The Morgantown monitor. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1863-1864, 1863-05-23
Wr. Webster in Action.

g I have said on this occasion to
dwell on political topics | may, In il
Illustration of this remark, observe
that it was my happiness, at his re-
quest, to pass part of the evening
,.'the 25rh January, 1880, with him;
and went over to me from very CON
else brief the main topics of the
speech prepared for the following
! day-,he second speech on Foote $
4 resolution, which he accounted the
greatest OF his parliamentary efforts.
Intense anticipation, l need not re-
mind YOU. awaited that effort, both
at Washington and throughout the
country. A pretty formidable per-
sonal attack was to be repealed; New
England was to be vinaicated against
elaborate disparagement; and more
than all, the trne theory OF the Con-
slitntion as heretofore generally un-
derstood was to be maintained against
a new Interpretation, devised by per-
haps the acutest loglcan in the com
try: asserted with equal confidence
and fervor, and menacing revolu-
ton in the government. Never had
public speaker harder task to per-
firm: and except on the last great
topic, which no doubt was familiar
to his habitual contemplations, his
opportunity for preparation had been
most inconsiderable, for the argu-
ment Of his accomplished opponent
had been concluded but the day be-
fore the reply was to be made.
| sat an hour and half with Mr..
Webster the evening before this great
effort. The imprisoned parts OF bis
speech, and those in which the per
Snnaities Of his antagonist were re-
torted, were hardly indicated in his
prepared brief. So calm and unlm-
FASHIONED was he, so entirely at ease
and free from that nervous excite
meut which is almost unavoidable,
50 near the moment which Is to put
the whole man to the proof, that |
was tempted, absurdly enough, to
think him not sufficiently aware OF
the magnitude OF the occasion. |
venturcd even to intimate to him that
what he had to say the next day
would, in fortnight time, be read
hy every grown man in the country.
But | Sonu perceived that his calm
ness was the repose Of conscious DOW
er. Tie battle had been fought and
won within, upon the broad field OF
his own capacious mind; for II was
Mr.. Webster's habit first to state to
himself his opponents argument In
its utmost strength. Hence 1t came
to PASS that he was nrve: taken ny
surprise 10y any turn u: tire discus
Sion. BrSidcs, the moment and the
occasion were TOO important Tor ire
pdation. A surgeon might as well
bp nervous who is going to cnt with
in hair breadth of great artery.
He WAS not only at ease, bat sport!Ve
and full OF anrc,lntr: and, rs he told
the Senate p'nyinlIy next day, he
slept Soundly that night on the for
midable assault Of his accomplished
adversary. So the great C"nde slept
on the eve of the battle Of Rocroi; ST
Alexander the Great slept on the eve
Of the battle Of ArbeIa; and 50 they
awoke to deeds Of Immortal fame.
AS | saw him in the evening, Gf |
may borrow an illustration from his
tavorIte amusement,) he was as un-
cpncerned, and free OF spirit, as some
here present have often seen him,
while floating in his fishing boat
along a hay shore, gently rocking,
on the tranquil tide, dropping his
line here and there, with the varying
fortune Of the sport. The next morn
ing he was like some mighty Admi,
raj, dark and terrible, casting the
long shadow of his frownng tiers
far over the sea, that seemed to sink
beneath him; union and pendant
streaming from the top-rnast heads,
aud bearing down like a tempest up
on his antagonist, with all his can
vas strained to the wind and all his
thuuders roaring from his broad
sides.
Do not wonder, my friends, that |
employ these military illustrations.
do so partly because, to the imaglna,
tons Of most men, :hey suggest the
lire}ieSt conceptions of antagonlStlc
energy and power; partly because
they are within themselves approprl-
ate
''Peace hath her victories
Not less renowned than war"
On the two sides Of this great par
liamentary contest there were dis
played as much intellectual power,
as much moral courage, AS much ell
ovation of soul, as in any campai gn,
ancient or modern. And taom the
wars of those old Assylian kings and
couqnerers, whose marble etfiyies,
now lying on the floor Of. Dir. Will
liam Appleton warehouse, after
sleeping twenty-five hundred Years
on the banks of the Tigris, have by
the strange vicissitudcs and changes
of human things, been dug up from
tho rninS ot Nin.ych u r. 4 trans. ort.,l