Southern standard., 1852-11-06

intimacy declared it to be most genial and buoy
ant in his hours Of relaxation and domestic aban-
don. Certainly when his face was lighted up by
sudden smile it took entirely different express
sion from that which it habitually wore in repose,
when a sour sternness, and wearied expression
characterized it. 1t only in his latter days
that the writer Of these hasty sketches saw to
know Mr.. Webster, when he was long past his |
prime, and the shadows that so darkened his de-
cline, had already begun to project themselves
heavily upon his face and form, though both were
strongly defined and vigorous still.
In that war Of Giants in the session of so
the death warrant of the Great Three-the con-
trast and ahtagonism of these great rivals, and
their assimilation to the three great Englshmen,
was most strkingly exhibited 1t was their last
and greatest gladatoral strife, and the spectators
can scarcely hope ever to look upon ITS IKE again
in this generation. 1t was indeed study 10 "a'ch
the different manifestations of the different men,
the calm, self-concentrated energy OF CALHOUN,
unshaken in every emergency; tue Pouoerous
strength, and suen sef-reliance OF WEBSTER;
and the re ;tless, eager excitabhity of CLAY-all
1vera exbibited in contrast and collision in that
great theatre But before that conflict more
than well commenced, one chair vacant for
lonr weeks; then, like one risen from the dead
wan. ghastly, with voice as sepulchral as though
it came from the tomb, the almost spectral pres
ence of CALHOUN appeared in that Chamber, and
his hollow voice for the last time rose in solemn
warning to that Senate And slowly DANIEL
WEBSTER reared his heavy form, and missve brow,
and responded earnestly but respectfully; and
again the hollow tones of CALHOUN rung back in
RESPONSE until exhausted he was borne from that
Chamber But HENRY CLAY did not speak
Another long interval of absence from that seat
towards which the face of WEBSTER usually
turned in musng mood and again, more wan and
ghastly than before like Samuel summoned by
Saul, sat in that chair what remained of the NOR
tai frame of JONI c. CALHOUN, skeleton irradi-
ated wonderously by the naptha-lamp of an in
domitabe SOUL able to scorn and trample on bodi-
ly nfrmity. On this occasion his eye only spoke,
he was too feeble even to read his speech; but
while Senator Mason read it, his eagle eye glow
ing with full vitality, rested chiefly on the saIlow
face of WEBSTER intently observant and attentive
to every word, and sadder and greyer in its hue
than usual, as though the shadow resting on his
great rival, was reflected upon himself
On that occasion the spectator saw but two men,
CALHOUN and WEBsTER--CLAY was obscured par
TALLY in their blaze. Yet a short time later and
two of the three sat in that chamber draped in
black, while the chair of the third, vacant still,
was draped in the same sombre covering-and
preparatory to the final parting each said some
sad and solemn words in praise of the departed
and with slow steps followed his remains from the
scene of their mutual triumphs to that bourne
whittier their own were to be followed Fol
it may have been fancy, but after the death o.
CALHOUN, it seemed to the observer that the steI
of CLAY lost its elastic tread and the solemn coun
tenance of WEBSTER caught additional shadow
of gloom. That removal was warning they
could not mistake, refuse to heed. So strongly
have those scenes impressed themselves on th
memory of the writer-so thoroughly had tht
three thus become identified in his mind, and thei
fates seemed linked together, that never after TIL
death of one, and withdrawal Of the other, dit
the third seem in place. or surrounded BY his prop
er environment. The spell seemed broken whe
CALHoUN's body passed out of7Hhat door, whic
bound the three to the service of the country
Requiescant in pace. They were great men, an
patriotic men, and if two of them sinned, the
sorrowed and suffered in atonement, and the sol
rows and suferings of such natures are acute
proportion to the depth and intensity of the natul
from whence they spring. Deep suffering had le
its traces the face of WEBSTER, care had ful
rowed the face of CLAY, so careless in its earl
grace, and CALHoUN's countenance was grave
deep with wearing thoughts. Looking back c
the scenes in which they bore so conspicuous
part but short time since, and then like pane
ramic picture seeing both them and it fade ava
into blank vacuity, the reflection will force itse
into expression
"What shadows we are and what shadows we pursue