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November 13, 1852.] THE LEADER, 1087 __—...
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OO M A
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liir — T— ' SATURDAY , NOVEMBER 13, 1852...
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^ttlMnits.
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rrhrre i3 nothing so revolutionary, "bec...
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DANIEL WEBSTER. If any thing could prove...
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.MNULANJVN VALUE. Turn constant and stea...
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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Transcript
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.
November 13, 1852.] The Leader, 1087 __—...
November 13 , 1852 . ] THE LEADER , 1087 __—— ~* p —_ ^ ^ — ^ i ^
Oo M A
OO M A
Liir — T— ' Saturday , November 13, 1852...
liir — T— ' SATURDAY , NOVEMBER 13 , 1852 . .
^Ttlmnits.
^ ttlMnits .
Rrhrre I3 Nothing So Revolutionary, "Bec...
rrhrre i 3 nothing so revolutionary , "because there is ¦ nothing so -unnatural and convulsive , as the strain , to ( T p things fixed when all the world is by the very law of its creation in eternal progress . —Db . Abnold .
Daniel Webster. If Any Thing Could Prove...
DANIEL WEBSTER . If any thing 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 him , but they are essentially abilities springing from the soil to which he belonged .
^ A grdat practical grasp of his 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 , lie 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 ho often did , heart and soul , into the action of his country . Arguing for the North Eastern claim , or the Oregon claim , Webster was essentially one of the strong men of the day ; supporting the Compromise measures on the subject of slavery , the- provisional con elusion to which the American mind has come , ponding a , future settlement of the question , he spoke to the ear of America with the voice of public opinion , and ho had the large organ iitted for that spokesmanship .
The State of New Hampshire lias been fertile m eminent men , and , as we have before remarked , a groat , proportion of working statesmen of Amonna luivo begun lifo in the work of tho farm . ' ieree cornea from an agricultural family . Fill-) llo n ! bus stated in public how he lias been ready t <) drop with fatigue after the labours of tho farm . J ' fginning work in that rough and practical man"or , American statesmen view the world not as
il routine of business to be arranged in office , but ilH |' h ( - arena of real life , in which great forces are Jicliiig , contending , or co-operating . They are fa miliar with tho handling of those forces " ; and 'I'li . s they are able to display a strength and l ' ^ "' in ac tion which our present statesmen " < l |( ; and it is to thin substantial bone in tho lho r lil . and languRgo of Daniul Webster that " '<\ inua (; neck a large proportion of that strength "ludi we might otherwise ascribe to the indivi-( llI al enpacity of the orator . In polish , in care , » nu in literary nicety , American oratory sca-rtiely (>( pmlu that Which owns a JVIacaulay for iln orna'''• 'n t ; but we all fed in reading the Hpooohes of Al »>< 'neanfl that tbero i « a froshnofis like that of a
V ( U (;< ; ' - raine d in tho open elemontu , accustomed to p >< "iJ < : Hgainut the winds ; like that of men who " !| vo con tended with their arinn agniiiHt dillimilty ' l latigvio ; like that of men who are imiciih-• oiucd to face danger and Btriko 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 . No state has remained firmer to its fundamental convictions
than the American people . The freedom of the individual , the independent 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 to divert 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 , his 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 hi 3 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 are 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 he occupied before his day ; and why a man scarcely equal in his own individual qualities participated in tho full triumphs of the nation with which he chose to march , rather than to walk in an independent path . Webster had bravely done his work . If he made mistakes , he threw all his heart and soul , and a full share of American " grit , " into the labour that he undertook ; and , errors execpted , his work was well done—done up to the American standard of efliciency ; which is saying all . Ho had lived the proper share of man ' s life , and done more than the proper share of man ' s work .
Let us note tho peculiar attendance at his funeral . Only one , and that not tho most remarkable , member of the Cabinet to which he belonged , followed him to the grave ; but amongst tho mourners was the chief of his political opponents — Franklin Pierce . Now , why is thin r If a writer in England may venture to explain , Ave should account for it tlnis . Tho present Government at Washington , however true to its original party standards , has become more manifestly tlwin ever , non-national in
its feelings and nolicy . Although belonging by appointment , tor the time , to that Government , although sharing its party opinions , Web-Hter belonged , far more in feeling and services , to the whole nation . Although differing from Webster in policy , although belonging to the future rather than to fho pant , tho man who of all others must be regarded aH representing American nationality , in . Franklin Pierce ; ana when he followed Webster to the grave , ho represented Amoricn mourning tho departed American .
.Mnulanjvn Value. Turn Constant And Stea...
. MNULANJVN VALUE . Turn constant and steady advancement of cornmenu ; is ono of the most cheering nigim of tho present day ; wo only wish that it wore
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 the 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 trado 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 Avill
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 the quarter ending in June last , noted by the [ Registrar-General , amounted to about 100 , 000 ; of which 60 , 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 there has been an actual increase of the tonnage to the Australian colonies ; so that the supply of labour to that exhatistless field continues to increase . It does not indeed come at all up to the necessity . If we had statesmen equal to tho opportunity and the emergency , supplies of labour would bo sent , not only to augment the bands employed upon the excavation of gold , but to tend upon those sheep which are now sacrificed in a hasty and imperfect manner to tho wants of the gold-diggers ; to the breeding of others ; and , in short , to restore for Yorkshire that supply of wool which has fallen Hliort .
But this immense trade , which has been already pointed out , is in itself a responsibility ; and wo want at the head of affairs a Government , able to secure the continuance oi' the development *)!" which we are boasting . In tho first place , we ou ^ ht to be absolutely rid of a Government whoso idea of managing commerce turns upon protection—upon tho restriction of commerce , ft such n Government have any distinctive action at all , it can . only bo to lame the trade which has given us our present prosperity—which is daily turning money into the pockets of our commercial men , and food into tho mouths of Labouring men and their
families . In the second place , wo want in tho Colonial Office some man who understands ( UAouinlntt ' nJvttwho has more than a good will ; who bus , in Hliort , a strong will of Uis own , and can deal with tho affairs committed to his charge , not at all according to the routine ideas of clerks , but according to the circumstances oftho time and the colonies . Tho difference ia seen in an instant . Tho most tangible ideas of tho dork h in the Colonial OHiee , nioro than in any other Government oHioe , lio in large masses of written » i » d printed papers . To them , public allairH mean letterH , reports , blue books , in short , paver , with ink upon it of
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), Nov. 13, 1852, page 11, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_13111852/page/11/
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