The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1856-08-11

kter WAS also there, and as .tay q 20 oIten peea
Neither age nor iDtrmity had impaired the abilities
OF Mr.. Calhoun, although il soon became obvious
that his end was drawing nigh. His hair and
ceeeks were blanched and his form attenuated anu
wasted. Rat that great mind still shone out wicn
undiminished splendor, its corruscations illumi-
ming the darkest and most perpiexed problems.
When langnshing on the bed OF sickness and OF
DEATH one OF his last wishes vas that he could once
more address the Senate and implore 1t to guard
the country against those very evils which nov
have grown into such magnitude az to threaten The
existence of its Institutions 10 may therefore De
said, that like William PIT, MS last thought was Tor
road Of dusty DEATH in advance of his two great II
vals-the three, while in i'c constituting trium-
yrate OF talent rarely ever equaed by any trio OF
the same age and generation.
OF Daniel Webster, design but briefly 10 speak.
You know that lie survived Mr.. Calhoun oy some
few years, and after filing the world with his fame,
went down TO his grave amid the regrets OF the
whole country. OF his association with me in the
administration of the government, take leave 70
speak as truly feel. We had served in the Senate
for many years together, and he was member OF
the House of Representatives when went INTO that
body at an early period Of hfe. confess 20 the in
dulsence OF prejudices against him which were
felt by myself in common with the whole
South. Those prejudices had been e.,
pendered by reason of the course pursued
by the party in the East in the second year Of the
war OF 1872, with which he had generally acted,
rather than by any personal involvment IN inc OBJ
noXi )us proceedings OF the times. Our close asso-
citation in the executive department soon caused me
to place more Just estimate upon him, and the man
who had been 50 often reviled in the South as more
English than American, grew with me into the sub
lime character OF the patriotic statesman. Whether
the South or the North, the East or the West, was
particularly interested in the question on hand aud
without the slightest reference to Its type OF charac
ter. he maintained with consummatc ability the
rights If the country. His mind Was broad enough
to take in the whole country and every part Of it,
and in the conduct OF foreign afiirs, he looked
only to the great principles OF International law,
aud with the volume III which IS written thaI law ~
his hand, be looked foreign nations in the
face with a firm and steady gaze ana 4
cheek unblanched by fear. whether the
question involved was one Of the rights OF hospi-
fatty due rom one country TO The saips ana mari
ners OF another driven by stress OF weather, or car
RED by nutineer into its ports, as was the matter
involved in the case Of the Creole-or whether it
was claim OF right to visit or search American
shirs on the high seas, under the pea Of suppress
ing the African slave trade, "a practice entrcll
abandoned since the treaty OF Waslington2 or whe-
Their he was called upon to express the IN ignation
of the government at the nhuman tire atmeat by
neigbboring Power OF prisoners taken IN war, as "a
the case Of Texans taken captive by Mexico; or
whether il became his duty to vindicate the invlola-
bility Of American SOIL as in the case OF the caro-
linc-no matter what the subject, still Daniel Web
ster stood firm and immovable and, with an ability
rarely equalled and never surpassed, main
taincd the doctrines and principles OF that
international code, the offspring OF an increased
civilization, which all the nations OF the earth
are bound to respect and which it should o.
their greatest pleasure to obey. Such was Mr.
Webster as Premier TO an administration With which
he was associated for more than bali its term. The
freshly OF his memory and which time can neither
blight nor wither. j remember the nrst regular
Cabinet council which was held after ] reached
Washington. With solemn and shaded brow be
handed me letter he received some days before,
from Mr. Fox, the British Minister, the paternity OF
which was obviously due to Lord Palmerston, de-
manding the immediate discharge OF Mcleod from
imprisonment IN New York; Tor supposed agency
in The attack upon the Caroline and murder OF Dur
fee. We agreed in our views Of the subject, AID he
prepared q despatch accordingly, and when he
handed il to me for perusal, he SAID, Lord Palmer.
sion, sir, may put that into his pipe and smoke IT,
We heard no more of the imperative demand.
There was one trait in his character which
may bc considered as the offspring OF tr7e
greatness. He was ready at oil times to re
ceiyc to consider and if proper, 10 adopt the sug-
ecstions OF others. dc went farther. He cour'ei
the seveIes criticisms OF his writings Or opinions.
Thus il was that despatch Of Importance recciy-
ectcdto the severe crucible OF the Cabinet. Every
suggestion OF addition alteration was weighed by
him with the same impartlality az II he had been
he critic, and the prodnction criticized was tho
work OF another. When these discussions had
ceased then came forth from the State Depart neIt
he combined wisdom Of all, condensed In a DIES
patch which chalk nged for the Secretary the ADM.
ration OF the world. IL was great charm Of life 10
be associated with one not only so richly endowed
with the gifts of mind, but who was so tolerant In
matters OF opinion, and whose entire dcport-
ment was so dcieiential and rcspectful-a de
ference and respect which he never for a moment
lost sight or II lie had defects-and who has not
these defects were obscured by his many excellen-
cies. He survived his two great rivals aud gather
ed after their decease fresh liurels both IN the Sen
ate and in the Cabinet He foresaw the dIk cloud
then resting on the political horizon, which has
since reached the meridian aud he usel every efTs
70 dsIerze it ere lis lightnings should scalbe the
Union. He reasoned, he demonstrated, lie expostl'
lated ard finally babe adleu 10 lie, with Union
written in nnmistakeabe characters on his heart.
The outhicathings of mis- spirit but shortly before
his death Lave probably endcarcd his memory % his
coultTymen even more than the many brilliant
passap,s IL his earlier lile His letter 70 his farmer,
John TAYLOR on his old patcrna acres, will be read
by future generations az II has been by The present,
with the most profound conviction OF hls patriotic
devotion to the constitution and the Union lts
simplicity and yet deep pathos, sink into the heart,
and we fnish IL pe.u-a With renewed hope Tor the
country and its Institutions.
some future plrtarch viii perform the task Of run
nirg o comparison between these tao gifted states
men Their faults, If any, as well - their virtues,
win be exhibited on the canvass. Such 4 no part o.
nv purpose ! seek only 10 present dagusneotypc
OF tho two and that chiefly within the Cabinet sphere
"a sphere in which each was destined 70 shine WITH
resnlendent mstre. Notwithstanding their constant
waffarc on questions or domestic poll yet II i
not believed that subsequent 10 the war with
England, they differed materially on matters u
foreign. tnsw3yed 10y PERSONA Jeaiou-y,snah s,Ch
ing only TO the suggestions OF q noble and exalted
patriotism. Mr.. Calhoun Icing NJ the tine N the
senate gave his great talents TO the rathcation Of
the treaty OF Washington, which although carped at
nv somc was ratified BY the senate by vote ap
proachinu unani,nity. They were the advocates Of
peocc on honorable terms with all the world; AMI
tbcv saw in the conqucsts 81 be made by CONNER
cai enterprise, richer and nohler and more mpor
tant triuinphs and greater acquisition o. power,
than provinces CONQUERED by the sword could
bring That nation which contributes most a.
supply tie wants OF Others. although the sword may
not glitter in her hands, or the thunder OF her can
non lie heard in every breeze, constitutes the most
poverful of states. Her dependencies arc q be
found in every pant Of the earth, and her dominion
j. limited only by uninbabtsble deserts, or regions
forever bound in icy letters. TO extend the CO
mercc Of tho country engaged the earnest attcnti
oil each during the period they respectively presided
over the zate Department. In tins they were sc
conded BY diplomatic corps cf eminent ability the
uam,s Of many of which OIL conspicuous pllse. IN
ar i,c~ofurn and politipa Of the country. There