Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1873-08-30
ns,ne,. Tribnte 20 Web.ter.

Ex-Governor FoOte, of Mississippi, is
publishing his recollections in the Wash
ington Chronicle In his last article,
be mentions his first interview, in 1889,
with General Hayne, whose able advo-
cacye Of qualification called out Web
ster's great speech in the Senate. The
Gov. says f: at... Feos.. .f .i-f.t... .-...
After this interesting recital had
closed, ! veptured to refer TO the great
oratorical contest between. himself and
Mr.. Webster, in the. National Senate,
now, nearly half a century, ago, and ask
ed him what he thought Of Mr.. Web
ster's powers as a speaker. He at once
answered that he supposed him, upon
the whole, to be the most consummate
orator of either ancient or modern times
that his ability as a reasoner, he was
confident, had never been exceeded; that
his imagination was as fertile and Wig
orous as that Of Milton or Homer; that
his humor was both exquisite and abun-
dant; that his knowledge was unlimited;
that he had the most happy command of
his temper at all times, and that on GER
tian great occasions, he had excelled all
the speakers that had ever lived, not
excepting either Demosthenes or Cicero.
/ then asked him what he thought of
Mr.. Webster's manner? He replied that
it was always grand and impressive;
that he had never heard him utter a
word in careless or vulgar style; that
he seemed never to forget his own Dig
nifty, or to be unmindful of thel charae,
ter and feelings of others; and that
when thoroughly excited, the sublime
grandeur of his thoughts and language
derived great additional potency from
his noble and soul-moving eLulciation,
and his few, but impressive gestures.
then said to him: '''But, General Hayne,
every one in the South admired your
speeches on the occasion to which you
have referred, more than they did those
Of Webster; and it is said that General
jackson was so much delighted with the
first of your speeches in the Senate that
heShad it printed on satin for distribu
tion among his friends at a distance
Was this SOP" To which he replied: 50
believe this to have been true; the peo
pie Of the South generally approved my
speech, because they believed that / hat
been defending in it their own local IN
terests and honor. General jackson ad
miredsit because he thought that hat
successfully vindicated the" Democratic
cause, to the support of which his owl
life had been devoted. But you know
that in few months thereafter, nwhei
ournullifcation experiment had deyel
oped it's gigantic proportions, and at
ter the memorable contest had occurred
in the Senate between Mr.. Calhoun AM
my ancient antagonist, Mr. Webster
Gen, Jackson becameIso great an admin
er of the Senator from Massachusetts
that he, thought seriously of maxim
him Chief Justice of the Supreme Coul
upon the decease of the .venerated Maj
shall. Be assured, sir, never for on
moment. have thought of comparing
Z that speech of mine, made in direct as
sailment of Mr.. Webster and the FEEDER
al party of old, and to the defense o
which | had thought proper to challeng
him, to his great and unequalled speec
in. reply thereto; though it is certai
! that for day or two it seemed to man
that / had come off victor in the COZ
Il test" 'f"" ''" i''"N .'"