Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1867-02-16
AssAILING THE DEAD.


Cotemporaneously with the war on the
corpse of Albert Sidney Johnston, in
Texas, came the war ON the memory OF
Webster. One Parton, blatherskite
biographer, has been traducing the great
expodnder of the Constitution, in the
North american Repieio. AT one time,
and that time was the crisis Of the North,
Daniel Webster was its foremost man.
In ell but its fanaticism, he was its
oracle and champion. No other man in
that section dared to measure arms with
Calhoun, Hayne and McDuffie on the
question of State Rights in 1928 and
1892 After the conclusion Of Haynes
celebrated speech in the Senate, some OF
the best men of the North who had heard
it from the gallery, became pale with
apprehension. 1t was bold, spendid
and terrific in its attack, in its repulse,
and in its logic. Teft, a yeracious biog-
rapher Of Webster, tells us that New
England delegation who heard it, we're
pale and tremulous. They feared both
for the courage and power of the
greatest man of the North. The
fate Of the Union, perhaps, and certainly
that Of the tariG, hung upon the courage
and prowess Of Webster. With protec.
ton, New England would become rich
and powerful Without it, she would
dwindle away and become fruitless.
Hayne had fred a dreadful broadside
into her barren hills, and shattered her
rocky sleeps. 1t was an hour of the ut
most peril, and pallor was on every
New England face when Webster rose
in reply. Calm as a colossal statue, he
confronted the Senate, while the echo
of Haynes voice was still ringing round
The capitol) and in slow and measured
terms, began that unrivaled Grafton
which rescued New England from ruin
In 1850, Boston, that owed all to him,
shut the door Of Faneuil Hall in his
face. He was scofed at in the streets,
and, It was said at the time, burnt in
efigy in several places in the North.
While he lived, his character as Chris
tan gentleman was never assaulted. So
mean a work is reserved for this day,
when New England is everything, and
the country of Calhoun and Hsyne is
nothing. This fellows dissection of his
character assigns him position among
men not far removed above that Of
professional thief He had no religion,
he says, was spendthrift, and was not
trustworthy as a man. Webster, it is
evident, is now no favorite with tri-.
umphant Puritanisn. 1t assigns him a
position among the enemies Of his coun-
try. Comparing hisdoctrines with those
they preach and practice to day, they
cannot love his memory. He was for a
government of law. They are not, if the
law affords equal protection to all men.
They insist on exclusive privileges in
virtue of Puritan superiority. He was
for common country, perfect union,
one and indivisible. They favor a gov
eminent that shall constitute them the
masters of the purses and the property of
the people. He admitted that the South
was free and ought to be equal as States.
They demand that she shall be held as
subject provinces and pay tribute to New
England He was a great and good
patriot They are selfish, prOscriptive,
intolerant tyrauts, without a drop Of
generous blood in their veins They find
an appropriate mouth-piece in Parton, a
slanderer Of one of the greatest men Of
our age. Passed into history, and in
scribed upon the roll Of fame, the name
Of Daniel Webster is safe from any dis
honor the Pa=.ons of our day can cast
upon il
CHANDLER.