Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1850-02-27
HAYNE AND WEBSTER.

Our object is to give sketch Of Congress, as i
is--iis members and its manners; bat we mast b.
pardoned If we travel little dnt of she record TO
point of time removed some years back. We refe
to the great South Carolina debate upon the tariff
question Of 1888. We were in the gallery. Ths
notification fever had arisen almost phrenzy high
Members Of all parties had deserted the lower house
to witness the splintering Of lances between Robert
Y. Hayne, of South Carolina, and Daniel Webster
When we entered the hall Gen. Hayne was peak.
ing. He was man Of general youthful appearasce
with his shirt collar turned his cravat, and his
hair smoothly brushed across his forehead. He was
Of middle stature, and well made. He was speak.
ing energetcally; his eyes were peculiarly byiaAt
and his face was extremely pale; he moved up and
down the asles formed between the desks, with a
rapid and agitated step his gestures were vehe-
ment. and he appeared to be under a high state Of
excitement. We were peculiarly struck with his
whole appearance, and the tene Of feeling evident
in the chamber. Mr.. Calhoun, then Vice Presi-
dent, was in the chair. With his large, steady and
vgiant eyes witnessing the first great battle Of his
doctrine he seemed the very spirit Of embodied in.
terest: not word, not gesture escaped his lion
look. The senate was deeply interested, as mat
ter Of course. The language Of Gen. Hayne was
rich and vigorous; and his powerful sketch uf the
effect Of the impost law on the South-the descrip-
ton Of her people-his own bold and hazardous ell
oculion and impetuous bearing-were evidently
making stfong impression on the body. From
time to time, attention would be directed from him
to the gentleman who was expected to answer him,
and whom Gen. Hayne attacked, under the cover
Of terrible and CALLING fire.
Cold serene, dark and melancholy, that man thus
assailed, sat apart, bleak and frowning as noun.
tain rock, he evidently felt the gigantic influences
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 medita-
tions and spirit-rallyings Of that dark man His
countenance wavered not during the whole Of that
tremendous speech assault after assault was made
upon him, but yet he neither turned TO the right
nor left, but calmly and gallantly like soldier
waiting the signal, he bided his hour. That time
Of retaliation came, swift as the thoughts of ven
geance, to Daniel Webster. Who will forget the
exordum of that remarkable efJrt, the lashing sar-
casm, the whitening tones of that voice, and the
temper Of his Ianguage2 Gen. Hayne we remem-
Der distinctly changed color and appeared 10 be dis
concerted But who that heard him will permit the
peroration to be forgotten a-hose closing passages
Of grandeur, that majestic allusion 10 the flag of
freedom and his country. Looking with his dark
and lusirous eye, through the glass dome of the
chamber, over which he could see the banner flow.
ing, he delivered an apostrophe, which has never
been surpassed, and seldom equalled. 1t composed
figure Of the most thrilling Interest," burst'o
solemn and pathetic feeling; and coming from such
source, "a man generally esteemed phlegmatic, }
il was electric. II was like the beam q sunset, or
the CLEAN Of summer lightning, radiatihg the brow
Of the cliff to which we have sbove alluded.
But these scenes are past, and the country has
the benefit Of these speeches; but the memory Of
them, and the incidents that attended them, for
chilly impressed on our mind.-.Nat. Magazine.