Mountain Democrat., 1857-12-12
Clay. Calhoun and Nvsb.ter.

The following is an abstract from the
speech of Gen. Haskell, of Tennessee, at
a Railroad celebration at Charleston
The gifted orator is at present an inmate
of the State lunatic asylum of KY:
For two years Of my life it was my most
cherished privilege to have lived in almost
daily intercourse with those intellectual
giants and incorruptible statesmen. Mr..
Calhoun was the most modest, most un-
pretending, the least obtrusivc to catch
the public ear Of any man ever saw, and
he was as simple as a>chiId in every day
intercourse with men, When, as l have
often seen him, cloakcd of cold day upon
the streets of Washington in his unosten-
tatious way, he often approached group
unnoticcd, but as the whisper rose, that is
Calhoun, every eye was turned, every head
was uncovered, and to each it was charm
that he had been noticed. lie had the
peculiar faculty of commanding the attcn-
tion Of every one who ever sat with him
on the same floor, that he did not know by
intuition, when he wished to speak the
flash Of his keen grey eye was enough to
know that something moved his spirit,
and raising his flashing eye he encounter
cd and conquered all, and on the floor OF
the Senate he never uttered u single word
that did not command the brcathlcss at.
tention of every one within the sound Of
his voice. When he talked, there was the
charm that it seemed to be ones own
thoughts, it was so natural; and never
heard him say what at the time I did moi
feel | could have said myself, and it was
only when sought with unaided energy
to take the flight, that realized the height
to which had been carried.
1t was glory and memory to have
seen Mr.. Webster. Ills appearance, as
he strobe along the avenue, could not be
mistaken or forgottcn-his blue coat, brass
buttons, buff vest, white neck tic, gloves
and gaiters-all were part of him, and
as pale and sallow, intent on catching alb
stract thought, he passed along; the crowd
was still, hushcd in brcathlcss notice OF
him, and but few would venture to accost
him. But when that had been done the
palor left him, his eye frightened back to
earth, the sun beamed out and thawed
him; and his expressive "good morning"
was enough to kill you, for no one ever
loved the morning better.
But If you have seen old Hal as have
seen him, you never could forget him.
Magnificent in his bearing, and magnifi-
Gently dressed, he strolled along cheerful
and hearty, with an eye for every ono, and
when passing he bowed as he alone could
bow, there was not ono who did not take
it to himself. These were mighty men
these three old statesmen.
They differed in their forms of great
ness, but I'd each there was the life vol.
umc, and each was excellent. To use a
figure which sometimes occurs to me,
would say that the genius of Clay was like
the rapid, dashing, foaming torrent, span.
ned with rainbow. Mr.. Calhoun's like
gentle stream, glided on; it parted into
thousand channels and glided noislessly
along to cheer the glade and fcrtilize the
forest; but accomplishing its objects, the
strcamlets came again together, and were
ready when occasion called with all its
accumulated energies to plunge with re-
sistlcss power into the great ocean OF
thought. Wcbstcr'swas one single stream,
deep, still, sluggish but broad, and seemed
as though it could float the navics of tho
world on its mighty bosom. To change
the figure, might say Clay, like knight
Of old, came bounding on to the attack
with beaver up and lance at rest. Mr..
Calhoun, with exact precision, welded
the scymctcr Saladdin, while Mr.. Webster
bore down upon his object with the sword
of Richard C@ur dc Lion"