Milford chronicle., 1895-02-08
THE oRAroRY OF WEBSTER.

ReeOllections of His Two Days Speech
Against Filling Up Back Bay.
The last time we heard Daniel Webster
speak was in 1s4S The impression he
then made upon our mind is still fresh.
We see even now this intuitive statesman,
lawyer and orator and shall never while
sense and memory are left us forget the
tones Of his voice, his attitude and his
gestures. All who have any remem brances
Of the man know that he was called The
Godlike," " and certainly If such phrase
is ever to be applied Co a mortal Mr.. Web
ster's title to it is pre-eminent, for indeed
when he was inspired by his subject he
seemed TO be being from another and
higher sphere
The plea 0T address, which consumed a
part Of two days, was made before a rail.
road committee Of the Massachusetts leg
islature. The writer was then member
Of that body and enjoyed the opportunity
Of listening to Mr.. Webster little think
ing it was the last time we would be priv
ileged to hear him. He then appeared to
be in good health and strength. Mr.. Web
ster died in October 1852, when he was
one Of the Whig candidates for the presi-
deney, and we therefore heard his voice
for the last time as it sounded forth in the |
representatives hall of the Massachusetts |
statehouse. The committee agreed TO /
hold its hearings in this hall, chat all who /
desired to hear the great man ight do So
The commodious audience room below
and above was crowded to its utmost ca
pacity on this occasion.
The question before the committee was
a proposition from the Old Colony railroad
to I'LL up what was then known as the
South Boston flats, over which the tides of
the bay and harbor flowed The road
wanted more room for its depots and
buildings. The Boston merchants who
)wned the small coastwise vessels and
we're engaged in the mercantile shipping
md longshore trade wanted all this room
where the waters flowed for the mOOring
# their small craft, and these men sent to
Washington and called the great orator .
md senator to come on and help them de-
eat the railroad management and paid
i'm good round fee, and he did it,
1t is Of this great and pertinent address a
lone we now propose to speak. The hall Z
7as crowded. Mr.. Webster did not talk h
n this occasion to the multitude, but to
be committee, and his argument was
bic, terse and TO the point, and delivered
D tone that the committee and those ,
ear the front could hear. A vast number
people in that audience did not hear :
nything he said the first day But never ,,
hind. 1t was Mr.. Webster who was ,
leaking, and all staid and listened Just :
le same
Mr.. Webster's argument was for the =
and not intended for public ef :
ct To these officials he made his address h
18th convincing power. He was a perfect
atn ~ kHn a..
lrest and best words and phrases of our :,
were always at his command. i
} on this occasion there were no mere =
attitudes, pOmpous phrases and useless ~
I'd frivolous words His entire plea was =
ain and replete with arguments poten- =
Il with the committee and this was all =,
sought TO accomplish. The crowd went ~
'ay at the close Of the first day s hearing =
Nevertheless there was a n.
rt of satisfaction that they had listened a.
d tried to hear the great orator. On the ~
1ond day they were more than pleased ~,
, their trouble. n
One Of the lawyers Of the railroad took -
g opportunity to critieise and almost =,
oh at the great man argument. It was ~
st the course to arouse the sleeping lion, -
d for an hour and half there was such -
Outpouring, such a wonderful presen- y.
ion Of arguments, rhetoric, forensic 81
II and legal acumen, as put to silence -,
caviling at once.
The real Bostonian prides himself that
native or chosen city is the Hub. Any -.
> who was so fortunate as to hear Mr.
'bster that day and to see the grand pic
e which he drew would, for a time az s
st, admit that Boston-Mr Websters 5 CHI
ston-is indeed and in truth the Hub. Ne
described the pilgrim city as the entire the
of the world and declared it to be the IRE
ional mercantile emporium Of all the tior
g and wide stretch of country which trou
irons It. He entered mastery protest are
inst filling up the harbOr and said it dele
not more land, but more harbor, that The
city needed, and then he pronounced .He
word excavate three times, with "A The
Hing and indescribable effect, which lei
Jne who listened to him at that timo
ever forget
he summing up Of Mr. Webster's abll 7
and unsurpassed oratory and the skill ls1
he possessed is found in the words ~ -,
le that he used, though these wrought 80
htily in his favor. 1t was necessary to son
pie all he said with look into his face -
into the flashing eyes and to take into tea
unt the mans entire individuality. 10,
estimate Of Mr.. Webster is predicated ~
a this dual opportunity and method seo,
rded us in seeing and hearing him haI,
are glad to say this now, as We re- enc
lber our privilege. Norwich On, " Sr,
" tre
Catholics and Secret Societies. bas