Mr. Chief Justice, one may live as a conqueror, a king, or a magistrate; but he must die as a man.  The bed of death brings every human being to his pure individuality; to the intense contemplation of that deepest and most solemn of all relations, the relation between the creature and his Creator.  Here it is that fame and renown cannot assist us; that all external things must fail to aid us; that even friends, affection, and human love and devotedness, cannot succor us.  This relation, the true foundation of all duty, a relation perceived and felt by conscience and confirmed by revelation, our illustrious friend, now deceased, always acknowledged.  He reverenced the Scriptures of truth, honored the pure morality which they teach, and clung to the hopes of future life which they impart.  He beheld enough in nature, in himself, and in all that can be known of things seen, to feel assured that there is a Supreme Power, without whose providence not a sparrow falleth to the ground.  To this gracious being he trusted himself for time and for eternity; and the last words of his lips ever heard by mortal ears were a fervent supplication to his Maker to take him to himself.

[Footnote 1:  The following letter of dedication to the mother of Judge Story accompanied these remarks in the original edition:—­

“Boston, September 15, 1845.

“VENERABLE MADAM,—­I pray you to allow me to present to you the brief remarks which I made before the Suffolk Bar, on the 12th instant, at a meeting occasioned by the sudden and afflicting death of your distinguished son.  I trust, dear Madam, that as you enjoyed through his whole life constant proofs of his profound respect and ardent filial affection, so you may yet live long to enjoy the remembrance of his virtues and his exalted reputation.

“I am, with very great regard,

“Your obedient servant,

“DANIEL WEBSTER.

“TO MADAM STORY.”]

THE RHODE ISLAND GOVERNMENT.

AN ARGUMENT MADE IN THE SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES, ON THE 27TH
OF JANUARY, 1848, IN THE DORR REBELLION CASES.

[The facts necessary to the understanding of these cases are sufficiently set forth in the commencement of Mr. Webster’s argument.  The event out of which the cases arose is known in popular language as the Dorr Rebellion.  The first case (that of Martin Luther against Luther M. Borden and others) came up by writ of error from the Circuit Court of Rhode Island, in which the jury, under the rulings of the court (Mr. Justice Story), found a verdict for the defendants; the second case (that of Rachel Luther against the same defendants) came up by a certificate of a division of opinion.  The allegations, evidence, and arguments were the same in both cases.