Grass Valley telegraph., 1854-05-25


THE II uIsEMANN LETTER.-When Edward
Everett was called to assume the armor and
bear the shield of Daniel Webster, and bring
to completion the State labors of the de-
parted giant, he was placed on . high and
proud eminence. The event proved the choice
most fortunate, for in the history of that Sec
retaryship, there is no sign of change, no
mark left, denoting an interregnum. It was
to him no small fortune to have such an on
portunlty afforded, that he might prove his
ntness to I'LL the place which the death of the
sage mad rendered so widely vacant. The
mantle fell gracefully, and rested firmly ge-
mus and accomplishment made up for any
lack OF quality eloquence and fascination.
for strength and directness, and seemingly,
the hereditary as we'll as elect successor, he
echoed most completely that sovereign voice
from Marshfeld, voice most eloquent in
Saxon speech.
What could he desire more7 And vet, as
if determined to completely cover himself
with Websterian honors, he now lays claim to
earlier associations, and boasts himself the al-
thor of the famous Hulseman letter. Sue
eefs eonsdtq Sftfg qEerfAtS6tffff * aR9 i 3 k
Everett, who has lived'his life SO wen, whe
has worked out his destiny so manfaily and
truly, should allow at this day triding over
weening pride, to charge s9ch a reproach 10
his account. That he has announced this
claim in some form is believed that he will
see his mistake, and attempt to excuse it is
also undoubted. Every one who has read the
speeches of Webster, found a power in the
English language which he never felt before.
1t is not the ''pomp of defamation, 1T is
not "the marshalling Of words and phrases"
1t is massive strength, for in every sentence
there is terseness and condensed energy
which gives strength and firmness to the unit
ed whole. Every speech is made of mate
rials subjected to the fire of mind which
melts every thing to its purpose, and every
word is moulded to its proper place. 1t seems
amid the literature of the day, like one of
those mountains, which amid terrible convul-
sons, was thrown up into mass of sand and
rubbish and like that mountain, too, those
speeches shall remain, in their glorious
strength, when the dissoluble materials into
which they have been thrown, have been
swept away forever.
In this famous letter, the style of Webster
cannot be mistaken. 1t is bis powerful mind.
in all its real greatness, which is there dis
played, as risi1g above all forms and techni-
calties, it gCasps the great and universal
principles of truth and justice. Here, as
elsewhere, he displays the same giant strength,
and his blows fall with the same unerring
certainty and resstless effect.
To Everett. much praise belongs, but he
cannot yet claim full comparison with Web
ster. His mind is perhaps as vastly and pre-
cisely stored, but it is different in its power.
To him, the diplomacy of Stale, dry and tan
gled with subterfuges and hypocricies, and
hidden in masques, yields easily, and adorns
his keen lance, equally with knotted meta
physics, or the airiest fancies of poesy. Upon
the page of history, he shall stand beautiful
as the fairest, but in might-he must give
place to his illustrious friend. He may bor-
row plumage, and it may help him on to the
republican grooming at the Capitol, but still
the Constitutions defender, he, who has
watched with such wakeful vigilenee, over
the principles of ''a watchful form of glorious
government" will remain possessed of his
well earned honor Webster's own lasting
fame is secure. No hand can pluck the lau-
rels from his brow, and time will not soon
blot life record deposited in the universal
remembrance of mankind" While the fab
ric of our government remains-while pat
riotism and integrity are regarded-while
greatness finds admirers, the name of Web
! ster will be honored.
/ ''Nothing cover his high fame bt,t-Heayen;
| No monument set of his me mory
/ But the eternal substance of his greatness