The Trinity journal., 1856-07-26
Daniel Webster.

Daniel Webster.
In a merely literary point of view, this
perhaps, may be said of Mr. Webster, that
he is the only powerful and feryid orator
since the glorious days of Greece, whose
style is so disciplined, that any of his great
public harangues might be used as models
of composition. His language is beautifully
pure. and his combinations of it exhibit
more knowledge of the genius, spirit, and
classic vigor of the English tongue than it
has entered the mind of any professor to ap-
prehend. AS the most impetuous sweeps of
passion in him are pervaded, and informed
and guided by intellect, so the most earnest
struggles of intellect seem to be calmed and
made gentle in their vehemence, by a more
essential nationality of taste That impe-
rious mind which seems fit to defy the uni
verse, is ever subordinate by a kind of fasci
nation, to the perfect law of grace. In the
highest Of his intellectual flights, and who
can follow the winged rush of that eagle
mind-in the widest Of his mental ranges
and who can measure their extent?-he is
ever moving with the severest tone of beauty.
No one would think of saying that Mr.
and cost but little effort; they are clearly
the result of the intensest mental energy:
yet the manner is never discomposed; the
deccncy and proprety Of the display never
intcriered with; he is always greater than
his genius; you see 'the depth, but not the
tumult" of the mind Whether, with ex-
tended arm, he strangles the "reloctantes
drGc0neS" of his adversary, or, with every
faculty called home, concentrates the light
and heat of his being in developing into
principles those great sentiments and great
instincts which are his inspiration; in all
the orator stands forth with themajesty and
grace of Percles himself In the fcrcest Of
encounters with the deadiest Of foes, the
mind which is erraged is never perturbed;
tho style, which leaps like the fire of heay-
en-, is never disordered AS in Guido's pic
ture of ST. Michael piercing the dragon,
while the gnarled muscles of the arms and
hands attest the utmost strain of the
strength, the countenance remains placid, Sc
rene, and undisturbcd
In this great quality Of mental dignity,
Mr.. WeLStcr'S speeches have become more
and more eminent. The glow and lustre
hHiOl oCt HlS tdIIlCl SIJCtCu6S d-DIilLC Will
splendor is in his later dscourses rarely set
forth; but they have gained more in digni-
ty than they have parted with in the dimi-
mutton OF brilliancy. We regard his speech
before the merchants of Philadelphia as one
of the most wcighty and admirable of the
intellectual efforts of his life The range of
profound and piercing wisdom; the exquisite
and faultless taste; but, above all, the au-
gust and indefectible dignity that are Illus
trated from the beginning to the end of that
great display ofmatured and finished strength
leave us in mingled wonder and reverence.
There is one sentence there which seems to
us almost to reach the mtllectuat sublime;
and while it Stirs within us the depths of
sympathy and admiration, we could heartily
wish that the young men of America would
lnhale the almost SUprG-mortal spirit which
it breathes:--"I would not with any idola-
trous admiration regard the Constitution Of
the United States, nor any other work oi
man; but, this side of idolatry, hold it il
profound respect. believe that no human
working Oh such subject, no human ability
eyerted for such an end, has ever produced
so much happiness, or holds out now to Sc
many millions ofpeople the prospect, through
such a succession of ages and ages, of Sc
much happiness, as the Constitution of the
United States We who are here for one
gencration-for a single lfe--and yet in oul
several stations and relations in society in
trusted in some degree with its protection
and support, what duty does it devolye
what duty does it not deyolve upon u.s." Ii
the name of distant ages, and of remote
posterity, we hail the author of this ant
similar orations, as Webster the Oiympsaa
HI b. Wallace.