The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-08-07
From fhe National Iaisliigenesr.
SKETCHES
or the PERSONAL AND PUBLIC cHAMAcrER on
DANIEL WEBSTER.
ca..sp., -.

4
LgrrER NO. II.
r., Mass, July, 1899.
DsAR STA am reminded Of my promise TO write
YOU another letter about Mr. Webster by an incident
which took place last evening ! have neighbor for
whom entertain sincere respect ,houghhe u black
smith and Van Buren, man The stale OF society
Il such in our village that have few distinctions
founded upon vocation style OF living my friend
of he anvil often pays VISIT and though We differ
Ia notifies we have good deal Of pleasant intercourse
! We'll, he called last evening, and began by asking
me II had heard the replied ia the negative;
aud he proceeded 10 say that the steam packet LAYER
pool had arrived, bringing letter from Mr., Webster,
withdrawing his from the list of Presidential can
didates remarked that this did surprise me- as
had long understood that Mr.. Webster had only per-
United himself be held up candidate al the So
| citaon OF his friends. Here attempted 10 turn the
conversation, as we accustomed 10 ayod party TO-
pics but my neighbor contrary to his wont. chose to
/ pursue the theme.
.Wha do You think they will say to Webster in
| England T. said he
/ They have the Globe,"I replied, and that being
i the Government organ, is likely to be considered ~
London as the best authority The Globe always re-
presents Mr.. Webster not only wicked but an In
consistent man. He is always spoken OF as inferior
to Benton, Wright, Walker, and especially John M.
| Niles"
/" Alb, but the Globe is a party paper"
i "1roe but il always speaks Of John M Niles rs
rowing Webster up Salt river in debate"
~ don't care for that It's my idea that Webster
can cnch nail, argument, as well as The best on
'em"
THAT shall not dispute. But let us consider that
] Webster is in England; and, though we may say
what we plcsse. more about John Bulls OPT
mon OF us than that OF oil the world beside. French
Marquis or q German Prince may travel among us, and
90 home aud say what he plenses be II good OF III we
care little Bot If English writer laughs at our ioi-
lies aud fobles. even though il be some trolop OF
Lid tufu
face, aud get seriously angry. This shows how much
we for the good opinion OF mother England. And
now wish to know, which you would rather have 20
to England specimen Of our Yankee breed-Danel
Webster John NJ. Niles 7"
Fudge" said tho blacksmith.
"Bu,," said !. Niles always beats Webster in
gumeut--at least says the Globe"
!" Niles 10 ass :"
Wen, what do you say TO Benton"
Benton talks too much Latin Webster never
talks any thing but English and he handles Just rs
strong man handles sledge-hsmmer; that is, in an
kind Of way, as if HI playing with II and yet
the sparks hy right and left from the red hot iron.
heard Webster mysefat Bunker Hill when the corner
stone OF the monument laid II was the 18th OF
June 1925 sat right Of he old soldiers
who in the battle. When the speech was over,
the old patriot pulled up the wasbsnd Of his bFeeches
with his right hand, and turned to me, saying That's
grand speech, do declare | am pretty deaf. YOU
know, but heard it all as plain as did the British
cannon. Every word OF That speech seemeu 10 welSh
pound. Hurrah! Hurrah Hurrah"
"And you think, because Webster pleased this
old patriot and pleased you that lac will please the
English. How does that follow
"Oh, there's no CANNON about him. He's true
steeland that's the stuff, whether you wish TO point
| ploughshare or edge razor. He was brought up a
farmer and he knows how to sit down and drink glass
of cider and talk about fat cattle, as well as any body
| And if you were TO see him, have, by q New
Hampshire 6reside, you'd think he really was farmer
| Why, there he's as ready to give neghbor the time
OF day as any body. But went once TO Washington,
| and what do you think sawi went to the-what
do you call 1.-THE iepes Well, there crowd
Of officers, all yellow with epauiettes and go! lace
and there dark hairy fellows looking wild and
foolish Shetland ponies and there were ladies with
amazing tall feathers upon their heads and right IN
the midst Daniel Webster! 1t did me good to
look at him and was just the point Of crying out,
HuIrah for the Granite Staten"
why so, prayf' -.
"Whyl Do you think wasn't proud my native
State when saw New Hampshire boy, farmer of
New England, real Yankee, in the midst OF all that
splendor; and to him, too, little about it
His eye rowing round if he thought It was all
| nonsense | was damned in between the Brazilian
| Ambassador aud the latest woman ever sup
pose was pretty much covered up; but it seems my
head was out, for Webster me, and, not ninding
who was looking on, he came right up and got hold Of
| my hand and gave 1t real New Hampshire grip. |
should have known It was New Hampshire fist in the
dark. for twas JUS, like my own vice.
"Well, what has all this to do with Webster's be-
ing in England y
"Why, you see, tho Webster wasn't afraid to shake
the hand Of blacksmith the Presidents levec, and
in the midst of such splendid ladies' and many shin
ing officers, he still seemed as easy and as much at
home there as he used to be in moving meadow OF
foxail with sharp scythe. And now, say, it stands
that that's the sort Of to be looked up to
anywhere He'll be afraid Of your queens, and
dukes, and all that Of thing than he would be Of
much gold lace aud buckram. I'm told that, after
ALL those big people don't parade about the streets
with their badges, and coronets, and ribands like our
militia corporals on muser-day. A man told me
that he King William, and he was dressed for
all the world like common man, only that he wore a
little bit of star on his breast He also said to me
that he once heard person snetze just natural
life, and was told that it the Marquis Of Murry-
borrow"
My friend here had lurking smile upon his face, and
perceived that he had turned from the point of dis
cussion by design. 1t evident he had been be-
trayed into expression Of interest in Webster which
was at variance with his political creed for is mel
ancholy fact that party fidelity to demand Of
voaries unqualified rancor and hate towards those who
are not birds Of its feather Enough has been
SAID however to show that my neighbor though Lo-
cofoco, was willing nay, proud, that such specimen
of the true Yankee as Daniel Webster should be in
England When minated that he might have been
better pleased If John NJ Niles had been repre-
sent his countymen there, he had that Of express
sion about the face which is apt to come over it when
ipecac is mentioned.
In this enclosure you will find few Of the anecdotes
Of Webster.
F.
a Novel Escape from Prison.---A tow evenings
back of the convcts in Blackwes Island requested
q. hall.