Polynesian., 1855-01-27
Daniel Webster's First Case.
Plea FOR a POOR NOODCHUCK.

l we'll remember hearing my father tell the fol-
lowing anecdote, illustrative of the early genius Of
the great Statesman:
Ebenezer Webster. the father f Daniel, was
farmer The vegetables In his garden had suffer
ed considerably from the depradations of wood
chuck, whose hole and habitatiOn was the
premises-D1nieI, some ten or twelve years old J.,
and his brother Ezekiel. had set trap and finally
succeeded in capturing the tresIasser. Ezekiel
proposed to kill tie animal and end at once all fur
ther trouble from him. bat Daniel looked with
compassion upon this meek, dumb captive, and Of
fered to let him gain 90 free. The boys could not
agree, and each appealed to their father to decide
the case. ''Well, my boys" said the old gentle
man, II will be the Judge There is your prise er.
(point,ng t. the woodchuck) and you shall be the
council and plead the for and against his life
and liberty"
Ezekiel opened the case with strong argument
urging the mischevous nature of the criminal, the
great harm he had already done, said much time
and labor had been spent in his capture, and now
if he suffered to live and 60 again at large, he
would renew his depredatiOns, and be cunning
enough not to suffer himself TO be caught again,
and that he ought now to be put to death; and his
skin was Of some value, and that to make the most
of HIM they could 1t would not repay half the
damage he had already done. HIS argument was
ready. practical, to the point and m-ch greater
than our limits will allow TO occupy in relating
the story.
The father looked with pride upon his son, who
became distinguished jurist in his manhood.
"Nuw, Daniel, it is your turn; I'll hear what you
have to say
Twas his first case Daniel saw that the plea
Of his brother had sensibly affected his father, the
Judge and as his large, brilliant black eyes look
ed upoi the soft timid expression OF the animal,
and as he saw it tremble with fear in its narrow
prison house, his heart swelled with pIty, and he
appealed with eloquent words that the captive
miGht again 90 free God, he said, had made the
wo0d.huck: he had made him to live, to ENJOY the
bright sunlight, the pure air, the free helds ana
woods God has not made him or anything IN yaln
the woodchuck had much right TO 1--we as any
other living thing; he was not destructive ANIMAL
as the wolf and fox were; he simply eat few com
mon vegetables, of which they had plenty ana
could well spare part; he destroyed nothing eA-
cent the little food ne needed to sustain his humble
life; and that little food as sweet to hlm, ana
necessary to his existence, as TO them the TODD
upon his mothers table. God furnished their
own food, he gave them all they possessed; ana
would they not spare little for the dumb creature
who really has as much right u his small share
of Gods bounty, as they themselves had to their
portion: yea, more: the animal had never NloIaIed
the laws of his nature or the laws of God, as man
often did. but strictly followed the simple. harm
less instincts he had received from the hand ol the
Creator of all things Created by Gods hands he
had right, right from God, to life, to food, to
liberty, and they had no right to deprive him OF
either. He alluded to the mute but earnest plead
ings of the amin Il for that life, as sweet, as dear
to him. as their own was TO them; and the Just
Judgment they might expect, if IN selfish cruelty
and cold heartessness they took the lie they could
not restore again. the life that God alone had given
During this appe a tears started IN the old min 5
eyes. and were fast running down his sunburnt
checks! every feeling of fathers heart was stirred
within him; he saw the future greatness OF bis
son before his eyes he felt tina, God had blessed
him in his children beyond the lot Of common men
bis pity and sympathy were awakened by the elo,
quent words of compassion, and the strong appear
for mercy and forgetting the Judge in the man and
father, he sprang from his chair, (whle Daniel was
in the midst Of his argument, without thinking ne
had already won the cdse) and turning to his Older
son, dashing the te.rs from his eyes, exclaimed
..Zeke, Zeks, yoll let that lrOOdchuck co."