Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1862-08-15
A aeminiscence Of sne GoIden cate.

A heniniscence or the GoIdem Gate.
The New York correspondent Of the Phila-
delphia Inquirer relates the following:
II was some years ago, when the writer of
this was one of q party Of invited guests TO ao-
company the vessel on her trial trip. The late
Blshop Wainwright, George Law, Colonel May,
and several members Of Congress, were on
board, We brought up at Annapolis, and the
fame OF the vessel having reached Washington,
Pres Fillmore and bis Cabinet signi6ed 10 Cap
tain Patterson and Mr. Aepinwall their intention
Of paying them 'Aying Walt" t.ass y .sN
StFaightway q magnificent banquet was pre-
pared, the decks were illuminated with varie-
gated lights, and the saloons below wero "cleared
for action f" The Presidential party spent all
night on board, and returned to Washington the
next morning at daybreak.
About an hour after these distinguished guests
had taken farewell Of us, small boat put Of
from the shore towards the ship, containing one
passenger. The oareman urged the boat through
the waters as easily as possible, for the paasen-
ger was sick, almostto death. He was covered
With heavy blanket to shield him from the
crisp air Of the early morn, On reaching the
gangWay of the steamer the boatman took him
up tenderly, and bore him up to the deck, where
he was received by Capt. Patterson, and d. his
request, led to the quarter deck, to behold, for
fe1 moments, the sun, just then gliding with
rosy effulgence the bright, dancing waters Of
the Chesapeake. All the guests, Eearled with
the nights festivities, had retired to rest, and,
after few words from Capt. Patterson, the
invalid was left alone with only q little girl
the Captains daughter-as his companion
With bis little praitler be kept up talk for half
an hour or so, and then imprintng q kiss on
her cheek, With the assistance Of Mr.. As
n;n all nd har fathaR ha ratiraH IN hia aka IN
room.
That invalid was Daniel Webster, then Ia
boring under the indispoaition which, In . few
weeks afterwards, proved fatal
Next morning when the Golden Gate was
bounding through the NsrfoWs, on her return
TO the city, at parting collation., Rev DR..
Wainwright paid feeling tribute to the genius
of th e great man, who was unable TO be with them
lust then. Hardly had the words fallen from
bis lips when the "Great Defender" himself
slowly walked Into the saloon, and the whole
company rising to receive him, took seat near
the head Of the table. - 90 l-- go
After pause of feW moments the great
man, leaning on his cane, rose to bis feet, and,
after returning bis acknowledgements TO the oom-
pany, proceeded to electrify all who were with
in range Of his voice, With only such thrilling
speech as Webster on such occasions could
make. Taking the noble vessel as q fitting
type Of our glorious Union, he went on to con.
trast the complex machinery which propelled her
through the stormy seas, with thsscomplex ma
chinery Of our republican form Of Government.
AZ We moved on without jarrinR, In the 6ercest
OF tempests, so would the other, be trusted, till
the end Of time. '---- --' '-t--
Every spar in the Golden Gate was sound,
and 80, he believed, was every State in the
Uniop. Here there would be found, perhaps, q
cross grained beam, or rotten plank, but il did
not impair the efficient or harmonious working
Of the whole. There were cross graiued beams
and rotten planks in our system of Government,
too, but the Government nevertheless, with
Gods blessing, would move steadily, safely tri-
umphantly on to the glorious destiny in store
for it under the same Stars and Stripes which
we're then floating over their heads.
think that was the last speech ever deliver
ed by the nGreat Defender" in public
Alas! that the gallant ship, which he had
chosen to typify our republic, should have met
with so disastrous Q fate. God grant that, In
her destruction, our own Is not pre6gufed.