The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-07-09
webster's Use Of Sunday " ana S"""
badh.'
AN ALLEGED LETTER OF HIS ESAaiShD-Dolbis
OF HIS HAVING WRITTEN 1T.

,,,ropn,rrryr OF HIS FxAMlSED-DoUBTs
OF HIS HAVING WRITTEN 1T.
To The Editor Of Tie Tribune;
sir.-In one OF my papers, just received. is
an article headed Memorable Letter from
Daniel Webster" 1t seems 10 have been
communicated to the Christian Union by
Mr.. John S. G. Abbott, who yoHches Tor its
authenticity, though he says, where it
has been buried for so long q time
cannot imagine: neither do know where
Mr.. Benson obtained it, Now, upon read
ing the letter, it did not seem 10 me TO have
at all the Websteran ring" and felt quite
sure that there was some mistake about II.
The letter is dated Mar>hfeld, June ID, 1852,
and Is addressed TO Professor Pease, in re-
spouse to his every able and interesting an
nual report of the condition Of the New
York Sabbath.Schoo Association" The
letter has the expression Sabbatll-school
good many times, and contains IN account
OF Mr.. Webster's interview with Thomas
Jefferson, in the following words:
Many years ago | spent u Sabbath with
Thomas jefferson at his residence in Virgin
il. It was in the month of June, and tht
weather was delightful. While engaged il
discussing the beauties OF the Bible the sount
q
the sage of Monticello, remarked: g. How
swectly, how very sweetly sounds that Sab
bath bell ~ The distinguished statesman iol
moment seemed lost in lboughtjsand thcI
replied, eyes, my dear Webster, yes; i
melts the heart; 1t Gains our passions, aht
makes us BOYS again" Here observed tina
man was an animal formed for religious Wor
ship; aud that notwithstanding all the so
phistry Of Epicurus, Lucretius, and Vol
taire, the Scriptures stood upon rock {.
firm, as unmoveablc as truth Itself; that IL
in bis purcr, loitier breathings, turned tn
mental eyes toward Immortality; and tina
the poet only echoed the general Sentimcn
of our nation in saying,
"Thp soul, secure In her existence. smiles
Al the drawn dagger, and dcics It's point"
Mr.. Jefferson fully coDcurred IN this opn
ion, and observed that the tendency OF The
American mind was in I different direction
and that The Sunday school (Ec did not u>t
orl more correct word SIbDatiD presented The
,,uiI Terminate means under the COESiitu
ton Of avoiding the rock on which the
Ere, Oh Republic vas wrecked.
Feeling quite sure that the expressions in
this letter, and especially the words Z" Sac
bath "and Sabbath school," were not Web
s,s"ian, refreshed my memory by an exam
ination OF Mr.. Wester'S Life, by George
T'Icknor Curtis. From this work find the
following facts:
First. Mr.. Wcbstcr's visit to 3lr. J, i1trson
was mol in June, as stated in the letter, but
in December, 1924. Secondly. In May, 1852,
Mr.. Webster met with an accident near
Marshticd, which prevented bis writing
any letters for Scyc!al weeks, except by an
amqnucnsis, and when it was with difficulty
that he could even sign his name. Thirdly.
son the 1st day of Jurc, 1852, Mr.. Webster
was again in Washington and on the 1G h
day OF that month OF the same year he wrote
or dictated letter, dated ut Washington,
to the Rev. DIR. Putnam, OF kuXDury, Mass,
and conclude, therefore, that he could not
have been ut MarshfJld on June Is, 1852,
which is the date and place Of the newly
discovered letter TO Mr. Pca>c. Fourlhly. |
Ind in his lie Il good many letters dated
!SHnitdy, and Il good many references to Sun
dHy, but never the Use OF the word SdbJ0M;
nor do believe that this word can BIZ found
in all of his writings. either as expressing or
iniimatiug any preference for it, us implied
in the reported conversation with Mr. Jttf"r-
son. j. 4. u.
Cleveland, OHIO, July 8, 1919.