandings. Where
others lost themselves among the streams, he
ascendcd to the fountain. While they sought
the rules of law among conflicting precedents,
he found them in the eternal principles Of rea-
son and justice. But it is conceding too much
to the legal profession to call Daniel Webster
a lawyer. Lawyers speak for clients and their
interests-he seemed always to bo speaking
for his country and for truth. So he rose i'm
percepiibly above his profession; and while yet
in the Forum he stood before tho world Pub
licist. In this faculty no resembed, while he
surpassed Erakine, who taught the courts at
Westminster the law of moral responsibility:
and he approached Hamilton. who educated
the courts at Washington in the Constitution
Of their country and tho philosophy ofgovern-
ment.
An undis,inguishable line divides tho high
province of the Forum from the Senate to
which his philosophy and eloquence were per-
fectly adapted. Here in times of stormy agi-
tation and bewildering excitement, when as yet
the union of these states was uncemented and
consolidated, and its dissolution seemed to
hang, if not on the immediate result Of tho do
bate, at least upon the popular passion than
that result must generate. Daniel Webster
put forth his miehtiest efforts, confessedy the
greatest over put forth here or on this conti-
nenf. These efforts produced marked effects
on the Senate-they sooihed the public mind,
and became enduring lessons ofinstructions to
our countrymen on science of constitutional
law, and the relative powers and responsible
ties of the Government and tho rights and du-
ties of tho States and of citizens.
Tried by ancient definitions, Daniel Webster
was not an orator. He studied no art, and
practiced no action. Nor did he form himself
by any admitted model lie had neither tho
directness and vehcmence of Demosthenes,
nor the fullness and flow of Cicero, or the in
tensencss of Milton, nor tho magnihcence of
Burke. 1t was happy for him that he had no..
Tho temper and tastes of his age and country
and country required eloquence different from
all these, and they found it in the pure logic
and the vigorous yet massive rhetoric which
constituted the style of Daniel Webster.
Daniel Webster, although a statesman, did
not aim to be either popular or a pariamen.
tary leader. He left common affairs and CUES
tions to others, and reserved himself for those
great and unfrequent occasions which seemed
to involve the prosperity or the continuance of
the Republic. On these occasions he rose a.
bove partizan influences and alliances, and
gave his counses earnestly and with impas- |
stoned solemnty, and always with an unatfec- |
ted reliance upon the intelligence and virtues
Z, f his covntrymen
The first Revolutionary assembly that con-
vened in Boston promulgated the principle of
the Revolution of 16SS--"Resistanc 10 unjust |
la as in obedience 10 God and it became the !
watch word throughout the Colonies. Under |
that motto tho colonies dismemberod the Brit |
ish Empire, and erected the American Repub- |
ic. At an early day. it seemed TO Daniel Web
stcr that the habitual cherishng of that princ- |
pie, after its great work had been consumated, |
threatened to subvert in its turn the free and |
benefcient Constitution which afforded the |
highest attainable security against the passage |
of unjust laws. He addressed himself therefore |
assideously and almost alone to what seemed |
tn him calling the American people back from |
Revolutionary theories to the formation of
peace, order, and submission to authority. He |
incucated tho duty of submission by States |
and citizens to all laws passed within the
province on CONSTITUTIONAL authority, anu OF aD- /
solutc reliance Of Constitutional remedies for |
the correction Of all errors and the redress pf
all injustice. This was the political gospel of
Daniel Webster. He preached it in SO son
and out of season, boldly, constantly, with the
zeal of an apostle, and with the devotion, ifI
there were noed, of a martyr. 1t was full of
saving influences whilo he lived, and those in |
fucnces vii. last so long as tho Constitution
and the Union endure.
do not dwell on Daniel Websters exercise
of administrative functions 1t was marked by |
the same ability that distinguished oil his a
chievemcnts in other fields Of duty. 1t was at
the same time eminently conservative Off peace, |
and OF the great principles of Constitutional
liberty, on which the Republican institutions |
of his country wero founded But while these |
services benefited his country, |
and increased his fame, We all felt nevertheless,
that his proper and higher place was hero, |
where there was field and scope for his philos
ophy and his eoquencc-here among the c.
quail Representatives ofihe constituent States, |
which were at once to be held together, and to
move on i'm the establishment Of continental
power controlling all the American States and
balancing those of tho eastern world and we
could not but exclaim in tho words of the Ro-
man orator, when he saw him leave the Legis- |
latvc Councils TO enter on the Office of Admin |
istration:-"Quontis in augustits, resta gloria |
sc dietdri voiis"