Page:The World's Famous Orations Volume 9.djvu/34

WEBSTER THE FIRST BUNKER HILL MONUMENT ORATION ^ (1825) Born in 1782, died in 1852; Member of Congress from Neiv Hamp- shire in 1813-17, and from Massachusetts in 1823-27;: United States Senator from Massachusetts in 1827-41 ; defeated for the Presidency in 1836; an unsuccessful candidate for the Whig nomination after- ward; Secretary of State in 1841; negotiated the Ashburton Treaty in 1842; again elected Senator in 1845; made his " Seventti of March Speech" in 1850; Secretary of State in 1850; again unsuccessful for the Whig nomination for President in 1858. This uncounted multitude before me and around me proves the feeling which the occasion has excited. These thousands of human faces, glowing with sympathy and joy, and from the impulses of a common gratitude turned reverent- ly to heaven in this spacious temple of the firma- ment, proclaim that the day, the place, and the purpose of our assembling have made a deep impression on our hearts. If, indeed, there be anything in local associa- tion fit to affect the mind of man, we need not strive to repress the emotions which agitate us » Delivered at the laying of the corner-stone of the monument on June 17, 1825. Abridged. 24