The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1839-01-29
From the National Magazine.
SKETCH-HAYNE AND WEBSTER

, Our Object is 10 give sketch Of Congress MS
il is--iis members and their manners; but we
must be pardoned il we travel lille out of the
record to point of time removed Some wears
hack. We refer to tho great South Carolina
debate which took place in the Senate Chamber
upon the Tariff question Of 1888. We were in
the gallery. The nul6caiion fever had risen al
most frenzy high. Members of all parties had
deserted the lower House 20 witness the splinter
ing oflances between Robert Y. Havne of South
Carolina, aud Daniel Webster. When we en-.
tered the Hall, General Hayne was speaking; he
was man of general youthful appearance, with
his shirt collar turned over his cmvat, and his
hair smoothly brushed across his forehend.-
He was of the middle stature aud well mude.
he was speaking energeticaly-his eyes We're
peculiarly brilliant, and his face was extremely
male; i,c moved up and down the asiles formed
between the desks With rapid and agilated
step, his gestures were vehement, and he APP
peared 10 he under high state of excitement
We were peculiarly struck with his whole ap.
pearance, and the tone of feeling evident in the
Chamber. Mr.. Calhoun, then Vice President.
was in the chair, with hts large, steady and VIC.
ient eyes Witnessing the first great battle of his
doctrine, he seemed the very spirit of embodied
interest-not a word, not gesture of General
Hayne escaped his lion look The Senate was
deeply interested matter of course. The
language OF General Hayne was rich and vIger-
o,is and his powerful sketch of the effect of the
gave Other peope-his own bold an,l hazardous
elocution and impetuous bearing, were evident
" making n strong impression on the body.
From time TO time attention would he directed
from him to the gentleman who was expected TO
answer him, and whom General Huyne attacked
under cover of terrible and CALLING fire.
Cold, serene, dark and melancholy, that man
thus assaileo, sat apart, bleak and frowning a
mountain rock; he evidently felt the gigantic in
HueLces that were at work around him. but his
profound mind was strengthening itself for the
contest. And how deeply solemn was that hour
that moment-how grand that scene, and what
were the medltatiOns and spirit rallyings of that
dark man? His countenance wnvered not dtl.
ring tie whole OF that tremendous speech; as
sauits were made upon him. but yet he neither
turned to the right nor left, but calmly and gal
iantly, like soldier waiting the signal, he 'bded
his hour. That time of retaliation came swift as
the thoughts of vengeance to Daniel Webster.
Who will forget the exordum of that remark;-
bic effort-the lnshing sarcasm the whitening
tones OF That voice, and the temper of his lang
uage? General tiayne 1--WE remember distinct !
~ changed color, and appeared much discon-
certed,. but who that heard him will permit
the peroralicn TO be forgotten-those closing pas
sageS OF granducr, that majestic al'nsion to The
nag OF freedom and his country? Looking, with
ms dark and lustrous eye, through the glass
dome OF the Chamber, over which he could see
'hht banner flowing, he delivered an apostrophe
"hiGh mas never been surpassed AMI seldom e |
quced. 1t composed figure oil tile most thrill |
ing interest-a burst OF solemn and pathetic feel |
ing; and, coming from such source, IN man
generally esteemed phegmatic,) il was electric.
1t was like the beam Of sunset, or the CLEAN OF
summer lightning, ratliating the brow of the cliff
TO which we have above alluded
But those scenes are past, and the country has
benz II the OF those spe 'ches; but the memory of
them and the incidents that attended them,
are iorcihly impressed upon our mind.
HARD DRINKING. Newer was more APP |
propriaIc name for ain odions habit 1t is hard
-lnGee; rs "tlle way of the transgressor j.,
Away hdrd' The most ruthless tyranny issIess
dreadful than the tlespotism of the cup. There
is no slave on earth, SO totally n bondslnan SO