Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1860-09-26
JACKSON. CALHOUN, BENTON, CLAY, AND
WEBSTER. Stt

me for corn and other supplies furnished to the
troops in the service Of the United States at various
times, and on the expedition to Fort Dale, in Butler
county. On arriving put up up at Browns ho!e,
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, that if I had as little to do as he has l
should have seen him before now" The General
was walking in the lawn in front of his mansion as
we approached. He advanced, and grasped me
warmly by the hand.
'Oh, no." said the General, shaking my hand
again. II shall never forget Sam Dale"
We walked into his reception ROOM and was in
troluced to COL Benton and five or six other dis
tinyuishcd men, They were all very civil, and in
yited me to visit them. They were talking over
NuNfcation" the engrossing subject at that
PERIOD and the President, turning to me, said
"Gen Dale, if this thing goes on, our country will
be like bag of meal with boths ends open Pick
it up in the middle or endwise and it will run out
I must tic the bag and save the country" The
company now took leave but when | rose to retire
with Col. King, the General detained me, ordered
up some whiskey and directed his servant to refuse
ali 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 IN lie. You are now Olu aiu SohdII, anu
without bosom friend or family to comfort YOU
God called. mine away But all have achieved
fame, honor, everything-would exchange il she
could he restored to me for moment"
The iron man trembled with emotion, ard for
some time covered his face with his hands, and tears
dropped on his knee. was deeply affected myself:
He took two or three turns across the room, and
then abruptly said, Dale, they trying me here;
You will witness it, but will uphold the laws
fn,,1 10 ho tN inn
again, his mind evidently having recurred to it. and
expressed the hope that things would go right.
''They shall go right sir" he exclaimed, passion
ately, shivering his pipe upon the table.
lie calred down after this, and showed me his
collection of pipes many Of most easily ard curl
kind, sent to him from every quarter, his pro-
pensity for smoking being well known "These,"
said he, will do to look at. ] 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 ac-
cept room there :" can talk to you at night, in
the day am beset" declined on the plea of bust
ness, but dinc6 with him several times, always no
matter what digntarcs were present, sitting at his
right hand. He ate very sparingy, only taking
single glass of wine, though his table was magnih
cent. When We parted for the last time, he said,
MY friend, farewell; we shall See each other no
more; let US meet in Heaven"
could only answer him in tears, for felt that
We should meet no more on earth
The Alabama Delegation each invited me to a
formal dinner, and introduced me very generally to
the mcmbers. Mr.. Calhoun particularly kind.
1t from him that first received the assurance
that the notification trouble would he settled. He
man Of simple manners, very plain in his at
tire of the most moral habits. intensely intellectual
an enthusiast and, if personally ambitions, unques-
tionably equally ambitious for the glory of his
try. His style of speaking WAS peculiar-fluent
often vehement but wholly without ornament; he
rarely used figure of speech, his gestures were
few and simple. but he spoke will, his eyeS-they
fill of contracted fire. and looked you through
lie was earnest in everything. lie found his way
to my heart, and then and now deeply regret
the discussion sowed by intrguers between HIM and
General jackson
When | visited Col. Benton, at O'Clock in the
! evening" ! was conducted to him in room where
he was surrounded by his children and their school
books-he was teaching them himself That very
day he presented elaborate report to the Senate
the result OF laborous research, and pronounced n
powerful speech yet here he was with French and
Spanish and granmars, globe and slate and pencil,
nstructing his children in his rudimcnts; he en-
ployed no teacher The next morning was stroll
ing, 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
pcaninnies, Gencral-my only treasure. l bring
them, every morning, among the flowers, sir; it
teaches them to love God Yes sir it teaches them
sentiment. and with the labor this great man per-
formed yet he never seemed to be fatigucd.
lie was rot man of cOnciliatory manners, but
seemed to to bc always braccd up for an attack.
He spoke with sort Of snarl-a protracted sneer
upon his face-but with great emphasis and vgor.
HIS manner toward his opponents and especially
his looks. were absolutely insulting; but it was well
hnown that he was ready to stand up to whatever
he said or did 1t is wonderful how he and Mr. Clay
avoided personal collision; they hated each other
mortally at one period they spoke very harsh and
cutting things in debate; both were proud, ambi.
tious obstinate and imperative; both were fearless
Of consequences, and though habitually irascible
and impetuous, perfectly collected in moments O.
energy. They differed OH almost every point. and
only agreed cordially upon one-both hated Mr.
Calhoun. AS orator. Mr.. Clay never had his
equal in Congress- | would likcn him, from wha
| have heard, to Mr.. Pitt No single speech that
consu,umate orator and statesman ever made, pro
duced the impression made by Sheridan in his cele
orated Grafton on the impeachment of Hastings; M
speech of Mr.. Ciay's may be compared with thu
great Grafton Of Mr.. Webster in reply to Hayne
but for series of parliamentary speeches and par
llamentary triumphs, no British orator may be com
pared with Pitt and no American with Clay. To
very high order of intellect they both united bolc
temperament, indlomitabe will and the faculty o
command-the highest faculty of all. Mr.. Webster
with brilliant genius, with wit less studied if no
so sparkling as Sheridan, and with oratorical gift
not surpassed in ancient or modern times, was no
of resolute temper ament, and was deficient il
nerve and tirmness. The want of these fel
throughout his career and enabled others to succee
when he should have triumphed As companion
especially after dinner, he was most delightful; a
! other times he saturninc and repuSive. MI
Clay was naughty, and only cordial to his friends
Col. Benton was stiff with every one. Mr.. Calhou
affable and concilia,ing and never failed to al
tract the young. But for the grace Of manner, 70
the just medium of dignity and affability, and 70
the capacity of influencing men, not one of thcs
Compared with Gen. Jackson The uatutored I sayae
regarded him sort Of avengng deity the roug
backwoodsnan followed him with fearless conf
dence the theories Of politicians and jurisconsul'
fell before his intuitve perceptions; systems an
statesmen were extinguished together; no measur
n,Elvo