The weekly Mississippian. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1859-1864, 1860-03-14
From the Sunday Delta.
Col. J.F. II. Claiborne as a Biographer

Col. ]. F. H. Claiborne, of Mississippi, has
long been known as one of the most graphic
and glowing sketch writers in the country. 1t
has already been pretty generally known that
he has been engaged of late upon the biogra-
ply Of the most characteristic man, and most
highly individualized statesman, whom the
country contained after the death of Jackson
Clay, and Calhoun. But it was not so COM
monty known that he was the author of the
book just ISSUED, by the Harpers, entitled the
Life and Times of Gen. SAM Dale, the Mis-
1 sissippi partisan. j. C. Morgan SC Co. have
favored us with an attractive miscellany of
recent publications this week, but there is not
one among them which we welcome more
cheerfully than the one just named. The
book is issued in very neat style, and is Illus
trated in asprited manner by John McLenan.
| As to what order of men Dale belonged to,
the author gives US an idea in his preface when
he says venture to hope that his life, as
here written, presents a fair exemplar Of the
| genuine frontier man-modest truthful, pa
tient, frugal, full of religious faith, proud of
his country, remorseless in battle. yet prompt
| TO f5tSiYs, md ever ready to leopard his own
safety for the helpless and oppressed race
of men such as no other country has produced
wholly American-a feature as prominent
physical characteristics peculiar to our con-
| tinent"
One pleasing feature of the book is a brief
and cursory sketch of the war of 1913-14
and we are glad to learn that the author has
now in preparation a work containing COM
prehensive view of the campaigns of that war,
with personal sketches of the prominent men
engaged in them. But by far the most inter
esting racy, and readible portions of the book
| before u.s. are the sketches which the author
has managed to introduce into the biography of
| Gen. Sam. Dale, of some of the most celebra-
ted men, politicians, journalists, &c, with
whom he came in contact during his public
career. Amongst these were jackson, Clay,
Benton, Blair of the Globe, Calhoun, Webster,
| and Prentiss. It is singular to observe the
success with which the author goes into min
ute personal characteristics without deroga-
ting from the dignity Of the subject, or sub
| jecting himself to the charge of Boswellianism.
Since BoSwelPs remarkable success in the life
of DR.. Johnson it seems to have passed into
something like literary proverb, that bio
graphies of great men could only be written
| by exceedingly small men upon whom the.
public would always be glad to bestow at
once their patronage and theircontempt But
without displaying any spirit of Boswellian
sycophancy, the author has >contriyed to
| weave into his sketches an abundance ofminute
personal details illustrative Of character,
worthy of Boswell's indefatigable industry in
preserving personal "reminiscences. As sam
Piles of the authors style in this respect, we
append the following brief extracts. 1t is
Gen. Sam. Dale's language edited by his
biog1apher. The General had occasion to visit
Washington City, about 1881, to attend to
some claims against Government
The third day, Col. VIM. R. King, of the
Senate, brought me word that President Jack
son desired to see me. "Tell Dale" said he
| to Col King, that if had as littlezto do as
he has, / should have seen him before now"
The General was walking in the lawn in front
Of his mansion as we approached. He ad-
vanced, and grasped me warmly by the hand.
mo introduction is needed" said the Col
onel.
"Oh, no,o said the General shaking my
hand again, Il shall never forget Sam Dale
We walked into his reception-room, and | was
introduced to Col. Benton, and five OF six
other distinguished men. They were all very
civil, and invited me to visit them. They
were talking over Qualification, - the engros-
sing subject at that period, and the President,
turning to me- said General Dale, if this
i
of meal with both ends open. Pick it up in
the middle or endwise and it will run out
must tie the bag and save the country
The company now took leave, but when |
rose to retire with Col. King, the General de-
tanned me, ordered up some whisky, and direc- 4
ted 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. Won
have been true to your country, but you
have made one mistake in life. You are now
old and solitary, and without bosom friend |
or family to comfort you. God called mine |
away. But all have achieyed-fame power, |
eyerything-wouh l exchange if she could |
be restored to me for moment"
The iron man trembled with emotion, and |
for some time covered his face with bis hands. |
and tears dropped on his knees. | was |
deeply affected 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, by the God of heaven, shall |
uphold the laws"
understood him to be referring to nullifi-
cation again, bis mind evidently having re-
CURED to it, and expressed the hope that
things would 60 right.
"They saaH 60 right, sir" he exclaimed,
passionately, shiyering his pipe upon the table.
He Gained down after this. and showed me
bis collection of pipes, many of most costly
and curious kind, sent to him from every
quarter, his propensity for smoking being well
known. These" said he, twill do to look at.
/ still smoke my corn.cob, Sam, as you and
| have ofton done together; it is the sweetest
and best pipe"
=
The Alabama delegation each invited me to
4 formal dinner, and introduced me very gen.
orally to the members. Mr.. Calhoun was
particularly kind. It was from him that
irst received the assurance that the nullifi-
cation trouble would be settled. He was
man Of simple manners, very plain in his at
tire, Of the most moral habits, intensely in
something Of an enthusiast, and, If
ambitious. unquestionably equally