Washington, September 27, 1850.
MY DEAR SIR, Our
companionship in the Senate is dissolved. After this long and most important
session, you are about to return to your home; and I shall try to find leisure
to visit mine. I hope we may meet each other again two months hence, for the
discharge of our duties, in our respective stations in the government. But life is uncertain; and I have not felt
willing to take leave of you without placing in your hands a note, containing a
few words which I wish to say to you.
In the earlier part
of our acquaintance, my dear Sir, occurrences took place, which I remember with
constantly increasing regret and pain; because the more I have known of you,
the greater have been my esteem for your character, and my respect for your
talents. But it is your noble, able, manly, and patriotic conduct, in support
of the great measure of this session, which has entirely won my heart, and
secured my highest regard. I hope you may live long to serve your country; but
I do not think you are ever likely to see a crisis, in which you may be able to
do so much, either for your own distinction or the public good. You have stood
where others have fallen; you have advanced, with firm and manly step, where
others have wavered, faltered, and fallen back; and for one, I desire to thank
you, and to commend your conduct, out of the fulness of an honest heart. This
letter needs no reply; it is, I am aware, of very little value; but I have
thought you might be willing to receive it, and, perhaps, to leave it where it
would be seen by those who shall come after you. I pray you, when you reach
your own threshold, to remember me most kindly to your wife and daughter. I
remain, my dear Sir, with the truest esteem, your friend and obedient servant,
For Dickinsons reply see: Senator Daniel S. Dickinson to Daniel Webster, October 5, 1850
SOURCE: Fletcher
Webster, Editor, The Private Correspondence of Daniel Webster, Vol.
2, p. 392
