The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1872-12-19
DANIEL Webster's First Plea.

Ebenezer Webster, father Of Daniel, was
a farmer. The vegetables IN the garden sui
fered considerably from the depredatloTs Of
a woodchuck. whose hold and habitation vas
near the premises Daniel. some ten years
old and his brother Ezekiel had SCI trap
and at last succeeded - catching the tres-
passcr. Ezekiel proposed 10 Kill the animal
and end at once all further trouble with
him: but Daniel looked with compassion
upon his meek, dumb captive, and offered to
let him 90. The boys could not agree, and
each appealed 10 their father 10 decide the
case.
. Well. nlv BOYS. said the old gentleman,
;. | will be Judge and you shall b the couii-
sci to plead the case for and against ms liie
and liberty"
Ezekiel opened the case with strong
eument urging the mischiey0us nature Of
/ the criminal, the great harm he had done,
/ and that much time and labor had been
/ spent In his capture and now, if suffered 70
i 90 at large re would renew his depreda-
+ lions and be cunning enough not TO be
caught again, and that he ought now 10 be
put to death that his skin was ct some
value and that, make the most q him they
could. il would not repay half the damage
( he had already done. His argument was
ready. practical and to the point
and Of much greater length than our limit
| will allow Us to occupy in relating the story
The father looked with pride upon his
son, who became q distinguished jurist IN
his manhood.
Now, Daniel, it's your turn; I'll hear
what you've got to say
II was his first case Daniel saw that the
plea Of his brother had scnsibly affected his
father the Judge and his large, brilliant
black-eyes rested upon the soft, timid ex-
preston of the animal, and he saw 1t
trembled with fear IN its narrow prison
house. His heart swelled with pity, and he
appealed with eloquent words that the cap
tive might 90 free. God, he said, had made
the woodcbuck; He made him TO live and
enjoy the bright sunshine, the pure air, the
fields and woods God had not made him
a. much right to live a. any other living
thing; he was not destructive animal,
like the wolf; he simply ate few common
vegetables, Of which they had plenty, and
c0nld well spare q part; he destroyed moth
ing except the little food he ate to sustain
his humble life; and tllat little food was as
sweet to him and a. necessary TO his exist
ence As was to them the food on their moth
er's table. God furnished their own food
He gave them all they possessed, and would
they not spare a little for dumb creature
who really had rs much right to his small
| share OF Gods bounty rs they themselves
had to their portion2 Yes more; the ami
,, NAL had never violated the laws of his na
ture or the laws Of God, as man ofted did
but strictly followed the simple instincts hC
: had received from the hands of the Creator
, of all things Created by Gods hands, he
had a right from God TO food, to liberty
: and they had no right to deprive him O
either. He alluded to the mute but earnest
pleadings Of the animal for that life. as deal
to him as were their own, and the JUS
l, Judgment they might expect, if in selfisl
+ cruelty and cold-heartedEess they took the
, life they could not restore again.
, During the appeal the tears had started
in the old mans eyes, and were fast runnin.
| down his sunburnt cheeks Every feelin.
of a fathers heart was stirred within him
2 and he felt that God had blessed him beyond
the lot Of common men. His pity wa
awakened by the eloquent words OF compass
, sion and the strong appeal for mercy; and
, fogetting the judge in the man and father
he sprang from his chair (vhiie Daniel wa
/, in the midst Of his argument, without think
j ing he had already won his case and turn
, ing to his eldest son, dashing the tears from
| his eyes, he exclaimed: "Zele, Zekc, yol
: let that woodchuck 90 r'-Portf0lio.