Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-10-29
said to have been delivered by Mr.. Web

i SAID TO nave aOeen delivered ny MI W CO
ster in the Capitol Square of this city,
j October 5, 1850. If don't mistake Daniel
j Webster had been dead several months at
| the period last mentioned. (No; he died
October "a, 1s52.-Dispatch.) heard
the speech delivered by him from the mid
die of the southern portico OF the state
House from flower embazoned and
flag adorned pulpit on the 5th of October
$780, and thought could not be mistaken
| as to the time. There were more people
! then congregated on the square than l
| ever saw afterwards and even 'endurln
| Of the war"
The immense and strongly built steps
that descended from the southern portlco
, into the Capitol Square were put III
place. by FendalI Griffin. and other en-
thusiastic Wings.
< But the untoward incident, as .remem-
Der, happened that day on the Square.
An adventurous lau undertook TO Gimp
up the side of the capitoI about where
Office Of the late Colonel ]. Bell Bigger
was located by means of the cast-iron
lightning-rod. When about forty feet
above ground the brittle rod snapped ir
twain and the boy was dashed to the
ground on pile of roc..s bereft OF life
and horribly disfgured
The visit of Mr.. Webster to Richmond,
was short, and his public engag ements
SO numerous, as to put it out of his power
to return the calls of his friends, or to
pay his respects to their families. 1t was
accordingly proposed that the ladies who
might desire 10 do so should assemble II,
the log cabin (on Main between
Twelfth and Thirteenth Streets, and that
ne should then pay his respects to them
collectively. The meeting was large and
the building quite full. On being intro
duced to them in a few appropriate re-
marks by Hon. James Lyons, the Massa-
shusetts statesman proceeded to address
them in an hours speech in his own in
comparable style. This public reception
by the ladies Of Richmond occurred on
October 5, 1910, on the evening Of the
same day of the delivery Of the great
grafton on he Capitol Square.
In beginning his address to the ladies
Mr.. Webster said Il wish to express 20
you my deep and hearty thanks, as
have endeavored to do to your fathers
your husbands. and your brothers. for the
unbounded hospitality I have received
ever since l came among you. This is
registered I assure you, in a grateful
heart. in characters of an enduring ma
ture. The rough contests of the political
world are not suited to the dignity and
the delicacy Of your sex; but you possess
the intelligence to know how much of that
happiness which you are entitled to hope
for, both for yourselves and for your
children. depends on the right admins
tration Of government, and a proper tone
of public morals. This is a subject on
which the moral perceptions Of woman
are both quicker and juster than those OF
the other sex. do not speak of that
administration of government whose oh
Ject is merely the protection of industry,
the preservation Of civil liberty and the
securing to enterprise of It's due reward.
l speak of government in a somewhat
higher point of view; I speak of it in re-
gard to Its influence on the morals anc
sentiments Of the community
Mr.. Webster. in his convention speech,
said in allusion to slavery in the States:
L hold that Congress Is absolutely pre-
cluGed from interfering in any manner
other of the institutions of tbs State"
This announcement being received with
great acclaim the speaker was requested
to repeat the remorks. He replied:
We'll. repeat it; proclaim it on the
wings Of all the Winds tell 1t to all your
friends. (Cries of I'VE will. We will'').
Tell it. l say. that, standing here on the
Capitol of Virginia, beneath an October
sun, in the midst OF this assemblage. be-
fore the entire country, and upon all
the responsibility which belongs to me- |
say that there is no power. direct or indi-
rect. In Congress or the general govern
ment, to interfere In the slightest degrees
with the institutions or the South
The speeches of Mr.. Webster in Rich
mond were reported specially for the |
Richmond
and Wheeler. two of the most eminent |
in this country They |
We're afterwards issued in pamphlet form |
from the office of the Yeoman a pubiica-
ton Of that day. G. C. w,