The Sunday Oregonian., January 19, 1908, SECTION THREE, Page 9, Image 33

THE SU XDAT '. OREGON! A. PORTLAND. .JANUARY 19, .- 1908.
a
The Life and Public
Services of Daniel Webster
George H. Williams Delivers. Address Upon the Career of the Great
La-vyer, Statesman and Orator.
THE NEW
THE NEW
LITTLE RENTS MAKE SMALL PROFITS
BIG EAST SIDE
T THE banquet of the 'American',
L Patriotic Club last night, George
m ' H. Williams delivered the following
address upon the life and public services
of Daniel Webster:
Mr. Chairmen and Gentlemen.
One hundred and twenty-five years ago
today at Salisbury. In the State of New
Hampshire, a. child was born into the
world, who as a man Is now known to fame
as Daniel Webster. Washington. Jefferson,
Hamilton, Adams, Madison,. Lincoln and
Grant" are bright particular stars In the
historical firmament of the United States.
bit none of them shine with a greater in
tellectual brilliancy than the lawyer,
statesman and orator. Daniel Webster.
His father. Ebenezer Webster, was a
soldier -in the French and Indian war and
In the war of the Revolution, and is de
scribed as a man of large physical propor
tions :wlth a broad projecting forehead,
large black .eyes overshadowed with heavy
eyebrows, with a strong, practical mind,
and. his mother as a woman of high Intellectual-endowments,
religiously devoted to
her children and the care of her family.
Their son Daniel resembled bis father In
form and features, but was of the opinion
that his high qualities of intellect were
derived from his - mother, according to
what stems to be quite a common law of
Inheritance, 'that men take their physical
appearance from their fathers while their
mental characteristics come largely from
tlielr mothers. ...
His Early Training.
Mr. Webster was taught 'to read by his
mother, attended the common school In
his neighborhood, was at the Exeter Acad
emy for a t;ime, and in 179". at the age of
lo years, entered Dartmouth College. He
was not particularly distinguished In col
lege for his scholarship, but was an om
niverous reader and attained considerable
prominence there as a debater. He grad-,
nated in 1801 and commenced the study of
the law with Thomas W. Thompson, a
lawyer of Salisbury, where his lather
lived. He afterwards studied in the office
of a Mr. Gore, an eminent lawyer in Bos
ton, and was admitted to practice in,lS06.
While Mr. Webster was a student there
were few reports compared with those
now extant, and his law reading was con
fined chiefly to the English text books
through which he became thoroughly
versed 111 the common Jaw, and learned to
argue more by the application of princi
ples than by one citation of authorities.
He began his practice as a, country lawyer
In the village of Boscawen. near. Salis
bury, where he' practiced for a couple of
years, and then removed to Portsmouth.
He remained In Portsmouth for nine years
and became -so prominent aoon after he
came there that he was. employed In near
ly all the Important cases in that part of
the state. His competitor was Jeremiah
Mason, one of the greatest lawyers New
Knglapd has ever produced. Mason and
Webster, . though warm personal friends,
were generally opposed" to each other in
the trial of causes and It was the opinion
of Webster that these Intellectual combats
with Mason as much or more than any
thing "euse, fitted him for the professional
triumphs of his subsequent career. In
1816 Mr. ; Webster removed from Ports
mouth to' Boston, and it did not take hlrfl
long to become the recognised leader df
the bar Tu , Massachusetts, though such
men as Theophllus Parsons, Samuel Dexi
ter and Henry Gray Otis were then menv
bers of that bar.- He-was not averse?, to I
the trial of causes in courts of original
Jurisdiction, but hW chief business was to
argue cases in. the Supreme Court of the
" state and the Federal courts. He had
been In practice about two years In Bos
ton when he was employed to argue a
ease in the Supremo Court of the United
States which gave him a National repu
tation. This was the celebrated Darts
mouth College case. Dartsmouth College
was founded by the Kev. Eleason Whee
lock In 1754. Donations of money and
lards were made to It; trustees were ap-.
pointed by one founder, and In 1769 a
charter was obtained from the English
crown making It a perpetual corporation.
In 1815 the Legislature of New Hampshire
pnssed an act changing the name and gov
ernment of the college and otherwise mod
ifying Its rights and privileges. This pre
cipitated a contest In tbe courts as to the
validity of this act and the Supreme Court
of New Hampshire decided that it was
valid. An appeal was taken to the Su
preme Court of the United States and Mr.
Webf ter appeared for the college as It ex
isted under the charter from the crown.
He took the ground that the charter with
the gifts that had been made to the col
lege under the charter constituted a con
tract between the Government and the
founder that was protected by that clause
in the constitution of the United States
providing that. "No state shall pass any
law impairing the obligations of con
tracts." He had no authorities to cite or
precedents to follow, as the question in
volved was a new one In this country and
was compelled to rely upon English law.
Knglish historv and what he had learned
or the Federal Constitution. To defend
Dartmouth College was not only a profes
sional duty with Webster, but a labor of
love. He spoke of that Institution as an
affectionate son would speak of his moth
er. il put the feelings of his heart Into
the faculties of his mind. Memories of
the bright and joyous days of his youth
tame up to mingle themselves with the
merits of the case. It was a great argu
ment the greatest, some of the Judges
said '-up to that time made in the Supreme
Court Chief Justice Marshall delivered
the opinion of the court completely sus
taining llr. Webster and reversing the de
cision of the Supreme Court of New
Hampshire. This decision has been much
criticised and complained of, as affording
undue protection to Corporations, but
hoary-headed, battered and bruised as it
Is. It still speaks for the inviollability of
contracts by Btate legislation.
The Cose of Gibson vs. Ojrden.
Another case of great moment, Gibson
vs. Ogden, was argued by Mr. Webster.
The Legislature of New York granted to
Robert Livingston and Robert Fulton the
exclusive right to navigate the waters
of that state with boats -propelled by
steam. Osden was the assignee of this
right. Gibson undertook to run boats
duly licensed by the Government In vio
lation of this right. He was enjoined by
the Chancellor and the court for the cor
rection of errors; the Senate of the State
affirmed this decision. Gibbons appealed
the case to the Supreme Court of the
United States and employedsMr, Webster.
The question Involved was closely allied
to that question which has disturbed our
Government ever sir.ce It was formed and
Is now widely discussed as to the leisla
t, live Jurisdiction of Congress over and af
fecting the Internal affairs, of a state.
Webster contended that the laws of New
Fork giving to Ogden an exclusive right
to navigate the waters of that state were
repugnunt to that clause of the Federal
Constitution whiclr gives to Congress the
pOwer to regulate commerce among the
several states. His argument was ex
haustive and conclusive. The Supreme
' Court reversed the decision of the state
courts and dismissed Ogden's bill, hold
ing that while the jurisdiction of the
state over its waters purely local was
exclusive, the Jurisdiction of Congress
was paramount to the jurisdiction of the
state over wnters within its borders like
the "Hudson River accessible to the com
merce of other states.
Attacks the Girard Will.
Ogden vs. Sanders was another import
ant case argued in the Supreme Court
by .Mr. Websier Involving the Question
as -to whether or not the Constitution
invested Congress, with the exclusive
ritht to- pass bankrupt laws. The court
held contrary to the contention of Web
ster that the' states had a right to pass
bankrupt: laws applicable to contracts
made after the laws were enacted, but he
won bis case upon another ground. Mr.
.Webster appeared in the Supreme Court
to contest the validity of the will of
Stephen Girard. a case in which the pub
lic took a great interest. Girard be
queathed J2.000.000 to the City of Philadel
phia to establish a college for the edu
cation of orphans, and his will provided
that no ecclesiastic missionary or minis
ter of any sect whatsoever should -ever
hold or exercise any station or duty
whatever in said college, Girard's heirs
attacked the will upon the ground, among
others, that ft was In conflict with the
Christian religion. . . The case was argued
by four of the greatest lawyers In the
Unjted - States Birney . & Sergeant for
the will, Webster and Jones .against it.
Webster made an elaborate argument to
show that' the will antagonized the Chris
tian, religion, which" was a: part - of the
common law of the country, ' and was,
therefore, void, but the court ruled other
wise and upheld the validity of the will.
Luther vs. Borden was another case
which attracted public attention. This
case grew out of what was known as the
Dorr rebellion, in Rhode Island. Luther
sued Borden in trespass for breaking into
his house. Borden's defense .was that he
was an officer of the state' government
with a warrant to arrest Luther for par
ticipation in the rebellion. The question
in the case was, whether the charter
government under which the state was
organized existed, or whether it had been
superseded by a government formed by
citizens of the state without any law
providing for the formation of such new
government. The court, below decided
for Borden and against the. new govern
ment,, and' Luther appealed to the Su
preme Court. Webster argued for an
affirmance of the Judgment, and it was
affirmed. Other cases of importance were
argued in the Supreme Court by Webster
but they cannot be particularly noticed
here. -
.At the Head of His Profession.
There is no doubt that at the age of 50
years Mr.- Webster stood at the head bf
the legal profession in the United States.
Many, things combined to give him this
distinction.. In. the first place, his com
manding; form and striking features im--pressed
a court and Jury. He personified
the majesty of the law. Evidently he
had a natural aptitude for hia profession.
Poets and painters must have a natural
adaptability to their professions to suc
ceed, .and though thov v. .
to the same extent as to lawyers, yet
some lawyers win succeed while others,
with equal opportunities, will fail.
Webster's mind was enriched by 'care
ful and constant cultivation.- If there
was one thing more obvious than another
in his arguments it was that he was a
deep thinker. He went through the sur
face down to the depths of things. He
evoked from a eubject under considera
tion -everything of . value by thinking
about It, He was more of a worker than
a genius. "Omnia vtnclnt labor" was the
motto i,of. his Hfe. Hp did not rely so
much -Upon--, what' are called the'.'teChnl-calities-of
the law as upon those princi
ples of reason -nnA litatloA n.i.inu'' ,i- ..'
- - T . ...... 1 1 llf -tXA.
the foundation of .nil law- vnn
speeches were not boisterous and declam
atory were more argumentative than rhs-
iurii, mere line tne' deep river that
flows with a strong and steady iurrent
than the shallow stream that babbles
ana roams and. flashes over. its. rocky
bed.
Elected to Congress in 1 8 1 2. .
In 1812 Mr. Webster was elected to Con
gress from New Hampshire. He was
identified with what was then known as
the Federal party. Primarily the differ
ence between the Federal party and the
so-called Republican party was derived
from Hamilton and Jefferson, the former
favoring a broad construction of the con
stitution for power1 In the General Gov
ernment and the latter favoring a strict
construction for states' rights, but in 1812
the difference consisted . largely of the
friendly feeling of the Federal party
for England and the friendly feelings Of
the Republican party for France. Mr.
Webster was of the opinion that no real
cause existed for the war of 1812- between
Great Britain and the United States and
criticised some of !the measures of the
administration In the prosecution of the
war. but at the same time held that it
was the duty of all citizens to support
the Government when our country was
involved in , war with a foreign power.
When Webster entered the House of Rep.
resentatlves he found, there several men
who afterwards became distinguished in
the - political world, among . whom were
Henry Clay, John C. Calhoun John Mc
Lean, Charles J. Ingerspll and Felix
Grundy. He immediately stepped to the
front among the opponents of the. Madi
son administration. Hie speeches were
not violent or vindictive- or extremely
partisan, but strong presentations of
what he considered the mistakes of those
in --control olf the Government. - i. .
The everlasting tariff question came up
in this Congress for consideration. Mr.
GEORGE H.
; " ' .iL. vv IT . v
I s . V Z if . - I
West Side merchants and West gide dopeven
dors are burning a lot of nighj; gas and hatching
a lot of brain-wrinkles in an attempt to hold
East Side patrons, but they can't do it. ' West
Side merchants tell you, "Oh, yes; "there are
some nice little stores over there, but they
haven't got the -goods." ' Some ? nice .after
noon stand on the bridge and watch the
cars coming across crowded--ahd not with
East Side patrons coming home,' but with West
' : : : : ; 7. ! " r .-.- . v 1 . .. ; .-
Side patrons,- "coming oyer," if - you" please.
West Side. patrons are coming across to see
what's keeping East Side.patrons at home and
they find the secret.- "Better opportunities.".
The Big East Side store extends a hearty wel-
come to all. Come, visit this' elegant hew trad-.
ing place. You 11 discover bigger, better values
than you can find across the bridged '
27x60 Sanford's extra grade Aminster
Kugj'our buyer picked up an evn hundred
at just half the wholesale cost. They are
in the very prettiest of floral and Oriental
patterns. Specially priced at $4.00. -Greater
three-day special .. . . .$2.35
Tri-Y'ct Qryfri Ck
JjXira OpeUld
Webster opoosed a protective tariff and
Mr. Calhoun supported it. Afterwards
in 1833 Mr. Webster supported- a pro
tective tariff. Mr. Calhoun was so bit
terly opposed to it that he advised '. the'
State of South Carolina to nullify the
acts of Congress upon- the subject. . Gen
eral Hancock when he was a candidate
for President stated that the tariff was
a local matter and was very much ridi
culed for this opinion, but he was not
so much mistaken as he might have been,
for It Is true to - a considerable extent
that those who believe they are bene
fitted by a protective tariff , are in favor
of it and those who' believe they are In
jured, by. such a tariff are opposed to it,
and this accounts for the ;change In pub
lic opinion and in the attitude of public
men upon the subject, A bill was In
troduced in this Congress to establish
National . Bank, and' while Webster fa
vored a -National Bank properly organ
ized, he was opposed to. and made an
able speech against the issuing of paper
money by any bank not secured and not
redeemable in coin. A sound and whole
some doctrine as applicable' to- the con
ditions of the present .time as to condi
tions when this, speech was made. Mr.
Webster was again elected- to' Congress
from New Hampshire. Clay, Calhoun and
-Webster -were continued, and among the
new' membera were John Randolph,- Will
iam Pinknoy, John Hopkinson, John Ser
geant, William Lowndes and Samuel R.
Betts. It Is doubtful whether any House
of . Representatives has contained so
many men so distinguished as lawyers
and statesmen as the House of the Four
teenth Congress. Another bill, to estab
lish a' National Bank was introduced in
this Congress, which Webster opposed In
an elaborate speech because It provided
for an irredeemable paper currency;' A
tariff to Increase custom duties was sup-
"WILLIAMS.
Corner Union Avenue and East Burnside Street
1 Special Rug
JUST
Sale at
$235
1 For tne tnree days Our verv excellent silk floss Mattress; No. 1 purified silk floss, best art tick, hand-tufted;
- I Imperial edge, 25-lb. weight; $13.50 at West Side stores. Our price $12.50. Sale price : ... .$7.95
ported by'Mr. Calhoun and Mr. Lowndes,
of South Carolina, and voted tor by Mr.
Webster. . Mr. Calhoun Initiated In - this
Congress a system of Internal Improve
ments which has since grown to immense
proportions, and contended that Congress
had the constitutional-. poer l to make
appropriations for such purposes.,- .A bill,
to that effect passed and was vetoed by
President Madison oh the ground that
it was unconstitutional. Mr. Webster
supported the bill.' It is a noteworthy
fact that at this time Mr. Calhoun was
In favor of a protective tariff and a sys
tem of internal improvements, both; of
which Involve a liberal construction of
the constitution. Mr. Calhoun" was1 a
very. . able . .man, antf his speeches for'
perspicuity of argument and purity of
style stand unsurpassed in- the annals
of Congressional oratory. " .' ''': "
. . Webster's Debate: With Clay.
, Mr. Webster moved to Boston in 1816
and devoted himself, to the practice
of the law-'With eminent' success. In
182Q he was a member of the conven
tion to revise the constitution of Mas
sachusetts and though Chief Justice
Parker, Justice -Story, and other men
of distinction were members, Webster
with his usual forcefulness in delib
erative bodies "led all the ' rest." In
1823 .he wa-s elected from '. Massachu
setts a Representative in the 17th Con
gress.. Ha was made chairman of -the
judiciary committee and as such it' be
came his duty to defend. the Supreme
Court from the attacks of the states
rights men. .He made a powerful
speech upon the struggle of Greece for
.freedom from Turkish oppresison,
showing his strong sympathy for those
who were fighting for their liberty. Mr.
Clay brought forward his famous tariff
of i824 which he called the "American
system" and a great debate took place
.between bimand Mr. Webster,, who op
posed the system. In- the Fall of 1824
Mr. Webster was re-elected to Con
gress from the Boston district. He in
troduced and carried through this Con
gress a revision of the criminal code
of the United States which remains in
substance as it was then adopted.. An
acrimonious 'debate occurred between
Mr. Forsyth, of Georgia, and Mr. Web
ster over a treaty with the Greek In
dians, Mr. Webster standing up for the
rights of the General Government and
Mr. Forsyth for the rights of the state.
In 1827. Mr. Webster was elected to the
United States Senate from Massachu
setts. He very soon became the-most
prominent member of that body.
Among the first things which attract
ed his attention was the tariff of . 1828.
General Hayne, of South Carolina, de
nounced It in unmeasured terms, and
though not entirely satisfactory to Mr.
Webster, he defended, it and repelled
the attacks of the South Carolina Sen
ator. In 1828, South Carolina com
menced to talk about nullification. .
He Replies to .Hayne. v
In 1829, Senator Hayne made two
speeches and Mr. Webster made two
speeches In reply to him. In .1833 a
bill to recharter the National Bank
passed and was vetoed by President
Jackson. Mr. Webster In one of his
great speeches answered the veto mes
sage. In January. 1832. a bill for the
better colrection of duties -on Imports
called the "force bill" was. introduced
in the Senate. Mr. Calhoun, then Sena
tor from South Carolina, took this oc
casion to make bis great speech .for
the right of secession. He maintained
that the United States wns a confed
eracy of sovereign, states, each state
had a right to determine for Itself
whether or not It was bound by the
acts of Congress; that the prim- al
legiance of each citizen was to the
state In which he lived and not to the
Federal Union. Webster answered Cal
houn and contended that 'the consti
tution was not a league or a com
pact; that the Union was not a confed
eracy but a government adopted by the
people in their primary capacity and
that the. relations of the people to the
Government were direct and not in
direct through the state- government
and that the acts oi Congress were
binding upon all the people of all -the
states If not declared unconstitutional
$27,50
: . . One That Will Make Selling Brisk
for the Three Days .
This highly attractive Cabinet comes' in the s o l i d quartered oak, hand
rubbed and highly polished. Stands 68 inches-high, 36. inches wide; ex
cellent French plate mirror. A closet that. will fit ..well in;-any dining
room; $32.50 would be a conservative price for West Side stores to ask.
Our price $27.50. Three-day sale price . . . . J .i ; I. ' . .. . .V.:. . ; . . $15.75
AN EVEN DOZEN ON
$15 Hall Tree $8.15
Not enough to last during the
three days, but plenty for.
shrewd Monday -patrons. Solid -;
quartered oak ; French plate
shaped mirror; box seat;
heavy bronzed . hat hooks. A
hall tree that-any store could
well price and sell at $20.00.
No. 674-Our $15.00 value.
Three-day special. '. $8.15-
by the Supreme -Court. Mr. Webster
opposed the election of General Jack
son and belonged to the party opposed
to his administration; but when Pres
ident Jackson! Issued bis proclamation
against the nullifiers of South Caro
lina he, waived all. party consideration'
arid - gave his powerful., aid and Influ
ence to the support of that act of the
Administration. - In 1883 President
Jackson removed the public .funds from
the National to the state banks. w;nch
produced a exeat financial, disturbance
in the-country. . Webster was chairman
of the finance committee of the Senate
and denounced the: act a3 unconstitu
tional, unnecessary, and. Inexpedient- It
was during this-, controversy that the
party known as the" Whig, party' came'
Into existence.. ; -'-- . .'
-' JVvors the National Bank; '.
Mr. Webster ' made' numerous speeches
in the Senate -upon, financial matters,'
the sum. and substance. of which- were
, that he was In favor of a National bank
to regulate the. monetary affairs of
the country-with power to Issue notes
redeemable in coin, and opposed to any.
banking system . under f which ipaper.
currency could ber issued not redeem-;
able In gold or silver. He 'was. opposed
to the annexation .of Texas, among
.other reasons, because he looked upen
it . as . scheme to' : extend the power,
and influence of . the ' slave-holding
states. He was re-elected . to the Sen
ate and took his seat nnder such elec
tion on March 4, 1840: Calhoun in this,
session of the Senate vehemently .de
nied the right of the people to petition
Congress for the abolition of slavery
in the District of Calumbia and Mr.
Webster as vehemently defended that
right. General Harrison was elected
President at the election in 1840 and
Mr. Webster . accepted . the office of
Secretary of State In his administra
tion. While he was such Secretary, he
made the. Ashburton treaty by which
the long-pending controversy over the
northeastern boundary was settled. On
April 6, 1841,- General Harrison died
and John Tyler became President. Con
gress passed an act creating a Na
tional bank which was vetoed by Tyler,
at which the Whigs who had elected
him were' greatly exasperated and
Webster was very much blamed for
remaining In Tyler's Cabinet after he,
as the Whigs claimed, had gone over to
the enemy. Mr. Webster was re-elected
to the Senate and took his seat March
4, 1845. The agitation over the slavery
question had now become Intense and
menaced the peace of the country
-which induced Mr. Clay to introduce his
celebrated "compromise measures." On
March 7, 1850, Mr.. Webster made a
speech in support of these measures.
It was a magnificent speech, alike cred
itable to his sound judgment and ex
alted patriotism. He was ' denounced
by many of the anti-slaverypeople for
his alleged subserviency to the" South
In this speech and ridiculed for his
opinion that, the Union was In danger
from the1 excitement over' the slavery
question but time and subsequent
events fully justified his apprehensions.
In 1850 ,Mr. Webster was appointed
Secretary of State . by President Fill
more and died in that office In October,
1852. .Whatever may. be thought or
said about the opinions or acts of Mr.
Webster in Congress or elsewhere,- it
'must be universally admitted that at
all times and under all circumstances
he was an able, consistent and cour
ageous defender of the constitution of
the United States and the Integrity of
the American-Union. '
-Webster's First Great Oration.
Webster's speeches; 'at political meet
ings and banquets would fill a good
sized volume. But his first great ora
tion which attracted universal atten
tion was made at Plymouth on Decem
ber 22. 1820 In commemoration of the
landing of the Pilgrims there in 1620.
Plymouth Rock, as it Is sometimes
called, has been immortalized in the
ptry of Mrs. Heroans and Jn the elo
q&jnce of Daniel Webster. Mrs. He
mans draws a gloomy picture of Nature
I and a glowing picture of the courage
Another Popular Bed Sale Monday, Tues
day, Wedrtcsday$12.50 Beds at 7.95
And such, a fine assortment of these newest bed arrivals
Vernis Martin, ( bronze, white, pink, green, blue colors that
blend into harmony with the furnishings of the real attractive
bedroom. West Side stores would consider these beds a big
special-at $15.00. . Nos. 577 and 563 Our very best $12.50
values--Three-day special i I ......... . $7.95
SALE
A hale of Fine
Dining Chairs $1.85
Of course, they will go
quickly at this price, for
they are the same chairs
West Side stores price at
$3.50 and they're well
worth the money. No. 88-2
Extra golden and
weathered finish, panel
back, built strong and
well shaped.' Three-day
special . . .$1.85
and- devotldn of the pilgrims when, she
says:
The breaking- waves dashed hish
On a stern and rock-bound coast.
And the woods ag-ainst a stormy flky
Their giant branches tossed. ...
And the heavy night hung dark -
"Tha. h!U 'and waters o'er :
When &' band of exiles moved their, bars;
, ,Qh ,'a-. wild, .New England shoe. -,
Amid the storm they' sang
- And .the .stars heard and the sea
'And the sounding 'aisles- of the-. dim woods
' rang---: ' . , - . . -;Witn
the anthems'of the- free.
What sought they thus afar .
Bright Jewels of the mine. "'
The', wealth of seas the spoils of war
jThey-sought a. faith's 'pure shrine. . '
Faith and : freedom:' were' born Into
American -civilization and Christianity
on the rock-bound coast of a wild New
England, shore. Mr. Webster enlarges
I and Intensifies this picture w,ien he
I says: - - -'. '. : , -
here our homage for pur Pilgrim
fathers. - Our sympathy for: their suf
ferings, our gratitude for their labors,
our. admiration ' of -their. . virtues, our
veneration' for. their Dietv; 'our attach-
t ment'-to.thSse principles of civil and re
ligious liberty for 'which, they encoun
tered the dangers of the ocean, the
) storms of heaven,-, the violence of sav-
ages, disease, exile and famine to enjoy
! and establish." After making a vivid
description of. the . responsibilities and
duties of the living, he closed his ad
dress with-this' inspiring perpratlou:
'Advance then,-: ye future -.generations.
We would hail you as you rise in your
long succession to fill the places which
we now ,fill to taste the blessings of
existence where .we are passing and
soon shall have passed our own human
endurance. .We bid you welcome to this
pleasant land of your fathers. We bid
you welcome to the healthful skies and
verdant fields of New . England. We
greet your accession to the great In
heritance wnich we have enjoyed. .We
welcome you to the blesings of good
government and religious liberty. We
irelcome you to the, treasurers of
science, and the delights of learning.
We welcome ycu to the transcendent
sweets of domestic life, to the happi
ness of kindred and parent and chil
dren. We welcome you to the Immeas
urable blessings of rational existence,
the 'Immortal hope of Christianity and
the light of everlasting truth."
-His Bunker Hill Oration.
On the 19th of June, 1825, Mr. Web
ster delivered an oration at the laying
of the cornerstone of the Bunker. Hill
monument, which ranks among the
great orations of the world. Standing
around him were survivors of the battle
which was fought where the monument
was to be erected, and addressing them
b said:
"Venerable men, you have come down to
us from a- former generation. Heaven
has bountifully lengthened out your lives
that you might behold this joyous day.
Tou are now where you stood 60 years
ago this very hour with your brothers
and your neighbors shoulder to shoulder
in the strife of your country. Behold
how changed. The sajne heavens are
indeed over your heads; the same ocean
rolls at your feet, but all else, how
changed. You hear now no roar of
hostile cannon. Tou see no mixed volumes
of smoke and flame rising from burning
Charleston. The ground strewed with
the dead and dying, the Impetuous charge,
the steady and successful repulse and the
loud call to repeated assault, the sum
moning of all that is manly to repeated
resistance, a thousand bosoms freely and
fearlessly bared in an instant to what
ever terror there may be in war and
death, all these you have witnessed, but
you witness them no more. AH is peace."
John Adams and Thomas Jefferson died
on. . the same day, July 4, 185i,
and on the 2d day of the next Au
gust : Mr. Webster delivered an ora
tion upon the life and services: of
these eminent men. Mr. Adams was a
member of the Congress of 1776 which
passed the Declaration of ' Independence
and Webster puts into his month an
imaginary speech in 'favor of the Declara
tion full of vigor and patriotic fire. It
was a masterly work of the Imagination
and shows how deeply the speaker waa
imbued with the spirit of our Revolution
ary ancestors. Mr. Webster, . in making
a speech in the Senate May 7, 1834, had
occasion to refer to Great Britain, which .
he described as - "a power which has
dotted over the surface of the whole
globe with her possessions and military
posts, whose morning drum beat follow
ing the sun and keeping company with
the hours circles the earth with one con
tinuous and unbroken strain of tha mar-,
tial airs of England."
There are in these few words a
grandeur of conception, loftiness of tone;,
a 'fullness of description, and a rhyth
mical style of language which make them
an imperishable gem in the treasure
house of the world's orations.
Webster's Greatest Speecfc. '
No doubt' In public estimation the
greatest speech Mr. Webster ever delivj
ered was his reply- to- General Hayne in.
the Senate. This speech concerned the
existence of the American Union and
awakened the interest of every patriotic
citizen. Calhoun, Hayne and their fol-.
lowers assumed as the premises (or their,
arguments that the Union was simply a
compact between sovereign states and
that each state had a right to withdraw
from the compact when it determined
that such compact had been broken by
the other states. Admitting the- prem
ises the argument, if not conclusive,
"was certainly plausible. Mr. Webster,
Samsonlike, took hold of these prem
ises, tore them to' fragments, and laid
their stately superstructure in ruins at
his feet. But the question passed beyond
the stage of oratory. Defeated in de
hate, the contestants for the right of
secession appealed to the sword for a de
cision and by that dread arbiter the ar-,
guments of Webster were affirmed and
their affirmation written in the blood of
a hundred fields of battle.
Let us imagine a scene in the Senate.
Webster is speaking. All the Senators
are listening Intently. He stands erect'
in the full maturity of his manhood. His
voice is deep and sonorous. His large,
black eyes gleam with an unwonted lus
ter. His whole frame trembles with
emotion, and raising his right arm and
pointing away towards the state of Mas--sachusetts,
after referring to Lexington,
Concord and Bunker Hill, he says:
"Sir, where American liberty raised its
first voice and where its youth was nur
tured and sustained, there it still lives
In the strength of its manhood and full
of Its original spirit. If discord and dis
union shall wound it, if party strife and
blind ambition shall hawk at and tear it.
if folly and madness, if uneasiness under
necessary restraint shall succeed in sep
arating it from the union, by which
alone Its existence is made sure, it will
stand in the end by the side of that
cradle in which its infancy was rocked,
it will stretch forth its arms with what
ever vigor it may still retain over the
friends who gather round it, , and it will
"fall. If fall it must, amid the proudest
monuments of its own glory and in the
very spot of its origin." Webster stands
unrivalled among American orators. He
is in a class with Demosthenes of Greece,
Cicero of Rome and Edmund Burke of-England.-.
His- orations are plain, clear
fend strong, but beautiful, but with that
sort -of beauty which is most "adornt.-d
when unadorned. " His words were fitly
spoken, and words fitly spoken are like
apples of gold In- pictures of silver.
Daniel Webster's name will shine on the
pages of American history as long as the
people of this country cherish that noble,
sentiment of bis, "Liberty and union,
now and forever, one and Inseparable."
Suicide Through Grief for Wife. ;
NEW TORK, Jan. 18. Walter Rol
lins, who several years ago. owned a
famous string of horses, which won ;
many large stakes in all parts of the
country, killed himself at his home
in the Bronx today by shooting. Rol
lins had grieved over the death of his-'
wife, five months ago, and his health'
had failed rapidly.
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