Volume 1 — LITTLE GEMS FROM WEBSTER.

Venerable men! You have come down to us from a former generation. Heaven has bounteously lengthened out your lives, that you might behold this joyous day. You are now where you stood fifty years ago this very hour, with your brothers and your neighbors, shoulder to shoulder, in the strife of your country. Behold, how altered! The same heavens are indeed over your heads; the same ocean rolls at your feet; but all else, how changed! You hear now no roar of hostile cannon, you see no mixed volumes of smoke and flame rising from burning Charlestown. The ground strewn with the dead and the dying; the impetuous charge; the steady and successful repulse; the loud call to repeated assault; the summoning of all that is manly to repeated resistance a thousand bosoms freely and fearlessly bared in an instant to whatever of terror there may be in war and death—all these you have witnessed, but you witness them no more.... All is peace; and God has granted you this sight of your country's happiness, ere you slumber forever in the grave. He has allowed you to behold and to partake the reward of your patriotic toils; and He has allowed us, your sons and countrymen, to meet you here, and in the name of the present generation, in the name of your country, in the name of liberty, to thank you!—From "Oration on Laying the Corner-Stone of Bunker Hill Monument," June 17, 1825.

If anything be found in the national Constitution, either by original provision or subsequent interpretation, which ought not to be in it, the people know how to get rid of it. If any construction be established unacceptable to them, so as to become practically a part of the Constitution, they will amend it at their own sovereign pleasure. But while the people choose to maintain it as it is, while they are satisfied with it and refuse to change it, who has given or who can give to the State legislatures a right to alter it, either by interference, construction, or otherwise?—From a Speech delivered in the United States Senate, January 26, 1830.

America has furnished to the world the character of Washington. And if our American institutions had done nothing else, that alone would have entitled them to the respect of mankind.—From Speech on the Completion of Bunker Hill Monument, June 17, 1843.

He smote the rock of the national resources, and abundant streams of revenue gushed forth. He touched the dead corpse of Public Credit, and it sprung upon its feet.—Speech on Hamilton, March 10, 1831.

When tillage begins, other arts follow. The farmers therefore are the founders of human civilization.—From "Remarks on Agriculture," January 13, 1840.

Labor in this country is independent and proud. It has not to ask the patronage of capital, but capital solicits the aid of labor.—Speech, April 1824.

There is no refuge from confession but suicide; and suicide is confession.—From Argument on the Murder of Captain White, April 6, 1830.

Sink or swim, live or die, survive or perish, I give my hand and my heart to this vote.—Eulogy on Adams and Jefferson, August 2, 1826.

God grants liberty only to those who love it, and are always ready to guard and defend it.—Speech, June 3, 1834.

Whatever makes men good Christians, makes them good citizens.—From a Speech at Plymouth, December 22, 1820.

One country, one constitution, one destiny.—Speech, March 15, 1837.