The Portland daily press., 1875-06-16
FARHAvEN, CT, May 2, 1875.
Letter from Daniel Webster,

MARsHFIELD, June 10, 1862.
Professor PedSe:-Dear Sir: | have received
your very abe and interesting annual report of
the condition of the New York Sabbath-school
Association, and read it with gIeat pleasure
and instruction. lt is gratifying, very crafty
ing, to learn that in a city, where vice and i'm
morality run riot with impunity, few humble
Christians have devoted their time and ener-
gies TO the cause of religion; and fervently
pray that your labOrs may be crowned with
success.
The Sabbath school is one of the great inst-
tutions of the day. 1t leads our youth in the
path of truth and morality, and makes them
good men and useful citizens. As school of
religious instruction it is of inestimable value.
As civil Institution it is priceless. 1t has
done more to preserve our liberties than grave
statesmen and armed soldiers. Let it then be
fostered and preserved until the end of time.
/ once defended man charged with the aw-
full crime OF murder At the conclusion of the
trial | asked him what could have induced him
to stain his hands with the blood of fellow
beirg. Turning his blood shot eyes full upon
me, he replied:
"Mr. Webster in my youth spent the holy
Sabbath in evil amusements instead of fre-
quenti0g the house of prayer ard praise
Could we go back TO the early years of all
hardened criminals l believe. yes, firmly be-
leve, that their subsequent crimes might thus
be traced back to the neglect of youthful relig-
ious instruction
Many years ago | spent a Sabbath with
Thomas Jefferson at his residence in Virginia.
1t was in the month of June, and the weather
was delightful. While engaged in discussing
the beauties of the Bible, the sound of a bell
broke upon our ears. Turning TO the sage of
Monticello, remarked,
''How sweety, how very sweety sounds that
Sabbath belp'
The distinguished statesman for moment
seemed lost in thought, and then replied,
Eyes! my dear Webster, yes, it melts the
heart; It calms our passions, and makes US
bows again"
Here l observed that man was an animal
formed for religious worship; and that not
wthstaGding all the sophistry of Epicurus,
Lucretus and Voltaire, the Scriptures stood
upon rock as firm, as unmovable as truth
itself; that man, in his purer, loftier breath
ings, turned the mental eyes towards immor-
talty; and that the poet only echoed the gen.
eral sentiment OF our nature in saying,
"The SOUL secures in her existence, smiles
Al the drawn dagger, ana defes its point"
Mr.. Jefferson fully concurred in this opin-
ion, and observed that the tendency OF the
American mind was in different direction;
and that the Sunday-schoos (he did not use
our more correct word Sabbath) presented the
only legitimate means under the constitution
of avoiding the rock on which the French Re-
public was wrecked.
"BurBe,' said he, ''never uttered a more
important truth than when be exclaimed, that
a religious education was the cheap defense
of nations. Raikes has done more for our
country tnan tue present generatiOn VIII ac-
knowledge. Perhaps when am cold he will
get his reward. l hope So L earnestly hope
so. 1 am considered, Mr.. Webster, to have
little religion; bnt now is not the time to cor
rect errors of this sort. L have always said,
and always Will say, that the studious perusal
of the sacred volume will make better hus-
bands. o the distinguished Raikes be was
| cldrune ct venerable nomen"
L took the liberty of saying that l found
more pleasure in Hebrew poetry than in the
best productions of Greece and Rome; that
the sharp upon the willows by Babylon had
charms for me beyond anything in the num-
| bers of the blind man of Smyrna L then
turned to Jeremiah (there was fine folio of
| the Scriptures before me of 1S45) and read
aloud some of those sublime passages that
used to delight me on my fathers knee
But fear, my dear friend shall tire you
with my prolix account of what was pleas
ant Sabbath, spent in the company of one who
has filled very large space in our political
| and literary annals.
Thanking you for your report, and heartily
| concurring with you in the truth of your quo
tation that righteousness exalteth nation,
! but sin is a reproach to any people,"
| Iremain, with high regard, your friend,
DANIEL WEBSTER.