Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1853-06-08


| well remember bearing my father tell the
following anecdote. illustrative Of the early
genius Of that great man whose loss mighty
nation mourns:
Ebenezer Webster, the father Of Daniel,
was farmer. The vegetables in bic garden
bad suffered considerably from the depreda-
tons Of woodchuck. whose hole and habita-
tion was near the premises. Daniel, some
ten or twelve years old. ard bis older brother
Ezekiel, had set a trap and finally succeeded
in capturing the trcspasser Ezekiel proposed
to kill the animal and end at once all further
trouble from him; but Daniel looked with
compassion upon bis meek, dumb captive, and
offered to let him again go free. The boys
could not agree. and each appealed to their
father to decide the case Well, my boys"
said the old gentleuap. Y WI be theJudge
There is the prisoner (pointing to the wood
chuck) and you shall DO the counsel and
plead the case for and against bis life and
liberty
Ezekiel opened the case with strong ar
gument, urging the mischieyous nature of the
criminal. the great harm be had already done,
said that much time and labor had been
spent in his capture, and now if he was suf-
fered to live and go again at large, be would
renew his dcpredations, and be cunning
enough not to suffer himself to be caught
again, and that he ought now to be put to
death; that bis skin was Of some value and
that to make the most Of him they could, it
would not repay half the damage be had al
ready done. His argument was ready, prac-
teal, to the point, and of much greater length
than our limits will allow US to occupy in re-
latiug the story.
The father looked with pride upon his son,
who became distinguished jurist in his man
hood. Now, Daniel it is your turn; I'll
bear what you have to say"
Twas his first case. Daniel saw that the
plea of bis brother had sensibly affected his
father, the Judge, and as his large, brilliant
black eyes looked upon tie soft, timid ex
preston Of the animal, and as be saw it
tremblc with fear in its narrow prison house,
bis heart swelled with pity, and be appealed
with eloquent words that the captive might
again 60 free God. be said, lad made the
woodchuck; he made him 20 live, to enjoy
the bright sunlight, the pure air, the free
fields ard woods. God had not made him,
or anything in vain the woodchuck had as
much right to live as any other living thing;
be was not destructive animal. as the wolf
and the fox were; he simply ute a few COM
mon vegetables. of which they had plenty
and could well spare part; be destroyed
nothing except the little food he needed to
sustain his humble life; aud the little food
was as sweet to him, and as necessary to bis
existence, as was to them the food upon his
mothers table. God furnished their own
food; he gave them all they possessed; and
would they not spare little for the dumb
creature, who really had as much right to his
small share of Gods bounty, as they them
selves had to their portion? yea, more. the
animal had never violated the laws of his ma
ture or the laws of God, as man often did !;
but strictly followed the simple, harmless in
stincts he had received from the hand os the
Creator of all things. Created by Gods
hand. he had right. right from God, to
life, to food, to liberty and they had no right
to deprive him Of either He alluded to the
mute but earnest pleadings of the animal for
that life, as sweet, as dear to him, as their
own was to them, and the just Judgment they
might expect if in selfish cruelty and cold
heartlessness they took the life they could
not restore again, the life that God alone had
given.
During this appeal the tears had started
to the old mans eyes, and were fast running
down his SUM- burnt cheeks; every feeling Of
fathers heart was stirred within him be
saw the future greatness Of bis son before bis
eyes; he felt that God had blessed him in bis
children beyond the lot of common men; his
pity and sympathy wero awakened by the
eloquent words of compassion, and the strong
appeal for mercy; and forgetting the Judge
in the man and the father, be sprang from
his chair. (whie Daniel was in the midst Of
his argument. without thinking he had al
ready won his case and turning to bis older
son, dashing the tears from bis eyes, exclaim-
ed. "ZEKE. ZEKE you LET THAT wooDcnucK
GO ~ Boston Traveller
RJ~R Remember. that every loathsome in
mate of Of Penitentiaries and State Prisons,
was once gentle, inoffensive and prattling
child and every criminal who has expiated
his crimes upon the gallows, was once pressed