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Leader (1850-1860), 13th November 1852, Edition Town of 2, Page 1087, SB w

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      Untitled Article

      DANIEL WEBSTER . If anything could prove how much the force and stability of a country lies in the spirit of the people rather than in the letter of its institutions , the career of Daniel Webster would be that proof . The Americans mourn him as a great man , but he was . great only in so far as he was essentially American . As a party man we discover his weaknesses rather than his strength ; and as a successful individual his greatness is altogether to be discerned in the operation of his country and her influences upon him . Not that very great personal capacities can be denied to liim , but they are essentially abilities springing from the soil to which he belonged . A great practical grasp of Ms subject , —strong energy , drawn , like that of a tree , direct from the earth to which it belongs , —indomitable vigour of industry , made the son of a country agriculturist become a masterly lawyer , at least at the bar , and one of the most powerful officials that the Union has ever seen . Probably , if Webster were to compare with other men for learning , for original thought , for sagacity of view , he might not only have found his equal , but very often have met his superior . In some of the positions that he took up most decisively and obviously , the valuable nature of his judgment was tested by the event . He thought it possible to oppose the Mexican war , and the Mexican war is one of the greatest events in American history . He thought that the annexation of territory would endanger the Union , and the Union never was more strongly bound together than at this present moment . It was not therefore in his individual judgment , or in any surprising genius peculiar to the man , Daniel Webster , that he shone ; but he was a strong instrument well knit in all parts , and capable of the most

      powerful action ; and his full strength was shown when ho threw himself , as he often did , heant and soul , into the action of his country . Arguing for the Worth Eastern claim , or the Oregon claim , Webster was essentially one of the strong men ol the day ; supporting the Compromise measures on ( he . subject of slavery , tho provisional conclusion to which the American mind has conic , pending ; i , future settlement of the question , ho spoke to tho ear of America wil . li the voice of public opinion , and ho had the large organ lifted fo » " that , spokesninnshii ) .

      I lie ( Stale ol ' . Nci \ v Hampshire lias been fertile in eminent men , and , as we have before remarked , a ^' iViit proportion of working statesmen of America have begun life in the work of tho farm . 1 . icrce comes from an agricultural family . Killuiore has slated in public how lie has been ready ^¦<> drop with fa | , i < jrne a fter the labours of the farm , ' '( 'ginning work in that rough and practical maii-Il ( 'i " , American . statesmen view the world not as

      <> roiiline of business to be arranged in ollice , hut : |* the arena , of real life , in avIuoIi groat forces are acting , contending , or co-operating . They are liimiliar \ \ itli Iho handling of those forces ; and ihus they are able to display n . strength and |' (| iir in notion which our present statesmen '" 'I '; mid if in to this substantial hone in ( be llloll « ht and language of Daniel Webster that ^ j' inimt seek a large proportion of ( hat nl . reiigf . li ^ hich we might otherwise ascribe to the individual ca pacity of the orator . In polish , in care , JU | d in literary nicety , American oratory scarcely * 'lU ! ds ( lint which owns a , Macaulay for its ornul ! "' "'' ; but we all feel in reading ( . lie speeches of AlM ( 'i'ica . iiH that there is a , freslniOHS like that of a

      "K'f trained in the open elements , accustomed Io px-idv against the winds ; like Mint of men who l |! ly < ' <> nteii ( led with their arms against dillieiilly lU | d fati gue ; Jiko that of men who are aociiHomed to fuco danger und atriko it down ; like

      that of men who are not afraid of the bugbear which stifles , perhaps silences , the English speaker— " consequences . " But in spite of this freedom , the one remarkable fact in the career of America has been the stability of her objects . Theoretical writers would suppose that in a' country where every man may attain the highest offices , where power depends upon the popular favour , and the adventurer has an open field , the immediate consequence would be a constant vacillation of the public councils and the supremacy of disorder over all . The reverse , however , is the fact . JSTo state has remained firmer to its fundamental convictions

      than the American people . The freedom of the individual , theindependent sovereignty of each state , the indissolubility of the Union are principles which command the allegiance of every American citizen . The very few attempts that have been made todivert the American mind from these principles , whether in Carolina or in Rhode Island , have been instantly crushed . Even so powerful a man as Daniel Webster finds that his individual objects , Ms particular opinions , and his personal scheme of action , must fall in with the general course of public opinion and national action . It is not even for a man of proportions so great as Webster to divert the public from its settled course of advancement and national

      extension . And Webster could only exercise his full greatness by aiding rather than opposing the Mexican war . The sole change of any essential kind that has come over public opinion in America , is the change from the policy of mere nonintervention in foreign countries to the aggressive policy which opposes Europeanizing encroachments by aggressive retaliations ; and that change has sprung naturally from the course of events . Although sudden in its developments , it is not recent in the seeds of its growth , and it is essentially a development of national opinion .

      Although divided into separate states and enjoying the largest possible share of local government , the American Union is remarkable for the absence of mere local peculiarities ; some broad distinctions there may be vaguely perceptible between North and South , but whether you take him from Salem or Cincinnati , from New Orleans or New York , the American is above all things American ; and the public opinion which develops itself in that region of freedom , becomes so ample and mighty , that mere individual influences arc merged in a truly united national action . This in part explains to us why an original and independent thinker like Clay is

      obliged reverentially to stand aside until his nation shall have marched up to the position which be occupied before his day ; and why a man scarcely equal in his own individual qualities participated in the full triumphs of the Hat'on with which ho chose to march , rather than to walk in an independent path . Webster had bravely done his work . If he made mistakes , bo threw all his heart and soul , and a full share of American " grit , " into the labour that he undertook ; and , errors exeepted , bis work was " well done—done up to the American standard of efficiency ; which is s-iyingall . lie had lived the proper share of man ' s life , and done more than the rtroper share of man ' s work .

      Let us note the peculiar attendance at bis funeral . Onlyuono , and that not tho most remarkable , member of the Cabinet to which he belonged , followed , him to the grave ; but amongst ( he mounters was the chief of his political opponents — l < Ynnklin Pierce . Now , why is this ? If a , writer in l ^ ngland may venture to explain , we . should account for it thus . The present ( jJovorninent at Washington , bowever true to its original party standards , lias become more manifestly than ever , non-national in

      its feelings and policy . Although belonging by appointment , for the time , to that (* overnnicnt , although sharing its pw'ty opinions , Webster belonged , far more in feeling and services , to the whole nation . Although did ' ering from YVcImIor- in policy , although belonging to the future rather than to ( he past , the man who of all others must be regarded as representing American nationality , is . I'Vanldiu l'ioi-co ; ami when be followed VVobsler to Mm ; graves bo represented America , mourning the ? departed A niorican .

      Untitled Article

      HNOLAND'S VALUK Tun constant and . steady advancement of commerce i . s one of the most cheering signs of tho present day ; wo only wish that it wcro

      accompanied by a corresponding sense of the liabilities which prosperity entails . For many weeks , if not months , we have had to note a continual activity in all branches of trade . At Birmingham the export orders are almost beyond the means of supply ; and , with the extension of employment , pauperism continues to decrease : this is independent of the mere influence of emigration . At Nottingham , the demand for hosiery , both for export and home consumption , is very extensive ; and the lace business , which was of late comparatively dull , has amounted to a good average . In Manchester , there is a great steadiness and a very full demand , although a temporary excitement created by the speculations in the Liverpool cotton market has subsided . In tho Yorkshire

      markets , the fall trade is nearly over ; but " scarcely an end of seasonable cloth worth looking at has been left unsold . " The great difficulty in this market is felt by the merchants , in the restriction of their choice of goods ; and that is ascribed , primarily , to the high price of the material , which checks the manufacturers in a speculative extension of their plant . In Bradford , the price of wool is still more grievously oppressive : " not to mince the matter , " says the trade reporter , " wools are out of all proportion to the price of yarns . " Speaking generally , however , the condition of Yorkshire is , and has been , for some time , one of great prosperity .

      America and the Australias have had a very great share in this prosperity ; and should English statesmen continue to secure a good relation between England and those distant countries , they will both of them have a still larger share in a still greater prosperity . The demand in Birmingham has been very much caused by America . America has been active in Yorkshire and Manchester . America has done more than any other consumer to help the comparatively dull trade of lace in Nottingham . On the other hand , America is calculating that her cotton crop of 1852-3 will range at 2 , 700 , 000 and 3 , 000 , 000 of bales , at which amount it is calculated that the exports to Great Britain alone will reach a value of fifteen

      millions sterling . We have more than once noted the growing activity of Australia . Practically , the supply of gold appears to be unlimited , and to be measured exactly by the amount of labour devoted to its excavation . The emigration for tho quarter ending in June last , noted by tho liegistrar-General , amounted to about 100 , 000 ; of which 00 , 000 went to America , and nearly 40 , 000 to Australia : this is an unusual proportion of the stream as directed southwards . But the emigration to Australia continues even at this comparatively late season : in the past week then ; has been an actual increase of the tonnage to the Australian colonies ; so that the supply of labour to that exbaustless field continues to

      increase . It docs not indeed come at all up to the necessity . Jf we had statesmen equal to the opportunity and the emergency , supplies of labour would be sent , not only to augment the hands employed upon the excavation of gold , but to tend upon those sheep which are now sacrificed in a hasty and imperfect manner to the wants of the gold-diggers ; to the breeding of others ; and , in short , to restore for Yorkshire that supply of wool which has fallen short . But this immense trade ; , which has been already pointed out , is in itself a , responsibility ; and we want at the head of affairs a ( Jovernmenl , able to

      secure the contJiiiKO / ccoi' the developmentol winch we are boasting . In the first place , we ought to be absolutely rid of a ( government whose idea , of managing commerce turns upon protection—upon the restriction of commerce . If such a ( Government have any distinctive action at all , it can only be to huno the trade which has given us our present prosperity—which is daily turning money into the pockets of our commercial men , and food into the mouths of labouring men and their families . In the second place , wo want in the Colonial Office ; some man who understands Colonial affairs — who has wore than a , good will ; who has , in short , a strong will of his own , and can deal with tho aliairs committed to his charge , not at all according to tho routine ideas of clerks , but according to the eireunirttunees of flie time and the colonies . The difference in seen in an instant . Tho most tangible ideas of the clerks in the Colonial ( Mlice , more than in any other ( jnvcrnmont ollice , liein large masses of written and printed papers . To them , public- alfairH mean letters , reports , bluo books , in whorl , pajwr , with ink upon it of

      " Piihl' U Maim

      " piihl ' u Maim

      Untitled Article

      There is nothing so revolutionary , because there i 3 nothing so unnatural and convulsive , as the strain to keep things fixed when all the world is by the very law of its creation in eternal progress . —De . Arnold .

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      SAT URDAY , NOVEMBER 13 , 1852 .

      Untitled Article

      November 13 , 1852 . ] THE LEADER . 1087

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), Nov. 13, 1852, page 1087, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1960/page/11/