The Hillsborough recorder. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1820-1879, 1859-10-19

at tnat time In consequence of Mr.. Webster's
motion and speech probably none was an
ticipated by him; but no one who considers
how much the march Of events in such cases
is influenced by the moral sentiments. will
doubt that great word like this, spoken in
the American Congress, must have had no
slight effect in cheering the heart of Greece,
to persevere in their unequal but finally sue
cessful struggle.
1t was by these masterly parliamentary
efforts that Mr.. Webster left his mark on the
age in which he lived. His fidelity to his
convictions kept him for the greater part of
his life IN minority ;-a position which he
regarded not as prescription but as post
OF honor and duty. He felt that in free 60
vernments and in normal state Of parties,
an opposition is a political necessity, and
that 1t has its duties not less responsible than
those which attach to Office. Before the inn
portance of Mr.. Webster's political services
is dlsparaged for want of positive results
which can only be brought about by those
who are clothed with power, it must be shown
that to raise persuasive and convincing
voice in the yindication Of truth and right,
to uphold and assert the true principles of
the government under which we live, and
bring them home to the hearts of the people
--tn 10 tins from a sense of patriotic duty
a9d without hope 8l the h0nors and emolu-
-meUts ot 9a!eel 70 do II so as to instruct the
pa6ttc c0ase7eeen ard warm the auhlic heart,
s less Eier ger. Gus service IL, society thsn
to sogeh Wtta sktjEut hand The priaes of
party po.rics and tn bold together he often
alscordant element NJ -c@n9aetel naiori-
ties.
The greatest parliamentary effort made by
Mr.. Webster was in his second speech on
Foots resolution; the question at issue be-
ing nothing less than this: Is the constitu-
ton OF the United States a compact without
common umpire between confederated
sovereignties, or is it government Of the
People OF the United States, sovereign with
IN the sphere of its delegated powers, but
rcserVing great mass Of undelegated rights
70 the separate State Governments and the
People With those who embraced the
opinions which Mr.. Webster combatted in
es speech, this is not the time nor the
place 10 engage in argument; but those who
believe he maintained the true principles of
the Constitution will probably agree, that
since that instrument was communicated 20
tie Continental Congress, seventy-two years
ago this day, By George Washington as Pre-
sident Of the Federal Convention, no greater
sArSica haa bees. rende-ed ttssol than IN tho
deliver, oil this speech. Well DO l reeollcct
the occasion and the scene. 1t was truly
what Wellington called the battle of Water
loo, a conflict Of giants. passed an hour
and half with Mr.. Webster at his request,
4 evening before this great effort; and he
went over to me, from very concise brief,
the main topics Of the speech, which he had
prepared for the following day. So calm
aud unimpassioned was the memorandum,
so entirely was he at ease himself, that was
tempted 10 think, absurdly enough, that he
was not sufficiently aware Of the magnitude
Of the occa sion. But soon perceived that his
calmness was the repose Of conscious power.
lie was not only at ease, but sportlye and
ssll Of auecdote and as he told the Senate
playlully the next day, he slept soundly that
night on the formidable assault OF his gallant
aud acc z1slished adversary. So the great
C0nde slept on the eve Of the battle OF Ro~
croi SO Alexander slept on the eve of the
battle Of ArDela and so they woke to deeds
uf immortal fane. As saw him in the eve
ming (if NAV borrow an illustration from
his fasoriie -7uscment,) he was as uncon-
cerned aud p, a free Of spirit, as some here
have often seen him, while floating in his fish
ing boat along haay shore, gently rocking on
the tranquil tide, dropping his line here and
there, with the varying fortune Of the sport.
The next morning he was like some NIGH
~ Admiral dark and terrible, casting
the long shadow Of his frowning tiers far
over The sea, ihat seemed TO sink beneath
him; his broad pendant streaming at the
main, the stars and stripes at the fore. the
mizzen and the peak, and bearing down like
tempest upon bis antagonist, with all his
canvass strained TO 'he wind, and all his
thunders roaring from his broadsides.