Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1871-07-14
The Political Campaign of 1874.
WEBSTER AND CLAY.

Within Scnouler, IN mig times
editor of the Boston Atlas, is writing 70
the Boston journal series of polcica
"reminiscences of 1910, and 1874, &C., il
which the personal feelings of Mr.. Web
ster toward Mr., Clay are brought out, to
gether with other writers, which will b
Of interest to many who still remembe
that campaign. We therefore made tn,
following extract;
Gas a last grand final effort to carry
Middlesex county, the County Commit
tee, of which the writer was chairman
decided that it was important to hold g
mass gathering to the northern part Of
the country at Pepperell. To make it q
success it was necessary to have a speak
er who would draw crowd to hear him
The man above all others to do this was
Mr.. Webster. We went to Boston, and
called upon him in his law office, corner
of Court and fremont streets, over the
store then and now occupied by Mr.. S.
S. Pierce. We found him seated at his
table alone. We told him our errand,
and after some hesitation heagreed to 90.
The only condition which he made was
that we should engage Mr.. Thomas Tiles
ton to report him. Tom, as he was ia
miliarly called, was Mr.. Webster's favor
lite reporter. He was not short hand
writer, nor was the art of photography
then know, or if known, not practiced
here. He had very retentive memory,
and his mode of reporting was tojot down
parts Of sentence and then write it out
afterwards. He had an intuitive knack
of reporting Mr.. Webster correctly
Many of our old newspaper associates
will remember Tom. He was little fell
low, with long black hair, and was a
careless and improvident in his ways ;
but he had "the root of the matter" in
him. He was for long while connected
with the Boston Courier as a reporter of
the Legislative sessions at the State House
He had good education, and was withal
staunch Wing. He was good sample
of a class known of late years as literary
Bohemians. He was, as we have said,
Mr.. Webster's favorite reporter. After
leaving Mr. Websters office we sought
after Tom, and found him at Kenfeld's
Fourth Ward House, in what was then
called Flag alley, but is known to the
present generation as Change avenue,
which runs from State street to Dock
square, He agreed to go. So the ar
rangements were soon completed.
The meeting was to take place at Pep
perell on "Wednesday, the 9th of Novem-
Der. 1t was arranged that Mr.. Webster
and Tom should come up to Lowell in
the first train on that morning, and go
from there to Pepperell by carriages.
The distance to ride was about fourteen
miles. They came Tileston was started
off in a buggy, and Mr.. Webster, Hon
Thomas Hopkins, afterward Judge of
the Court of Common Pleas, Daniel Blk
by, bookseller and warm friend of
Mr.. Webster, and the writer went up in
a covered carriage. The day was raw
and gusty, but the conversation was very
pleasant The road from Lowell to
Tyngsboro' ran along side of the Merri-
mack river, near the head waters of which,
in New Hampshire, Mr.. Webster was
born and bred. He had much to say
about the Merrimack, which he seemed
to love as an old and familiar friend.
About eleven o'clock in the forenoon we
reached Pepperell. The meeting was to
be hello in front of the meeting house on
the common, where a stage for the speak
er had been erected. About one thou
sand persons were present The chilly
air and leaden, cherries clouds appear
ed to have dispiriting effect, not onl,
on Mr.. Webster, but on the people also.
The meeting was organized by the choice
of Asa +. Lawrence as chairman. accom-.
panied by several vice chairmen. The
writer was secretary. Mr.. Webster spoke
with his overcoat and hat on. His speech
referred chiefly to the Texas and tariff
questions, and was delivered in a famil-
lar, colloquial manner, which interested
though it did not excite bis audience.
lie spoke two hours. As soon as he had
concluded, he gave what notes be had.
to the reporter, who Immediately started
for Lowell, where he was to write out the
speech, which Mr.. Webster was to read
and correct that evening at the Merri-
mack House for publication.
After the meeting was over Mr.. Web
ster and the gentlemen who had come
with him dined at the residence of
Christopher W. Bellows, andtwo or three
hours were very pleasantly passed under
that hospitable roof. A large number of
ladies and gentlemen called, and were
introduced to Mr.. Webster. About six
o'clock we started for Lowell, the night