Robert Y. Hayne.
99
credit to himself and honor to the State. In have been unnatural had it been otherwise, 1823 he became a senator of the United the leaning of a friend and the partiality of States. His part in the Senate is so well an admirer, however unconscious they may known that it is hardly necessary for me to have been. In an article on Webster, writ speak of it here. It occupies a prominent ten from a northern standpoint, and by a place in the history of our country. His writer whose prejudices were evidently in speeches were models both in point of com favor of the New England statesman, I find position and style. Like the speeches of the following description of Hayne's effort Clay and Webster, his glowing words of on this occasion : " Hayne's speech made eloquence have never ceased to charm, and an immense and intense impression. It extracts from his speeches still constitute a flamed with fierce invective; it was uttered part of the declamatory exercises of young with superb declamatory skill and energy; men in the schools of our country. it bristled with statements of the most "Perhaps the most notedof all hisspeeches irritating personal allusion, and throbbed was the one he delivered on the occasion of throughout with the bitterest political and the celebrated contest between himself and sectional animosity. Webster's friends trem bled for him, and his enemies believed him Mr. Webster, incidentally arising on a pro position relative to the public lands. In the to be annihilated." This was perhaps the course of some remarks on that subject, he grandest intellectual contest ever witnessed deprecated a large and permanent public by the American people, and the speeches which were made on this occasion have treasure as a means of corrupting and con solidating the government. Mr. Webster, never since been surpassed as specimens of evidently with a premeditated design of eloquence and style. Both of the distin guished actors in this memorable scene were assailing South Carolina, seized the occa sion to disparage her domestic institutions, men of high character, wide experience, to ridicule the apprehension of danger from national reputation, and exalted patriotism. consolidating the government, to charge her Mr. Webster was a typical representative of citizens with disaffection to the Union, and New England and New England ideas. He to speak contemptuously of what he called was an advocate of a high tariff and of a the South Carolina doctrine. Our lamented strong national government. He was then friend, more deeply excited than I ever saw in the prime of his life. " Time had not thinned nor bleached his hair; it was as him on any other occasion, by this gratui tous and unprovoked attack upon his State, dark as the raven's plumage, surmounting her doctrines, and her institutions, made an his massive brow in ample folds. His eyes, able and successful defense at every point always dark and deep set, enkindled by some against which the attack had been directed." glowing thought, shone from beneath his The words just quoted are taken from the somber, overhanging brow like lights, in the splendid eulogy on Hayne delivered in blackness of night, from a sepulchre. It Charleston, South Carolina, in 1840, by was such a countenance as Salvator Rosa delighted to paint-^-^TTw^y* ca?efu.l as to George McDufhe, the great southern states man, who himself took an active part in the his attire, he wa^'erresjsed 'in aSnajiperbecoming the platband the occ national halls of legislation, and whose ex Mr. Hayry6(jvas then alted patriotism and matchless eloquence won the admiration of the world. In his hood, full /)(£rpmbition,_#i€^ni 1n <•. description of this contest between Massa terminatio, chusetts' favorite son and Carolina's noble senators champion, we can easily see, what would appearancj
