The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1861-01-11
Daniel wcbstcr's First Case.

bOeDclcr WeDstcr, IatneT OF DlOloI, was
a farmer. The vegetables in his garden
suffsted considerably from the dopredatons
of T>SQodchuck, whose holo aud habitation
was near the premises. Daniel, some ten
or twelve years old and his brother Ezekiel
had set q steel trap. and finally succeeded
in capturing tho trespasser Ezekiel pro-
posed to kill tho animal, and ond at once all
further trouble sith him but Daniel look.
cd with compassion upon this meek, dumb
captive, aud offered to let him go free. Tho
boys could not agree, and each appealed to
their father TO decide tho case:
We'll, my boys, said tho old gentleman,
Il will bo Judge. There is tho prisoner.
pointing to the woodcbuck, and you shall
DO counsel and plead tho case for and
against his life and liberty
Ezekiel opened the case with a strong
argument, urging tho mischovous nature OF
the criminal, the q cat harm he had already
done; said that much time and labor had
boon spent in his capture, and now, if he
was suffered to live and 90 at largo, Le
would renew his dcprodations, and DO cum
ming enough not to suffer himself to be
caught again, and he ought now to be put to
death; that his skin was of somo value, and
that to make tho rnost OF him they could il
would not repay half the damage ho had
already done. His argument was ready,
practical, and to tho point, and of much
greater length than our limits will allow us
| to occupy in relating the story.
The father looked with prido upon his
son, who became a distinguished jurist in
bis manhood.
Now, Daniel, it's your turn I'll hear
what you bavo to say.
1t was his first case. Daniel saw that the
ploa o; his brother had sensibly affected his
father, tho judge, and as his large. brilliant
black eyes looked upon tho soft, timid ex-
preston of the animal, aud as he saw it
trcmble with fear in lis narrow prison.
house, his heart swelled with pity, and he
appealed with eloquent words that the cap
livemight again go froe. God, no said, had
made tho woodchuck he had made HIM to
| live, to enjoy the bright sunshine, the pure
air, tho free fields and woods. God has not
made him or anything in vain the wood
chuck had as much right to liv0 as any
other living thing ho was not destructive
animal, as tho wolf and fox were; he simply
ate fow common vegetables, Of which
they had plenty and could well sparo q
part he destroyed nothing except the lit
tie food needed to sustain his lite; and tha I.
little food was as sweet TO him. and as nec-
essary to his existence, as was to them the
food upon thoir mothers table. God fur
uished their own food he gave them all
they possessed and would they spare a
little for the dumb creature, who really had
as much right to his small share OF Gods
bounty as they themselves had to their por-
ton; yea, more, the animal had never vic,
lated tho laws of nature or the laws of God,
as man often did, but strictly followed the
simple instincts no had received from the
hand OF the Creator OF all things. Created
| by Gods hands, no 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 pleadngs of the
animal for that life as sweet, rs dear to him
as their own was to them; and tho first
Judgment they might expect, if, in selfish
cruelty and cold.heartedness, they took the
lifo they could not restore again.
During this appeal tears had started to
tho old mans eyes, and were fast running
down his sun-burnt cheeks; every feeling OF
fathers heart was stirred within him he
saw the future greatness of his son before
his eyes he folt that God had blessed him
and his children beyond the lot of common
mon his pity and sympathy were awaken
cd by the eloquent words of compassion,
and the strong appeal for mercy; aud for
getting tho Judge in the man and the father
no sprang from his chair whilo Daniel was
in the midst of his argument. without think
ing that he had already won his case, and
turning TO his elder son, dashing tho tears
from his eyes, exclaimed-'Zoke, Zeke, you
let that woodchuck 60 !-LondOn .4meri
! can.