The miners' express. (Dubuque, Iowa) 1849-1854, 1852-12-29
VOL. IL. NO. Is
OF THE HAYNE DE.
BATE.


A writer in the Rochester American gives
this interesting sketch of the debate between
Mr.. Webster and General Hayne, of which he
was an eye witness
In this prime Of physical manhood ! first saw
Mr.. Webster. 1t was when the Constitution
was threatened by the anti-tarlf party of the
South-ihe tariff of 1888. was in the gallery
of the Senate Chamber. Members of all polit-
ica parties had deserted the lower House to
witness the sp!interng Of lances between Rob.
ert Y. Hayne, and South Carolina, and Daniel
Webster When | entered the Hall, Ger.
Hayne was speaking. He was man of youth
full appearance, with his shirt collar turned over
his cravat, and his hair smoothly brushed across
ms forehead He was of the mdding stature,
and of good personal and presentabe appear
ance He was speaking energetically-his
eyes were peculiarly brilliant, and his face
cessvely pale. He moved up and down the
aisle formed between the desks, with rapid
step, gesticulating vehemently.
[ | was struck with his appearance and man.
ner, and with the general evident sensation in
the Senate chamber. Mr. Calhoun, the Vice
President of the United States, occupied the
presiding chair, and his large, unsteady, unwink-
ing eyes, witnessed the first great battle of his
doctrines. He seemed the very spirit of en-
bodied interest. Not word, not a gesture of
General Hayne, escaped his listening ear and
his lion look.
The language of General Hayne was rich
and vigorous, and his powerful sketch of the
impost law at the South-the description he
gave of her peope-his own bold and hazardous
elocuton and impetuous bearing, were evidently
making strong impression on the Senate
From time to time attention would be directed
from him to the Senator who was expected to
answer him, and whom General Hayne was
attacking under cover of a terrible and Calling
| fire.
| Cold, serene, dark and melancholy that man,
thus assailed, sat apart, bleak and frowning
mountain rock. He evidently, however, felt
the gigantic influences that were at work around
him, but his profound mind was Strengthening
itself for the combat. And how deeply solemn
was that hour, that moment, how grand that
scene, and what were the meditations, the spir
it rallyings of that dark, mysterious man.
| His countenance waved not during the whole
of that tremendous speech assault after assault
was made upon him, but yet he neither turned
to the right nor to the left, but calmly and gall
lantly, as he has met his death, like soldier
waiting the signal he then bided his hour. That
time Of retaliation came, swift as the thoughts
of vengeance to Daniel Webster. Quietly, like
Ajax, master of the seven-fold shield, he rose
before the Senate, his eye dim and dark beneath
the marble tympanum Of his brow glanced
ed mouth relaxed into utterance, and onward he
poured the copious river of his thoughts, bear
ing down the dangerous sophstry of the South.
erner, and strengthening. by its equal and all.
embracing force, the yielding pillars of the
land Elke Eneas bearing his father from the
confagration of Troy, so did Webster bear the
sacred rights of free people safely from the
gathering tempest Of dsunion. Who that was
there will forget the exordum of tina; remark
able effort-the lashing sarcasm, the withering
tones Of his voice and the temper of his lam
guage2 .
General Hayne changed color and appeared
much disconnected; he did not look for such on
outbreak from such source. During the whole
of that speech pin would have made noise
in dropping from the lace veil of lady, and
when he reached the peroration, the memory of
man went back to the annals of the past to seek
an equal, and those who were then
present, cannot but vividly recall those closing
passages of grandeur, that majestic allusion to
the flag of freedom, and of his country. Look
ing with his dark and lustrous eye through the
glass dome of the chamber, over which he
could see that banner floating, he uttered an
apostrophe. Inspiration and transccndent emo
ton accomplished the purpose of the G ants ef
| tort