Loudon free press. (Loudon, Tenn.) 1852-1855, 1854-02-14

Mr. BELL, i'll reply to an invitation to par
ticipate in celebrating the Birth day of Mr..
WEBSTER:
WASHINGTON, Jan, IL, 1854.
CcHlemen-I have received your note, in
which you, in behalf OF The Webster Associa.
ton OF Massachusetts, request my company at
dl~ner, on their next anniversary the 18th in
stant at The Revere House, Boston. | thank
you for honor done me, by this invitation, and
assure you, with the greatest sincerity, that to
be present en- such an occasion referred to, did
my public duties permit would be more great
fUl to my feelings than to attend any other Of
the kind Bat that qualification is denied me.
The Webster Association Of Massachusetts, I
understand, was Instituted to be commemorative,
ia pe1peht1m, of the character and public SER
vices OF Daniel Webster Such an association
In every state of the Union would be but q lust
tribute to tie memory OF Il man, whose capa-
cioNS mind, In a long course of public service
was 80 well and successfully directed, in expoun-
ding, illustrating and upholding that Constitu
ton, which to his dying hour, he regarded as
the true palladium of liberty in America, and
the best security for the progress, which others
seek TO promote, by setting aside or disregar.
ding It's guarantees; vet no man of the present
century had less need ofthe inventions and de-
vices nf friends to secure to him after death an
immortality of fame. True, his renown while
living was not dazzling, as from the glow of
military achievements, nor sudden growth. He
did not tix the popular gaze and admiration by
single or few dashng and successful efforts
on occasions of great excitement. as sometimes
happeGs His fame was slowly wor, slightly
debtor to fortunate conjunctons or circumstaIl-
ceS, but acquiring strength and solidity by n
on # f,1 ,erN
through period Of forty years On whatever
occasion in early life, from duty or choice, he
eXerted his faculties, he left indeilALle stamp of
superior genius and abilily-but in the mei-
dian OF life, in the maturity of his underStan
ding, wnen an occasion arose which called forth
bis collective strength, whether III the forum
or In the Senate, lie brought to The ccnSidera-
ton Of the subject such sufficient store ikmowl
edge, such depth and range Of thought, sach
faculty Of condensing, combining. and COM
munioatng them i'll language So pure, simple
and appropriate, as to seem native to hlm,
and wItha manner so symbolic Of his
thought and his sentiment that while the i'm
partial and unpreudiced yielded their iudg-
nent at once, to what seemed almost superhu-
man reasoning, his opponents were forced 10
confess, in secret, that he was marvel ef intel
lectual power and accomplishments.
Mr. Webster WAS sensitive, to the last degree,
to whatever tended TO impair his standing with
prosterity, as Il consistant and devoted champi-
on of the Union. lie seems to have been deep
ly impressed and animated with the idea that
his fame was identified with It's preservation;
and it was the governing excellence of his pub
lie course, that he held his ambitious aspira-
tions subordinate to this great object. Such
Il an can never die to his country; and the lame
of Daniel Webster will continue to grow and
expand with the growth and expansion of the
North American Republic. 1t is fortunate that
the grounds upon which the anticipation is IN
dulged, that Just measure Of fame and nfu-
eEce will be yielded 10 such 4 character by
distant pOsterty, are not left to uncertain memo
r. or vague tradition. Daniel Webster still |
speaks to the present, as he will to future gene
rations, in the classic pages OF his printed /
works. His select speeches and orations, mod
els rs they are of forensic aud parliamentary |
eoquence, which may challange comparison
with the most celebrated of ancient or modern |
Gmes-and abounding, rs they do, with just |!
and noble sentiments, will, iii time, hecome /
text books in our Colleges and Universities
Soon, bat few if any of the gifted aHd Youthful |
aspirants to the ranks Of an American States /
man, will acknowledge, without n blush, that /
he has not read the works of Daniel cbstor; /
aud, whoever would understand the theory of .
our government, and explore the true iounda- |
ton of national liberty and real progress, should !
not fail to make them his study.
Pardon this brief effusion to one, who would |
not willingly fore9o any fit occasion, for the !
expression ofhis homage to the worth Of him /
whose name your association bears, and whose |
memory it is designed to honor. /
am. gentlemen, with great respect, your
obedient servant.
JOHN BELL.
Messrs. G. WASHINGTON WARREN, HENRY .
LYMAN, +. W. LINCOLN.