Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1860-11-02
Gtlrtte0 MlistellanD.
Daniel webster,s First case

Ebenezer Webster, father Of Daniel, was a
farmer. The vegetables in his garden suffered
considerably from the depredations Of wood
chuck ,sWhOse hole and habitation was near the
premises Daniel some ten or twelve years
old, and his brother Ezekiel, had set a steel
trapya at last succeeded in capturing the
trespasser. Ezekiel proposed TO Kill the ami
NAL, and end at once all further trouble with
him; but Daniel looked with compassion upon
the meek, dumb captive, and offered to let him
60, The boys could not agree, and each APP
pealed to the father to decide lheir case.
"a" Well, my boys, said the old gentleman,
will be Judge. There is the prisoner
pointing to the woodchuck; "and you shall be
the counsel, and plead the case for and against
his life and liberty
Ezekiel opened the case with strong argu-
ment urging the mischieyous nature of the
criminal, the great harm he had already done
that much time and labor had been spent, in
has capture, and now ifhe was suffered to live
and 60 at large, he would renew his depreda-
tons, and be cunning enough not to suffer
himself to be caught again, and that he ought
now to be put TO death; that his skin was of
some value, and that, make the most of him
they could, it would not repay half the damage
he had already done. Ills argument was
ready, practical and to the point, and of much
occupy in relating the story.
The father looked with pride on his son,
who became distinguished jurist in his man
hood,
Now Daniel, it's your turn I'll hear what
you've got TO sayp
1t was his first case. Daniel saw that the
plea Of his brother had sensibly affected his
father, the judge, as his large, brilliant black
eyes looked upon the soft lmid expression of
the ANIMAL and as he saw it tremble with fear,
IN its narrow prison-house, his heart swelled
With pity, and heappealed with eloquent words
that the captive might again gofree. God, he
SAID, had made the woodchuck; he made him
toliFe, TO enjoy the bright sunshine, the pure
air, the free fields and woods God has not
made him or anything in vain the woodchuck
has as much right as any other living thing
ne was not destructive animal as the fox or
wolf was; he simply ate few common vege-
tables, of which they had plenty, and could
well spare part he destroyed nothing, except
the little food he needed to sustain his humble
life and that little food was as sweet to him.
and as necessary to his existence, as was to
them the food on their mothers table.
God furnished their own food lie gave them
all they possessed and would they not spare
a little for the dumb creature who really had
as much right to his small share of God S
II.
YEA more the animal had never violated the
laws of his nature, or the laws of God, as man
often did, but strictly followed the simple n-
stincts he had received from the hands of the
Creator ofall things. Created by God S hands,
he had 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
pleadings of the animal for that life, as sweet
as dear to him as their own was to them; and
the first Judgment they might expect, If in sell
fish cruelty and cold-heartedness, they took
the life they could not restore again
During this appeal tears had started to the
cid mans eyes, and were fast running down
his sunburnt checks. Every feeling of a IA
Tiers heart was stirred within him he saw the
future greatness of his son before his eyes, and
he felt that God had blessed him and his chill
dren beyond the lot of common men, Hspity
and sympathy were awakened by the eloquent
words Of compassion and the strong appeal for
mercy and, forgetting the judge in the man.
and the father, he sprung from his chair (while
Daniel was in the midst of his argument, with
out thinking that he had already won the case,
and turning to his older son, dashing the tears
nom his eyes, he exclaimed
zeke, Zeke, you let that woodchuck 60 /"