Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1844-11-01

contradiction; and by far fonder of invective
and retott than of the influence of soft persua-
sion, neither friend nor foe, who opposes him
IN debate. can expect quarter. Indeed, on
these occasions, he treats his friends worse
than his foes; for, while he looks upon the lat
ter as enemies in lawful war, he rewards
the former as rebellious subjects who deserve
nc mercy.
Excessively fond of admiration, as a pub
lie orator, and consequently studying effect
more than wise man should, he cannot, and
never could, forego joke, or sarcasm, which
should bring applause from the gallery, though
at the same time it should plant dagger, or
create vuLnus unavoidable, in another's heart.
The natural result of this temper has been full
ly shown. While no man in his speeches, gains
more general applause, no man inficts so mnch
private pain, SO deep-seated dislike, in the bo-
som Of adversaries."
Since 1912 Mr.. Webster has been turned
out of the premiership, The country had
marked him, and the administration of which
he was the head, for decapitation. The whlg
party and Mr.. Clay, its chief, had denounced
him as corrupt, unprincipled, and treacherous.
The Clay press, from the highest to the low
est, had pelted him like scavengers. Driven
ont at last by all parties. he at last cried out
( dered about without door being open to him.
At last, the hopelessness of whigery called
him in: "Come, ave aOiH take your help, although
our leader has said you are dead weight to
any party. Our case is so desperate that you
can do us no mischief. tits proper penance
to make you recant the testimony you bore
against your old federal accomplices. You
must, therefore, take an early opportunity to
talslfy all you have uttered, especially against
the leader of whiggery, in lofty panegyric."
Mr.. Webster assented to the humiIiating
conditions and, in late speech at Valley
Forge, forged this new character for Mr..
Clay:
"Mr. Clay has been before the country for
a long perlod-noarly forty years; over thirty
years he has taken leading and highly inn
portant part in the public affairs of this conn
try-he is acknowledged to be man of sim
gular and almost universal talent he has had
great experience in the administration of al
most all our public affairs-he has served for
many years, with wonderful judgment and
ability, in both houses of Congress-of one of
which he performed the arduous and difficult
duties of it's presiding officer. with unexam-
pied skill and satisfaction-he has performed
most important services to his country of a
diplomatic character as the representative of
this government In Europe. at one OF the most
trying periods of its history, and most ably
conducted to satisfactory conclusion very
delicate and troublesome negotiation; he has
exercised the duties of the Department OF
State with consummate and unexampled ablll-
ty! He is man of frankness and honor, OF
unquestioned talent, and a man of a noble and
generous Repeated and enthusiast
tic cheering frequently interrupted MIR. Web
ster during the above remarks on MIR. Clay,
and continued for some minutes."1
What must Mr.. Webster have felt when he
heard the wings shouting at his glorifcation
of the ''frankness," the "noble and generous
bearing" of Mr.. Clay, whom but little while
before he had denounced for his heartless am
bition-his cunning and his perfdy-h1s I'M
sparing and vndictive malice.