West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1882-01-27
DANIEL WEBSTER.
Hc stands AioNC--ln the Forum Isc
was Grcnt;NupOu thcIRostrum
Sublime.

Dan,el webster, the great American
orator. jurlst and statesman, was
born in Salisbury, New Hampshire.
The publ;c is mewhat prone to un -
derrate contemporaries, and to mag
inc that the men OF former days were
their superiors-an injustice TO our
leading Statesmen, aud very poor
compliment to the times IN which
we live. The men in pubic life now
are the equals probably Of those Of
any given period in the history Of
the country. They have the exIe-
rience OF their predecessors to guide
thom, and they have also fund Of
knowledge which was not accessible
TO the iormer. But, Webster canuot
properly be compared with the lead
ing men Of America. He stands
alone. From tho moment that he
delivered his maiden speech in the
House OF Representatives in 1918
until bis great spirit, worn down 10y
hereculean labors, passed away, in
1858. he was the central figure in
American politics. :. None equalled
him. none approached him, 1t may
be that Clay acquired greater popu-
larIty, but he possessed neither the
exalted intellect nor the Cqusbility
OF Webster. Calhoun, az a logiciap,
bad no peer; but he lacked that
nameIess something.which the world
has agreed to call personal magnet
lam. Clay had genius, Calhoun had
talent, but Webster had both com
bined. In the forum he was great;
upon The rostrum sublime. When
before jury. those who were not
convinced 10y his reasonings were
overwhelmed by the ceaseIess flow Ct
his eloquenCe; when addressing the
people upon one of those noted ocoa-
sioas which occur once or twice in
generation, his god like periods alb
solutely awed his hearers, and their
minds gradually grasped the full
force OF his words warmed into re-
sstless enthusiasm, they would bear
him on their shoulders in triumph.
The man who could at will open the
flood gates Of the rugged New Eng
landers OF half century ago, pos
sessed something more than either
oratory or eloquenoe. He had that
rare attribute which marks the dis
tinction between mere greatness and
tne light that shines ~ a beacon
through the ages to chow mankind
what emnences are attRinable.
Patrick Henry was gifted and pa
riot; but Webster vas orator, pa
triot, and statesman, The one drew
his inspiration from nature; the other
had equal Inspiration, supplemented
by vast learning and intellectually.
Ia the Dartmouth College case he
formulated the law which has ever
since governed private Incorporated
institutions OF learning ini"Americs; !;
as q member Of the House OF Repre-
sentatives he effected a complete re-
vision Of the criminal laws Of the
United States; in the India rubber
case in New Jersey, the last great
effort OF his life, he laid down the
principlea OF patent law 30 that the
path Of future practitioners Was q
highway as Secretary Of State be
confronted Great Britian's most as
tute diplomatists, and together they
brushed away The clouds which we're
threatening the peace Of two great
empires; and in the Senate Of The
United States he offered himself AZ q
shield between the warning factions
OF North and South, and for many
years, by bis wisdom aud tolerance.
svertod the day Of wrath which
menaced The perpetuity Of the Ma
ton. Pronounced in bic convictions
upon all subjects, be was yet iully
cognizsnt Of the prediudiges, crotch
ets and weaknesses Of human nature.
ard was as willing TO admit that his
| judgement might err AZ that OF
anotber The middle course he Al
ways regarded as the safest in poll
tics. Though warm advocate oil
protection to American industries
be clearly distinguished between the
ARE which would cherish and the
excessive legislation that would de.
stroy the object TO oe benefited. Per.
haps the crowDing effort Of hiscareer
was bis reply to Colonel Haype
TSe scene 10 the Senate on that oc-
casion was intensely dramatic. The
South CaroInian.-s young and no
passioued orator Of extraordinary
/ ohtlitg made an s0ort ~. -