The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1854-12-15

li astonisningp pas been the intel;
lectual advancement! And ii can not BE
known by any computation what part Of it
rs Attributable to the spirit os enulat al.
The trophies Of others than MIlT1xDss ABE
have brought on sleepless nigh and happy
reformatiops. And the brilliant lights, stsfs
Of the first magnitude, which ma ve arisen
upon the horizon of art and science and
literature, serve at all times to guide and iin:s i
spire those who are seeking to obtain prord
position in the bright constellation And
he whose mind is so imbued with selfishness
that he does not love to dwell in a1,nirinsa
as far as is just, the true greatness Of othsrs,:
may rest well assured that he has nothing
of the kind in himself Annihilate Che
heaven-born principle, and improvements win
cease, patriotism die, and the performances
of duty, will indeed be an i1tolerable task
But if kept under proper restrictions, it will
always exert a healthful influence upon the
destinies of inexperienced youth, and even
OF all mankind. 1t is not possible, in con
sideration of different circumstances, for ev-
cry one to take the tide aat the food" and
reach the highest meedof fame, yet in every
grade of beings, there will be few, who
will excel all others and challenge pro
found respect. History is fertile in illustri-
ous examples, that are strong in confrma-
tion of these declarations. But we have
one in the great expounder Of our Constitu-
ton, and another in the defender Of our
rights. s,
WEBSTER rose as with giant-ike grand
eur, proudly burst asunder the bonds that
fain would have held him down, and, stamp
ed his name upon the age in which he lived,
and associated it with the renown of his be-
loved country. And when his expansive
soul was called to perform nobler, actions,
and contemplate the grandcr scenes Of a
holier sphere, the intelligence darted over
land and sea, upon the lightning's wing, pro
PEELED by the thunders momentum. Tho
breczes ever since have been waiting his Gu
logies throughout the Union; from the lips
and hearts of the merest tyro in eloquence
up to those of the "matchless CuoArE."
And who can estimate what good will be
realized by the present and future generations
from the many virtues of the greatest ora
tor and statesman Of tile nineteenth century /?
Near six thousand years, and this broad
continent, with its great sublimities, were
required in the production of a WAsHIsa-
TON. He stands the first among mortals,
COLOSSUS of time" and enjoys the richest
and purest of earthly glory. Several of
Freedoms sons live in history, but he abides
In the affections of his conntrymen. Their
deeds may be eventually forgotten, but bis
will increase in splendor and in virtue un-
til both hemispheres are thoroughly reyolu-
tionized, and Liberty holds undivided sway.
Then his children, q nation of freemen,
rear his monument to the skies; and may
tho lovely daughters Of the South do honor
to his memory and Themselves, by saving
from desecration the holy ground which con-
tains the resting place of'him whose name
Belongs to- America % Libsrt to; t the
World, ajsss ~ - ,4;5sss 81 81, +, = ~ G. /
p But fame aiso%has eits abuses.g Those
who cannot succeed By lawful means, often
resort To- any, however .detestable, that viii
oncyuer III or ,,,i,noaao ~ l.. -.