Now mark how well those three lines of blank verse are brought in! What a beautiful simile, to compare the issue of Treasury notes to the populous North pouring from her frozen loins hordes of barbarians to cross the Rhine or the Danau! How applicable! Just the thing for America! What a terrible sensation those children of the North would make among the Yankees, just as they are crossing the Rhine or the Danube!
But the conclusion of Mr. Webster’s speech is a perfect chef d’œuvre. He there apostrophises Calhoun in the following manner:—
“Let him go! I remain! I remain where I ever have been, and ever mean to be. Here, standing on the platform of the General Constitution,—a platform broad enough and firm enough to uphold every interest of the whole country,—I shall still be found!”
The words, “Let him go! I remain!” produce a sort of dramatic effect; and are, I believe, a happy imitation of those ancient soliloquies which commence thus: “He is gone, and I am alone.” And then how natural that the platform of the General Constitution, which is broad enough “to uphold every interest of the whole country,” should also support him! Nothing could be more à propos.
“Intrusted,” continues Mr. Webster, “with some part in the administration of that constitution, I intend to act in its spirit, and in the spirit of those who framed it. Yes, sir; I would act as if our fathers who formed it for us, and who bequeathed it to us, were looking on us,—as if I would see their venerable forms bending down to behold us from the abodes above! I would act too, sir, as if that long line of posterity were also viewing us, whose eye is hereafter to scrutinise our conduct.”
What a thorough view and review that is! and what can be more pathetic than to see the fathers of the constitution first looking upon them, and then bending down their venerable forms to behold them!
Mr. Webster continues the same beautiful figure still farther.
“Standing thus as in the full gaze of our ancestors and our posterity, having received this inheritance from the former to be transmitted to the latter, and feeling that, if I am born for any good in my day and generation, it is for the good of the whole country, (what a modest way this of recommending himself to the Presidency!) no local policy or local feelings, no temporary impulse shall induce me to yield my foothold (!) on the constitution and the Union. I move off under no banner not known to the whole American people, and to their constitution and laws. No, sir; these walls, these columns,
——‘fly
From their firm base as soon as I.’”
This is the third and last quotation of poetry, and a direct challenge of the nullifier, defeated by General Jackson. The selection is beautiful! Mr. Webster’s bravery needs no comment!