Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1871-1872, 1872-06-22
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES.
Partisan Chspges of Definitions In
webster's Dictionary.

~GDANoE &ACkAouhkYs
Was not DR.. Noah Webster qualified to
give correct definitions Of political terms
used in the United States? He entered
Yale College in IVA. the s,me year IN
which the Continental Congress of the Col
Onies held their FRS. session 10 PhiladelPhiA
to discuss the grsA, questions at issue be-
them and the mother county. These dis-
cusses awakened deep interest throughout
the colonies, and led to the Declaration OF
Independence on the 4ih OF Jolly, ITO
when the colonies took their departure from
the condition OF dependence into the condi-
sion Of sovereign and independent States.
His class caught the Gre OF the revolution,
and earnestly discussed the principles upon
which Il was founded. Among those OF that
class who were Afterwards distinguished as
politicians and statesmen we're Joel Barlow,
Abraham Bishop, ZsphsniAh Swift, UriAh
Tracy. Alexander Wolcot., and Oliver VOL.
colt
In 1888, the State Of Conneoticut was
greatly asitAted on the subject of the half
pay for life granted to the army by Congress.
and the communication OF that grant 10 full
pay for five years. To sllAy that agitation.
Mr.. Webster wrote number Of pieces under
the title OF "Houorius, which had so much
ioAuenee in accomplishing the object for
which they we're written, that hs received
the thanks Of Governor Trumbull, the
Brother Jonathan" Of General Washing
ton.
"Iu the winter Of 1885 Mr.. Webster
whose political and other valuable writings
had made him known to the public, pro
posed, in Que Of his publications, = nev
system Of govern ment, which should act, mo-
90 the States, but dreesly on individuals
aud vest 10 Congress foil power to carry il,
laws into effect. Madison Papers, pag,
llS.
so much Importance did Mr.. Webster
attach 10 bis views expressed 10 the pam
phlsI containing them, that he carried it 10
person to General Washington, at whose
house Mr.. Madison read it in the ensuing
summer.
10 1871 be published a pamphlet entitled
an Exam nation OF the Leading Principles
OF the Federal Constitution
In 1898 be removed bis family to New
York, aud commenced daily paper under
the title Of the Minerua, and afterwards a
asmi.Weekly paper, under the title Of the
Herald names which we're subsequently,
changed TO those Of the Commercial Adver-
tiser and New York Spectator. These pa
psrs we're devoted TO the support Of the I'D
ministrHliop OF General Washington under
the new Federal Constitution. He was en-
couraged TO this enterprise by such men a,
Rufus King, John Jay, aud Alexander
Hamilton.
In 1895 he published a series Of paper
under the signature OF "Curtius, in supper
Of JayS treaty, to which there was great op
position. These papers we're very extern
sively reprinted throughout the COUNTRY
and afterwards collected by bookseller 0
Philadelphia 10 a pamphlet form. Of these
teu were contributed by himself and two BY
Mr., afterwards Chancellor, Kent. As 10
evidence Of their effect, Mr. Rufus King e1
pressed bis opinion to Mr.. Jay that the
essays Of "Cuuius' had contributed more
than auy other papers Of the same kind to
AllAy the discomfort aud opposition to the
treaty, assigning as . reason that they we're
peculiarly well adapted to the understand
ing Of the people at large.
10 1902 he published a treatise full Of
minute information and able reasoning re.
specing the rights Of neutral nations 10
iims Of war. As the advocate Of the Fed
era Constitution, add q strenuous 50 pporter
Of WAshington's administration, he vas
brought into habits Of the closest intimacy
wish Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, Oliver
Wolcoit, Timothy Pickering, aud the Other
great meD on whom Washington relied for
counsel aud aid in organizing the new gov
eminent. Besides this he repeatedly repre-
senled the Town Of New Haven 10 the gen
eral Assembly Of Connecticut, and the Tow
Of Amherst in the General Court Of MassG
chuss1ta, taking the leading part in each o
those Legislatures.
With these facts before our mind, car
there be any doubt that Mr.. Webster under
stood the political Institutions Of our
country, and was well qualified TO give cor
rect d-inilions ia his dictionary Of the terms
spilled 70 those Institutions?
DR., wEBsrER's srATENExrs IS THE PREFACE
or MS DICTIONARY.
mo person 10 this country will be salts
fed With the English definition Of the words
Congress, Senate AAd Assembly, Court, &C.;
for although These are words used in Eng
land, ys, they are applied in this country to
express ideas which th0y do not express 10
that country.
with our presen. constitution Of govern
ment eschsag can never have its fsudel
sense IN the United States. But this is not
all In many essos the nature Of our gov.
srRmsnu and Of our civil institutions re.
qulres 40 appropriate language 10 the def
milton OF words, even uhea tho words e1-
press the sane thing as 10 England. Thus
the English dictionary informs us that jus.
ucs Is one depuIsd BY the King to do right
BY way OF judgmeut-he is lord ~ his
office. Justices Of the peace are appointed
By the Kings commissi IN language which
is Inaccurate in respect to this officer IN the
United States. So oonstituiionAlly is de6n-
ed by Chalmers legally but in this country
the distinction between constitution and Law
requires different definition"
tie gives as authorizes for the definition
Of his terms Franklin, Warrington, Jay,
Madison, MAr.hAll.
One important reason why be styles his
dictionary an american dictionary Of the
English language was that it contained the
American adjudication of certain terms.
DEFINITIONS or POLITICAL TERMS GIVEN BY
Oh. wEBsTER AND CHANGED ny DR.. PORTER
IN HIS EDITION OF wEBsTEE's DICTIONARY.
CoMPACr-Dr. Webder's Definition:
III is more generally applied to agreements
between nations and estates, AZ treaties and
eonfedsrAeiss. So the Constitution Of the
Y nitsd States is political contract between
the stAtes--a national compact"
lh'' definition, giving the American
sense Of the word compact, as applied to the
Constitution Of the United States, found 10
hs Two editions Of wsbstsr's Dictionary,
VIZ, 1879 aud ls4l, prepared by DIR. Web
ser hinIslf, and in the two editions edited
oy Dr. Goodrich, viz, ls47 and 1889. Is
oppressed oJ Dr. Porter in his edition OF
Weostera Dictionary OF 1864 Wby did he
suppress II in what Is claimed 10 ha -
American dictionary of the EnaIi,b Ian.
gu1gs? Do not foreigners aud Other, nssd
TO know that the Consultation Of the TJn;,sd
States Is political contract between The
L n