Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1853-08-06
public and private life. of the grea, states.

Passing Owe many incidents, Mr.. Choate
proceeded 10 speak of his emnence as law
yer and statesmen. He was the greatest OF
American lawyers and the greatest Of Ameri-
can statesmen. Both he kept distinct; the
lawyer did not tinge the statesman. nor the
statesman the lawyer. He regarded authority
in law as much as if he had studied nothing
else. This double power was most rematka.
bic. No such characteristic has appeared in
any of The graat men Of England-Sheridar,
Mansfield, Peel. In America there has been
no parallel, though great names crowd upon US
here.
In describing his legal career, Mr.. Choa,e
spoke with great force and palhos, the audi
ence responding by unmistakable signs. as he
alluded to the last effort at Trenton in the
Goodyear Patent case, TO the robbery case in
Essex country, Mass, to The murder case at
Salem, exceeding In variety and acumen, the
speech against Hayne, and above all to the
Dartmouth College case in the Supreme Court
at Washington. How much he contributed to
the favorable result of that trial The speaker
would not say-he remembered well, being in
College then, the letter giving the College the
fire., announcement Of the decision. and the
light account ofihe peroraion of Mr., Web
ter's plan. He supposed that peroraon was
ost, but Professor Goodrich of Yale College,
who went TO Washington to hear Mr.. Webster.
N that occasion had recently favored him with
letter in which he had restored the very
xords.
Before reading the letter, Mr.. Choate des-
ribbed he scene-the great Court, Marshall
story, Washington and the others; the age of
Webster, thirty four, the associate aud the op
POSING counsel-also The character of Mr.
Webster's argument as a specimen of pure r, a
,oning, and yet clear, orderly and simple,
hat Judge Story, on being asked why he took
10 notes in an argument four hours long. repl
d he needed none; it was argument too un
mixed with any appeals to the feelings of the
Court.
After this desert pion. Mr.. Choae read in
ubdue,l tones the exit act from the letter giving
he peroralion. 4 do not report you the exact
words, but the substance.) This case is NOT mn
ase, not the case of Dartmouth College only.
butthat of every eleemosynary institution in the
'and-nay more ii is the case OF every man.
Shall our Legislatures take away our private
property with mpunity? | know it is one OF
The lesser rights,a small College, bu, there arc
hose " no love it, l give not the few broken
words, in hich we've heard. "Father-Moth-
er--earl a'tachments-loved place" but the Y
were wholly unprecedented, spontaneous
Judge Marshall was melted, Judge Washing
on leaned over in uncon seriousness; the whole
Court was moved. Could a painter have
aught this picture a, the moment, it would
nave been unrivaled. Webster had now re
,ained his composure, and proceeded to his
conclusion as gwen IN the report of the case
Et tn, ma. fill, Brutc!"
Mr.. Choae presented this passage in the life
{ the great statesman and advocate with mas
rr's hand, and lam sure If the scene at Wash
ngton was worthy the pencil, this audienc,
eholding the suspended portrait and hanging
n the lips of the eulogist was also worthy
Old men. alumni Of the college. wept at tn,
ivd recole ction of bygone times.
Webster as statesman, and the treaties formed
nder his supervision. The difficulties of tn,
featy of lS42," said Mr.. c.. Il know for wa,
hen in the Senate, and | was the first to carry
him the news of its adoption in that body
lis face glowed almost like the face of the
aartyr Stephen-it was in his estimation, the
reatest moment of his life.
Mr. Choate then descanteJ on the sour
es oil Mr.. Wcbstcrs exaItation that in addition
native powers, he owed much to art and un.
ring industry and the careful study OF the best
uthors. Add to his power. his Aiming ma
IRE. The affections of childhood he pres rived
old age, the early pety TO his parents drew
tier it the affection appropriate to all the other
Citations of social life. All loved him " he
lade his acquaintance.
The last topic Of the orator was the moral
ty of Mr.. Webster's political life. This was
L Il A