The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1850-09-21
.Reminiscences of Con.ress."

A new book, bearing this title, has Just been is
suedi in New York, and is reviewed in late mum
Der Of the Tribune. The writer &c. W. March,
under the general title he has adopted. gives I
series of personal and political sketches of DAN
lei WEBSTER, accompanied with sketches Of TIA,
leading public characters whose career brough
them in connection with the distinguished Massa
chusetts Senator. Among the recollec:ions o
the early life Of Mr.. W., the following incident i
given, showing how nearly the illustrous states
man was lost in the clerk Oft county court:
The clerk Of the Court Of Common Pleas fpi
the county Of Hillsborough, New Hampshire, re-
signed his olfce January 1905. Mr.. Webster ,
fdher was oue of the judges OF this court, and
his colleagues, from regard for him, rendered hi
son the vacant cerkship, 1t WAS what Judg,
Webster had long desired The office was woril
: 500 per annum, which was in those days and
in that neighbuIhood, u competency; or rattle,
absolute wealth. Alr Webster himself consider
ell il "a great prise, and was eagre to accept it,
/ He weighed the question in his mind. On the
one side he saw immediate comfort on the other
at the best. doubtful struggle. BY its accept
ancc, he made sure his own good condition, and
what was nearest to his heart, that Of his family
| BY its refusal, he condemned both himself aud
them to an uncertain, and probably, harrassng
| future. Whatever aspirations he might have
cherished of professional distinction he was vii,
ling cherrfully to reIinquish, to promote the im
mediate welfare of those he held mast dear.
But Mr. Gore peremptorIly and yehemently in.
terpo.ed his dissent. He urged every argument
against the purpose lie exposed its ab>urdIty
aud It's consequence He appealed To 'he ambi.
tion of hi, pupil once a clerk, he said. he always
would be n clerk-there would be no step up
pard He attacked him, too, on The side Of hi,
family aiI,clion telling him that he would be- far
more able to CRAFTY his friends from his profess
ional labors than in the cleIkship Go on lac
said 'and finish your studies; You are poor en-.
ough, but there are greater eyil' than pOverty;
| live on no mans favor what bread you do eat
let it be the bread Of independence; pursue your
profession; make yourself useful to your friends
and a little formidable to your enemies, and you
have nothing to fear"
! Diverted from his design by arguments like
these, it still remained to Mr. Webster to acquaint
hi. father with his determination, and satisfy him
Of its propriety He felt this would be no easy
task, rs his father had set his heart SO much upon
the office; but he determined to go home imme.
dlitely, and give him Ia full the reasons If his
conduct.
! II was mdwnter, and he looked round for n
country slegh--for stage coaches at that time
were things unknown in the centre Of New lIamp.
shre-and finding one that had come down 10
market, he took passage therein. and in two or
three days was set down at his fathers door
! (l'he same journey is made now in four hours by
steam) IL was evening when he arrived.
have heard him tell the story of the interview
HIS father was sitting before the fire, and received
him with manifest 10y. He looked feebler than
he had ever appeared, but his countenance light.
ed up on seeing his clerk stand before him in good
health and spirits He lost no time in alluding
to the great appointment-sad how spontaneous
ly it had been made-how kindly the chief jus.
tice proposed il, with wha. unanimity all assent.
ed, &c. DC. During this speech, it can be well i'm.
agined how embarrassed Mr.. Webster felt, com
PEELED, as 10 thought. from q conviction Of duty
to disapppoint his fathers sanguino expectations.
Nevertheless, no commanded his eountenance and
voice, 80 as to reply in sufficiently assured man
nor He spoke gaily about the otiio; expressed
his great obligation to their honors, and his inten-
ton to write them most respectful letter; II ho
could have consented to record anybody's judg
ments, no should have been proud TO have recor.
ded their Honors', DC, ~ lie proceeded In this
strain till his father exhibited signs Of amaze.
mont, it having occurred to him, finally, that his
son might al the while bo serious--"Do you in.