The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-07-12
The Old Days OF the Asior House.
CLAY, WEBSTER, HAYEE, AND OTHERS, AND THEIR
OLD ROOMS AT TIE Aston,
From the New York Commercial Advertiser !

from the New York Commercial Advertiser.
change has fallen on the old Astor House.
Its internal landmarks have yielded to the passion
of improvement, so that those whose presence
has made it famous, could they now rise from
their graves, would only recognize it outwardy,
in the cold, Impassiye granite of its walls and
columns. What an epitome Of the better days of
the republic do its associations and "reminiscences
suggest! What giants have come toge her be-
meath its bospitable roof! Scarcely room in the
whole vast building which has not listened to
the political councils, not o corridor but has
echoed 10 their footballs. These were the intel
lectual heroes whose genius is stamped on the
institutions of the country the men who make
history; The colossi whose deeds fill up the gaps
of centuries; minds who Lave SCARED to the
zenith from the horizon of dull mediocrity, and
recall
The spirit of the fervent days of DID,
When gords were things that pass and thought
Flashed DER the future"
From the time that the Astor was first opened
in May, 1886, down to the date of the Pierce ad.
minstraton, it has been the resort of the leaders
of the Senate of the United States. Certain of
them have occupied respectively, the same rooms
from year TO year, so that we can select them out
ss the peculiar inheritors of distinction. Apart
ments numbered Is and IL were always taken by
Mr.. Webster whenever he came to our city.
Room No. 81, over the north corner of the first
floor, was usually the chamber selected by Henry
Clay. Mr.. Seward generally occupied No. 80, on
the second floor.
But what list might be compiled if we had
space anu leisure 10 devote 10 IL. during this
period of great men the Astor House was the
leading hotel of the city. The famed hospitality
of its urbane and genial proprietor the advan-
tageous location Of the house; its social COM
forts and thoroughly hOme-like accommodations
gave it q charm, especially for men who were
constantly undergoing the harassments of politi-
cal life, and sought here, even if they didn't al
ways get it, a brief nepenthe from the cares and
an kettles inseparsbe from rank.
Judge Southland, Mcpherson Berran, of Geor.
gia; Preston, of Carolina; Benton, of Missouri
Porter, of Louisiana, and all the rest of the great
host who battled over the principles of our ma
tiOnal life, and sought to lay upon permanent
foundations the elements which composed it,
made this their home.
We may remark, in this connection, as a some.
what singular fact, that Mr.. Calhoun never even
honored the Astor House with visit; at least
not after his entry upon the arena of politics.
The only time he passed its portals was while
temporarily staying here en- route for South
Carolina.
Mr.. Hayne was frequently guest of the estab.
hshment. As be was upon intimate social terms
with Mr.. Charles Stetson, and q man of commu.
NEGATIVE and genial disposition, we envy the latter
the privilege be enjoyed of such intercourse with
the distinguished Carolinian, and trust that some
day he will unlock the treasury of his reminis-
cences, and give the world the benefit of so much
entertainment and instruction.
In 1876 Mr.. Clay made one of his famous
speeches from the steps of the Aston. The Mex.
lean war question was at that time agitating the
country from Maine TO the Rio Grande, and the
advocates of Mr.. Clay's views assembled in large
numbers to serenade and do honor to the mill
Boy of the Slashes." If those old granite col.
umns had eyes to see and ears TO hear what
could they not tell OF the history written in that
sea of upturned faces; of the influence exerted
upon the crowd by the magic of that eloquence;
OF the love, hope, pride and fervent enthusiasm
that sweed up in every heart toward the gifted
defender Of Grecian liberty; that man of ali men
whom friends and foes are now proud to call
countryman.
Another, not less great than be, has been heard,
often heard, from the same rostrum. After the
passage of the compromise measures of l850-'5I,
when the sage Of Marshfeld returned from his
arduOus labOrs in the Senate he stopped in New
York. OF course Daniel Webster could not be
permitted TO pass through to Boston without
some stir. The open space in front of the hotel
swarmed with eager admirers. Webster was led
out after repeated calls. Tumultuous cheers
greeted him. The night was dark and threatening
storm. His great black eyes glowed like Goals
in the gathering gloom. For full five Minutes he
stood and said nothing. How could heg The mob
was mad with excitement. Then the right arm
lifted, extended itself, and seemed TO saw to the
surging mass, Peace, be still, and there was a
great silence. Commencing in low Tone the
voice swelled louder and louder like the coming
Of tornado; the huge chest heaved with emo
ton the soDorous notes were caught up by the
wind and carried to the remotest limits Of the
crowd, whose very pulse appeared to beat in
unison with his. What a figure. So grand, so
compact. A DOric pillar his feet on earth his
head above the clouds
But these public recollections are not the only
ones nor if all could be revealed, are they, per-
hsps, the most interesting. Around the social
board, when heads as well as hearts are mellow
with the warmth OF the generous grape, when
the mask of rank is thrown aside, aud the man.
full of sympathies wit, snecdote and humor, peeps
out from his hiding place, then and there might
We Gull "reminiscences Of these giants, whose in.
ner light flashed forth with every fresh appeal to
the flowing bowl" How many like Fox could
spend the night in wassall and revelry, and the
next day electrify the nation with . masterpiece
Of eloquence. They are all gone now and al
though we might regret the necessity which COM
pels an alter alton OF the shrine where they assem-
bled, il is one of those things we shall grow &C.
customed to in the end without repining.