Page:Letters on the condition of the African race in the United States.djvu/7

Rh that all our versatile statesmen and orators were alike incapacitated to argue without conviction of the truth of their theme!

Webster's manner on the momentous occasion when he delivered this great speech, was that of a man who fully comprehended the solemnity of his attitude as a national peace-maker, and had also fully counted the cost of offending perhaps his political constituents at the North. But that healthy appreciation of truth that has always commanded a perfect mastery over his intellect, and that unfeigned love of his country that has grown with his growth and strengthened with his strength, seemed to have chased out of his mind and heart every thought of self. There was no vainglorious ranting or roaring about his own patriotism in desiring to become a martyr for his country. No, there was the most quiet, simple dignity, and yet evident consciousness of overpowering strength in the truths he was expounding, that marked his every word and look. In general society in Washington, Webster's manner is cold and abstracted, and to me he has the look and air of a man who, like King Solomon, realized the perfect vanity of all earthly hopes and schemes. I have heard a great many ladies remark, that when they spoke to him at the levees, his eye rarely expressed that he even heard what was said, and he seems to perform the tedious conventionalities of receiving crowds of company on public occasions, like a man whose body has been galvanized to perform these ceremonies, while his mind is far away, in a world of its own creation. But when he stands up to make a speech in the Senate, he is certainly the most august, commanding, and godlike-looking specimen of dignified manhood, that could be found in the world. No one, I assure you, on this earth, looks like Daniel Webster.

I have dwelt thus minutely on his peculiarities, because the Southern people must ever regard him with friendly interest, and as entitled to their deepest respect, for his fearless exalted patriotism in upholding at all times the letter and spirit of that constitution that defends us as slaveholders.

But not only has Webster, my dear brother, thus consecrated the whole weight of his influence, for the carrying out in good faith all the provisions of that world-renowned instrument, that was framed by men whose far-reaching sagacity, intellect, and philanthropy must always be in the van of that of the abolitionists; I say, not only has the Massachusetts statesman, whose mental strength is an avalanche of crushing capacity, volunteered his influence in defence of our rights under the Constitution, but the most gifted of our Northern