The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1869-09-03
AMERICAN STATESMEN.
oses or Weesser, ctsy, sSd Taylor
BY THOMAS EWING.

Tho following personal anecdotes oi
Daniel Webster. Henry Clay and General
Zachary Taylor. derive an additional in
terest from the pen Of the venerable and
distinguished Thomas Ewing, who was a
contemporary of Webster and Clay In the
United States Senate, and who was a
member Of President Taylor's cabinet.
Mr.. Ewing was closely united with all
three Of these distinguished men In ties OF
party union and personal friendship. The
subjoincd anecdotes were written more
than five years ago, in response to re-
quest for his autograph manuscript. They
have never before been printed.
I'd. HENRY CLAY. q.
Mr.. Clay, with nll his terrible power Of
denunciation, was In ordinary debate
pleasant and playful. When dealing with
an ordinary adversary he often reminded
me Of the lines In Milton's description Of
Eden before the fall:-
,..spC,tiye the lion romped, and in his paw
On one occasion-the year lido not re-
member, but 1t was the first time the
Wings carried an election in the city of
New York; found him early in his scat
with newspaper In his hand. AS soon
rs the Journal was read he rose-quite out
of ortler-announced to the President (Alr
Van B,ren) the Whig victory. spoke Of
their noble efforts in the cause of their
country and of their brilliant success.
"Your own fellow-citizens, Mr.. President,
the proud capital Of your noble State, has
made its voice heard In our halls In the
defense of the constitution of our country.
All! Mr.. President, does not this warm
your patriotic hearth"
The Impotence and the nbsurdity of
this appeal were too much for the dignity
of q presiding officer. Mr.. Van Burcn's
face drew itself into I know not how ma
ny indcscribablc lines, in which tho COM
ical predominated, and he slid down into
his seat until nothing of him was visible
but the smooth top Of his head. lIe soon
called some one to the chair, came down,
took pinch Of snuff with Mr.. Clay. and
after wholesome laugh between them
the morning business went on. Ills clas-
sical illusions English classics) were few
but sufficiently happy. His. attempts to
recite poetry generally failed. On one
'occasion he attempted the hackneyed quo
tation from Hamlet, 'T.ct the CALLED jado
vince, our withers are unwrung." He
mistook the last syllable, and with grrat
distinctness and fine emphasis, made 1t
"unstrung." Watkins Leigh sat Mt his
right, on his left; both ut the same i'm
slant, in suppressed voice. pronounced the
word "unwrung." The double prompt
ing confused him; he drew himself up,
and with stronger emphasis made the
word '.unhung." He stood with pleased
and uncmbarr,,sssd countenance until the
laugh, which had become general, subsid-
ed, and then, with u gentle shake of his
head and long drawing out of the first
word. said: "A-h! murder will out" 1
almost imagined he had slipped on pur-
pose TO show his atlroitncss in recovering.
But his wit was sometimes displayed in
less kindly spirit. All will remember
Mr.. Buchnnnn's disingcnuous letter on the
subject of Bargain and Corruption"
Mr.. Clay never forgot, never forgavc It,
and never failed 10 take occlsion-an,l, If
none arose, to make occasion,--to punish
Il. About 1884 or 1885 u matter of some
interest was under discussion; leading
whig or two had spoken, and two or three
of the rank and file of the democratic
party, but no democrat then prominent.
Walker of Mississippi was speaking. As
he was drawing to close, / observed that
Mr.. Clay was paying unusual attention.
The moment Walker closed he spr'ns to
his feet and spoke for five or ten minutes
with great vehemence of manner. saying
nothing, but simply vaporing. He boast
cd that the noble wings came outon every
question that arose with promptncss and
decision, while the democratic leaders put
their rank and file forward TO skirinish.
while they lay by and waited and watched
tho popular Indications. "Come out"
said he, "come out like men and define
your position. Let us hear from You. /
call for the leaders Of the party" Mr..
Wright and Mr.. Buchanan sat near each
other on u line with Mr.. Clay, who obvi-
ously directed his remarks to one or both
of them. Mr.. Wright looked up for u
moment, picked with his finger his hair
hind his car, and turned to his writing.
Mr.. Buchanan looked and listened, and
when Mr.. Clay took his seat, rose and re-
piled with high indignation.-was sur
priscd ut the gentleman from Kentucky.
"He knows well, aud the Senate can bear
mo witness, that am prompt and direct
In expressing my opinion on subjects rs
they arise, but choose to take my own
time and consult my own conscience. The
gentleman from Kentucky need not expect
to force me into this discussion, or any
other, till l choose to engage in It,"
Mr.. Clay in the blandcst manner, AS
surcd the gentlemen from Pennsylvania
that he had no reference whatever to him.
"Far from it." said he, with mighty en-
phasis. 81 called for the leaders of the
party" Mr.. buchanan appealed to tho
Scnatc-the gentleman from Kentucky
fixed his eyes upon him and addressed
his remarks to him throughout. Mr..
Clay, In his softest and most conciliatory
tone and phrase, said he could we'll con-