Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1860-06-05


mount due me for corn aud other supplies fur
nished to the troops in the service of the United
States at various times, and on the expedition
| 10 Fort Dale, in Butler county. On arriving /
| put ND at Browns Hotel, and next day went to
| the quarters of the Alabama delegation. The
third day, Col. Vim. R. King, of the Senate,
brought me word that President Jackson desired
to see me. Tell Dale" said he to Col. King,
s.that if had as little to do as he has. should
have seen him before now" The General was
walking 10 the lawn 10 front Of his mansion as
we approached He advanced, and grasped me
| warmly by the hand.
mo introduction is needed" said the Colo
mel.
.Oh, no." said the General, shaking my hand
again, 81 shall never forget Sam Dale' We
walked into his reception room, aid | was in
trodnced to Col. Benton and five or six other
distinguished men. They were all very civil.
and invited me to visit them, They were talk
log over "Nullifcatien," " the engrossing subject
at that period, aud the President, turning to me,
said:
"Gen. Dale, If this thing goes on, our country
will be like bag Of meal with both ends oper
Pick it up in the middle or endwise, and it will
run out. must tie the bag and save the coun-
try"
The company now took leave, but when l rose
to retire with Col. King, the General detained
me, ordered up some wtiskey, and directed his
servant to refuse all visitors until one O'clock
He talked over our campaigns, and then of the
business that brought me to Washington. He
then said, ''Sam, you have been true to your
country, but you have made one mistake 10 lite
You are now old and solitary, aud without a
bosom friend or family to comfort you. God
called mine away. But all have achieved
fame, power, everything exchange if
she could be restored to me for a moment"
| TIE iron man trembled with emotion, and for
some time covered his face with his hands, and
tears dropped on bis knee. was deeply affect
ed myself. He took two or three turns across
the room, and then abruptly said, dale, they
are trying me here; you will witness it; but
will uphold the laws"
Understood him to be referring to nulli6ca-
tion again, his mind evidently having recurred
to it, and expressed the hope that things would
go right.
"Tbey shall go right, sir" he exclaimed, pas
sionately shivering his pipe upon the table
He calmeG down after this, and showed me
his collection of pipes, many of most costly and
curious kind, sent to him from every quarter,
his propensity for smoking being we'll known
These" said he, "will do to look at. l still
smoke my corn cob, Sam, as you and | have
often done together; it is the sweetest and best
|pipe."
When rose to take leave, he pressed me to
accept room there. II can talk to you at
night; in the day am beset" l declined ON
the plea of business, but dned with him several
times, always, no matter what dgntaries were
present, sitting at his right hand. Heate very
sparingly, only taking a single glass OF wine
though his table was magnificent. When We
parted tor the last time he said:
Nc si.. ,ob tbo,
no more let US meet in heaven" could only
answer him with tears, for felt that we should
meet DO more on earth.
The Alabama delegation each invited me to q
formal dinner, and introduced me very generally
to the members. Mr. Calhoun was particularly
kind 1t was from ni:n that first received the
assurance that the nullifcaton trouble would bt
settled He was man of simple manners, very
plain in his attire, of the most moral hsbits
intensely intellectual, something of an enthusiast
and, it personally ambitious, unquestionaoly
equally ambitious for the glory of his country
His st} e of speaking was peculiar-fuent, often
vehement, but without ornament he rarely used
figure of speech, bis gestures were few and
simple, but he spoke with his eyes-they were
full of contracted fire, and looked you through
He was earnest 10 every thing. He fouud his
| way soon to my heart, and then and now deep
ly regret the dissension sowed by intrguers be-
tween him and Gen. Jackson.
When | visited Colonel Benton at five O'Clock
in the evening, was conducted to him in a
room where be was surrounded by his children
and their school-books-he was teaching them
himself That very day he presented an elab-
crate report to the Senate the result of laborous
research, and had pronounced a powerful speech,
yet here he was, with French and Spanish gram
mars, globes and slate aud pencil, instructing
his children in the rndments he employed no
teacher. The next morning was strolliDg at
sunrise in the capitol grounds, when whom
should see but the Colonel and his little ones.
Shaking me by the hand, he said: "These are
my picaninies, General-my only treasures. |
! bring them every morning among the flowers,
sir; it teaches them to love God. Yes, sir, it
teaches them to love God-loye God, sir"
was struck with the sentiment, and with the la
bor this great lnan performed aud yet be neveI
! seemed to be fatigued. He was not a man OF
/ conciliatory manners, who seemed to inc To be
always bi aced up for an attack. He spoke wt,h
sort OF snarl-a protracted sneer upon his tacs
but with great emphasis aud vigor-bis man
ner towards his opponents, and especially bis
looks, We're absolutely Insulting, but it Was, we'll
| known that be Was really to stand up to what
ever he said or did. 1t is wonderful how he
and Mr.. Clay avoided personal collision; they
mated each otker mortally at one riod they
spoke very harsh aud cutting things in debate !;
both were proud, ambitious, obs. nate and i'm
| perative; both were fearless of consequences and
though habituaIly irascible and impetuous, per
| tectly collected in moments of emerger cy.-
| they differed on almost every point, nd only
agreed cordially on one both hated Mr.. Cal
noun. As an orator, Mr.. Clay never had his
equal in Congress. | would llken him, from
what have heard, to Mr.. Pitt. No single
speech that cODsumtnate orator and statesman
ever made produced the impression made by
Sheridan in celebrated oration on the i'm
/ parchment OF Hastings; no speech OF Mr.. Clay 3
may be compared with the great Grafton of
Webster in reply to Hayne; but for a series OF
parliamentary speeches end parliamentary tri-
! nnphs. no British orator may be compared with
Pilt, and no American with Clay. To yer,
! higt, order of intellect they both united bold
temperament, indofntable will and the facul y
| of cornmand-the highest faculty of all. Mr.
| Webs er with brilliant genius, with wit less
studied. if not 80 sparkling as Sheridan, and with
oratorical gifts not surpassed in ancient or mod
/ ern rimes was not of a resOlnte temperament,
and WAS deficient in nerve aud frmness. The
| want of these was felt throughout his career,
| and enabled others to succeed when he should
] have triumpbed. As companion, esDecisll,
after diuner. be was most delightful at other
times he was sat urninv aud repulsve. Mr.. Clay
was hanuhty. and only cordial to his friends
| Colonel Benton was stiff with every one. Mr..
C,lhoun was affable and concisting, and never
i tailed to attract the young But for grace OF
manner, for the just medium OF dignity and al
liability, and for the capacity OF influencing men,
! not one of those great men, nor all OF them put
/ 1xritI Gov, T.