Polynesian. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu], Hawaii) 1844-1864, 1853-01-22

century, ne adds" We NOW and then see stretch:ns
lne heavens, clear, blue cerulean SKY, with,
out cioud, or mist. or haze. Aud such appears G.
me our acquaintance from the time when I heard
you Tor week recite your lessons in the little school,,
house in Short street. to the date hereof" 2i.t July
iso2: Mr. Chairman, do not dwell upon the traits
OF Nr. Weosters public character, however tempt
ing the theme. Its bright developments in a long
lie OF services before the world they are wrought
INTO the annals Of the country. Whoever in afser
tunes shall write the history Of the United States for
the last forty years will write the life OF Daniel Web
ser; and whoever writes the life OF Daniel Webster
as 1t ought TO be written, will write the history OF
the Union from the time he took leading part in
It's concerns. prefer to aliude TO those priva.e
traits which show the man. the kindness of bis heart
generosity of his spirit his freedom from all tho
fAerncss of party, the unaffected genteness Of his
nature In preparing the edition of his works.
ne thought proper to leave almost everything to nv
tar matrrrs of taste are concerned
One thing only he enjoiued upon me with an ear
| nestness approaching 10 demand. my frieua''
SAID he, Z" wish to perpetua,e 90 feuds. have
lived life of strenuous political warfare. have
sometimes, though rarely, and that in sell defense.
been led to speak # others with severity. beg yea
where you can do it without wholly changing the
character OF the speech, and thus doing essential
injustice to me, to obiiterate trace If person.
atty OF this kind. should prefer not to leave a
word that would give unnecessary pain any honest
man. however opposed to me- But need not tell
/ you, feowcizens that there Is no one of our dis
/ nngulshed public men, whose speeches contain less
| occasion for such Injunction. Mr.. Webster ha.
bitually absained from theuse OF the poisoned wea-
pons OF personal inyective or party odium. No ore
could more studiously abstain from all attempts
make political opponent personally hateful. II tie
character of congressional discussions has of late
years somewhat decueS in dignity, no portion Of
the blame hes az his door. With Mr.. Calhoun who,
Tor considerable portion Of the time his chief
antagonist and with whom he brought into most
direct collision, he maintained friendly personal rela-
| lions He dill fun iusfica n his talant and
ter. You remember the feeling with which he spoke
OF him at his decease. Mr. Calhoun, in his turn.
entertained just estimate Of his great opponents
worth. He SAIL towards the close of his life, that
OF all the leading of the day, 'there was not
one whose political course had been more strongly
marked by strict regard to truth and honor than
Mr.. Webster's. One of the resolutions speaks offs
permanent memorial to Mr.. Webster. do not know
what is contemp plated. but trust that such amemo-
rial there viii be. trust that marble and brass, In
the hands of the siliul artists country has
produced will be put in reIulsiton to reproduce to
us-and nowhere SO appropriately as In this hall
the Eneaments of that noble form and beaming
countenance, which we have often gazed with
delight. But, ater ALL fellow citizens, the noblest
monument must be found in his works. There he
will live and speak to and our children, when
brass and marble have crumbled into dust. Asa
repository Of political truth and practical wisdom
applied to the affairs OF government, know not
where we shall find their equal. The works OF Burke
naturally suggest themselves to the mind the only
writings in our language that sustain the COM
parison. Certainly 10 compositions in the English
tongue take precedence of those of Burke, In
depth of thought. reach of forecast, magnicence
of style. think however, 1t may be said, without
partiaty either national personal, that while Il
reader is cloye0 at last with the gorgeous finish OF
Burke's diction, there is severe simplicity and
significant plainness in Websters writing that never
tires. 1t is precisely this which charac rizes the
in distinction from the political philoso-
pher. In political disquistion, elaborated in tho
closet, the palm must perhaps, be awarded TO Burke
all others, ancient modern. But In the actu
al conflicts of the senate, against man, and
opinion against opinion in the noble of debate,
when measures to be sustained and opposed, on
which the welfare of the country and the peace or
the world dependwhere often the hne OF intellec-
tuaI battle is changed in mo.nent-no time TO re-
feet no le:aire TO Gull words gather up ilustra-
tions, but all 70 BE decided by vote. although the
reputation OF life may be at stake-al this is .
very different mater and here Mr.. Webster i'm
the superior, According Y, we find his
torically, Incredible O. 1t sounds and what L am
ready to say will not believe, though it is unques-
onabIy true that these inmitable oraons Of Burke
which one cannot read without thrill of admiration
o his fingers ends actually empticd the benches Of
parliament. An, gentlemen, it was very diRerc-t
With our great parliamentary orator. ns not only
hained to thsr seats, willinc ur il there such
thing UNWILLING sn.aeors, but the largest hall
or small ,or his audience On the memorable Ith
e march, 1850. when he expected 70 speak upon
he great questions then pending before this colrryi
.ot only was the Senate Chamber thronged to its ut
most capacity, at early hour but all the passages
o it. the rotunda of the capitol and even the aven
les Of the city. were alive with the crowds who
we're desiIous OF gaining almittance Anothor sena-
or not D Etical friend entitled to the floor,
With equal good taste and good feeling he stated
hat :. he was tkattAe great multitude has not
,ome together to hear him, and he was pleased to
ield the floor 70 the only man, he believed. who
.ould draw together such assembly. This sen.
incnt-the eiiusion of parliamentary courtesy will
perhaps, be found no inadequate expression OF what
.ill finally be the Judgment of posterity. Among
he many memorable words which fell from the lips
,f our friend iu-t before they closed forever
he most -emar rk atle those which my friend
IIIlard has rIst quoted-''f still live" They at
est the serene com posare Of his mind, the christian
,eEo,sln silh which ne able to his consci-
BUSINESS in upon i,sef and explore, step by step, the
lark passage, (dtrk u.s. but to him, trust, al
eady lighted from abose), which connects this
y orid with the world TO come. But know pGf Mr..
Chairman, what words could have been better cho.
e TO express his relation 10 the worl1 nc was icav
MR.. still live This poor dust is just returning
20 Ihe dust from v hich it taken but feel that
live in the affections Of the people to whose
iice I have consecrat I'd my DAYS. still live. The
cy hand OF death already laid on my heart, butt
n, all still live in those words of counsel which ]
an We uttered TO NY fsl!ow-cizens, and which now
save them as the last bequest of dying friend,
Mr. Chairman, in the long and honored career or
,ur lamentsd friend, there efforts and triumphss
,hch will hereafter Fl OF the brightest pares
N our history. But greatly err il hs closing scene
The heighr Of the religious subiIme-doss not. ia
he Judgment of other days. far transcend in inter.
IS, the brightest exploits OF public lifs- Within thas
iarsened chamber at Marshhed was Witnessed
Gene OF which We shall not readily find the par
aiieL The serenity with which hs stood In the
presence of the King Of Terrors, without trepid
ion or fiutter for hours and days Of expecfafions
he ,houghfalness for the public business when the
l.nds ~ ere nearly run out tho hospstabe csre
or The reception of the friends who to Marsh-
ed that aie cfionate and solemn Ieive separately
akea, name by name, of wife, and children. and
,indrcd and friends, and fimiiy, down to The ham-
lest members of the household; the designation