Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1860-09-22
JACKSON CALHOUN, BENTON, CLAY, AND
= WEBSTER

city to attend 10 my claim TOR q large amount uue
me for corn and other supplies furnished to the
troops in the service of the United States at various
tunes and the expedition to Fort Dale, in Butler
county. On arriving put up up 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 Inc word that President jackson
desired to see me- "Tell Dale" said he to Col.
King that if [ had as little to 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 advanced, and grasped me
warmly by the hand.
'No introduction is needed" said the Colonel.
"Oh, no." said the General, shaking my hand
again, ~ shall never forget Sam Dale"
We walked into his reception roOm and was in
troduced to Col Benton and five or six other dis
tnguished men. They were all very civil, and in
vited me to visit them They were talking over
Notification" 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 OF endwise and it will run out
I must tie 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
all visitors until one O'clock He talked over
campaigns and then of the business that brought
me 10 Washington He then said, Sam, you have
been true to your country, but You have made one
mistake in life. You are old and solitary, and
without bosom friend or family to comfort you
God called mine away. But all ! have achieved
fame, honor, everything-would exchange il she
could be restored to me for moment"
The iron man trembled with emotion, and 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 are trying me here
you will witness it, but will uphold the laws
understood him to be referring to nullltcatlon
ind ovid boy Il.
! expressed the hope that things would go right
"They shall 60 right sir" he exclaimed passion
ately shivering his pipe upon the table.
He calred down after this, and showed me his
collection of pipes, many Of most costly ard curl
Gus kind sent 10 him from every quarter, his pro-
pensity for smoking being well known. These"
said he Twill do to look at. | still smoke my corn
cob Sam, as YOU and | have often done together; 1t
is the sweetest and best pipe"
When rose to take leave, he pressed me to ac-
cept a room there. ~ can talk to you at night, in
the day am beset" declined on the plea Of bust
ness, but dine6 with him several times, always no
matter what digntaries were present. sitting at his
right hand He ate very sparingly, only taking
single glass of wine, though his table was magnif-
cent. When 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
formal dinner and introduced me very generally to
the members Mr.. Calhoun was particularly kind.
1t was from him that first received the assurance
that the notification trouble would be settled He
man of simple manners very plain in his at
tire of the most moral habits, intensely intellectual
enthusiast and il personally ambitions, unques-
tlonably equally ambitious for the glory of his
try. His style OF speaking pecuar-huent,
often vehement, but wholly without ornament; he
rarely used figure of speech, his gestures were
few and simple but he spoke with his eyes-they
were full of contracted fire. and looked you through
He was earnest in everything. He found his way
soon to my heart, and then and now deeply regret
the disSenson sowcd by intriguers between HIM and
General Jackson.
When | visited Col. Benton, at o'clock in the
evening, | was conducted to him in a 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
powerful speech yet, here he was, with French and
Spanish and grammars, globe and slate and pencil,
instructing his children in his rudulents; he en-
ploycd 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 Inc by the hand, he said "These are my
picaninnies, General-my only treasure. | bring
them, every morning, among the flowers, sir; 1t
teaches them to love God. Yes, sir it teaches them
to love God-love God sir" was struck with the
sentiment, anu With the laOOT lnlS great man per
formed; yet he never seemed to be tatigued.
He was rot a man of conciliatory manners, but
seemed to me to be always braced up for an attack
He spoke with sort of snarl-a protracted sneer
upon his face-but with great emphasis and vigor
His manner toward his opponents, and especially
his looks. were absolutely insulting; but it was well
known 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
MORALLY at one period; they spoke very harsh and
cutting things in debate; both were proud, amb-
tiOuS obstinate and imperative; both were fearless
of consequences, and though habitually irascble
and mpetuous, perfectly collected in moments Of
energy. They differed on almost every point, and
only agreed cordially upon one-both hated Mr..
Calhoun. As an orator, Mr.. Clay never had his
equal in Congress. | would liken him, from what
| have heard to Mr.. Pitt No single speech that
consummate orator and statesman ever made, pro-
duced the impression made by Sheridan in his cele-
brated Grafton on the impeachment of Hastings; no
speech of Mr.. Clays may be compared with the
great Grafton OF Mr.. Webster in reply to Hayne
but for series of parliamentary speeches and par
lamentary triumphs, no British orator may be CON-
pared with Pitt, and no American with Clay. Toa
very high order of intellect they both united bold
temperament ndomtable will and the faculty Of
command-the highest faculty Of all. Mr. Webster,
with brilliant genius, with wit less studied, if not
so sparkling Sheridan and with oratorical gifts
not surpassed in ancient or modern times, was not
of q resolute temperament, and deficient in
nerve and trmness. The want of these was felt
throughout his career and enabled others to succeed
when he should have triumphed. As a companion,
especially after dinner, he most delightful at
other times he was saturnine and repulsve. Mr..
Clay was naughty and only cordial to his friends.
Col Benton stiff with every one. Mr.. Calhoun
was affable and conciia,ng, and never failed to at
tract the young. But for the grace of manner for
the just medium of dignity and afability, and for
the capacity of influencing men, not one of these
great men, nor all of them put together, may be
compared with Gen. jackson. The untutored savage
regarded him a sort of avenging deity the rough
backwoodsman followed him with fearless conf
dence the theories of politicians and jursconsults
fell before his intuitive perceptions; systems and
statesmen were extinguished together; no measure