The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1853-06-22
Anecdote of Daniel Webster.

Anecdote of Daniel Webster.
l well remember hearing my father tell
the following anecdote, illustrative Of the
early genius of that great man whose loss
a mighty nation mourns: sos
Ebenezer Webster, the father Of Daniel,
was a farmer. The vegetables in his gar.
den had suffered considerably from the
depredations of woodchuck, whose hole
and habitation was near the premises.
Daniel, some ten or twelve years old, and
his brother Ezekiel. had set trap, and
finally succeeded in capturing the tres
passer. Ezekiel proposed to kill the ami
NAL, and end at once all further trouble
from him; but Daniel looked with compass.
sion upon his 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 gentleman. 81
will be the Judge. There is the prisoner,
(pointing TO the woodchuck,) and you shall
be the counsel and plead the case for and
agains, his liberty
Ezekiel opened the case with strong
argument, urging the mischievous nature
of the criminal, the great harm he had
already done, said that much time and
labor had been spent in his capture, and
now if he was suffered 10 live and so again
at large, he would renew his depredatons,
and be cunning enough not TO suffer him.
self to be caught again, and that he ought
now to be put to death; that his skin was
of some value, and that to make most of
him they could. it would not repay half the
damage he had already done. His argu-
ment was ready, practical, to the point,
and of much greater length than our limits
will allow US to occupy in relating the
story.
The father looked with pride upon his
son, who became distinguished jurist in
his manhood. .'Now, Daniel, it is your
turn; III hear what you have to say"
Twas his first case. Daniel saw that
the plea of his brother had sensibly affect
ed his father, the Judge; and as his large.
brilliant black eyes looked upon the soft,
timid expression ofs,he animal, and as he
saw it remble with fear in its narrow
prison-h house, his heart swelled with pity,
and he appealed in eloquent words that
the captive might again go free. God, he
said, had made the woodchuck; He made
him to live, to enjoy the bright sunlight,
the pure air, the free fields and woods
| God had not made him, or anything in
vain: the woodchuck had as much rightto
live as any other living thing: he was moi
a destructive animal, as the wolf and the
fox were; he simply ate a few common
vegetables, of. which they had plenty and
could well spare part; he destroyed
nothing except the little food he needed te
sustain his humble life; and that little fooe
was as sweet to him, and as necessary Il
his existence. as was to them the food OIL
) his mothers table. God furnished thei
own food; He gave them all they posses
sed; and would they not spare little 70
the dumb creature, who really had a
|, much right 10 his small share of God
I bounty, as they themselves had to thei
, portion? Yea, more; the animal had nev
I err violated the laws of his nature or tn
= laws of God as men often did, but smpl,
Y followed the simple, harmless instincts h
: had received from the hand Of the Create
h of all things. Created by Gods hand, h
0 had right, right from God, to life, t
: food, to liberty; and they had no right I
k deprive him of either. He alluded to tn
II mute but earnest pleadings Of the amin,
J. for that life, as sweet, as dear to him, q
: their own was to them; and the just jude
!, men, they might expect if in selfish cruelt
and cold heartlessness they took the Ill
they could not restore again, the life th'
God alone had given.
$ During this appeal the tears had starte
IS to the old mans eyes, and were runnin
y down his sunburnt checks; every feelin
IL of fathers heart was stirred within hin
10 he saw the future greatness Of the son b
Y fore his eyes; he felt that God had blesse
II him in his children beyond the lot of con
q mon men; his pity and sympathy We
a awakened by the eloquent words Of cor
o. passion, and the strong appeal for mere
Is and forgetting the judge in the man ar
s. the father, he sprang from his schair. (whi
D. Daniel was in the midst of his argumer
,e without thinking he had already won I,
n case,) and turning to his older son das
d, ing the tears from his eyes, he exclaime
III .sZEKE, ZEKE, YOU LET THAT wooDcHU
g. COL" Traveller. -. s-...z =,