The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1874-07-09
The Career of a HuMbug.
4 Brief 81 etch Of she Life Of James
watson webb.

Watson Webb.
Tie cf.e Of james " atson Webb, writes !
he New York correrI ouient Of The Ro-
chester Dcmocros. is now attracting some |
attention, and this, perhaps, is not alto /
getter displeasing to himself, ~ much as it /
all crafty his natural craving to be kept !
before the public Weth is a very p.culir
man. and he occupies peco'.;.r position /
He has been connected with the press and
during q long life witLcus commanding the
respect CT confidence Of either the public Or
ef private individuals. Few men indeed
have lived to such an age without establish
ing anything like soiidity Of character. lie
VS. as much q representative OF the Ameri
ear mind AS a bottle Of champagne is Of
the necessaries or life Mr.. Webbs peeu-
mary complications have always been sus-
picioUs. He WAS connected Sl,h the old
United States bank, and on its failure was
found to be in its debt $50 900. lie was
.hr PROPRIETOR Of The Cyafer and EHqm
.et but it was published for years under
another mans naiDc He was continually
s.-ttir., into controversies with his editorial
associates, 10 which he was invariably
xpr.,ed. James Gordon Bennett, n. =.
Willis, and especially Henry J. Rsymon,
handled him with all their -arcasm, and the
article written by the latter and entitled
.Webb.footed' Is not yet forgotten by the
rress of this city. 10 his dispute with n.
2. Ills, his unbridled wrath led to ex.
losnres involving reputable family, one
member Of which had fallen under the lat
t.r'- malign influence, and the consequences
mas the revival Of an almost forgotten scan
dial, and a lawsuit in order 10 obtain a
package of letters. One Of bis displays Of
egotistical bravado Wa an attack on the
president of the IIndson River ralroad,
whose ofense was his refusal to stop she
trains at Webbs COUNTY seat. The blatant
editor found that this officer, who bore the
honored name of James Boorman, was not
20 be bullied into obedience, and the lat
,er had the good sense To pay no attention
q WeUb's moutbings. One Of the strong
points made against Boormar was that bis
Grandfather was q laborcr- nay, he was
Iitcher; and neither Mr.. Boorma7 mar any
other sensible man would be ashamed OF
Ills If the laborer aforesaid we're an honest
aan, which is more than people generally
ct1lI say about Webb. No ono who could
make such fact a matter OF repronch de
,ayrs .he patronage ola democratic govern
nent ns,ce the appointment of Webb to
,toreign miss,sn we mistake on The part
If the president
Mr.. Webb was a life long advocate Of
the laws Of honor lie opsriy defended
the custom of dueling, and vas indirectly
The cause of one Of the most ian entable
fairs Of this | ind that ever occurred IN
America. This Was the duel between
Jonathan CIlley, Of Maine, and +. L.
draves, OF kentuokry. DO h being at that
time members of oougess. If | mistake
not, Webb was then "speilins Tor fight, y
and endeavoredto get up duel with Cilley,
who refused to notice his ehalerge on the
ground that, ''he did not consider him a
gentleman" ThersupoN Mr.. Graves, who
nore the hostile message, took up the quar-.
s,l and his- challenge WIS accepted. Cilley
was shot and both Graves aRG Webb should
have been punished for the crime. Webb,
owever, was indicted in this city for send
as a challenge aud was imprisoned in the
iombs. He was pardoued by Gov. Sew
ard on political grounds, which WAS am IN 2
the weak things Of Stewards life, and to
aAake up for this false clenency he refused
Communication Of the sentence of John C.
Colt, and by this undue severity drove that
pretched man to suicide.
Webb also let off bis scurrilitv on Gree.
lev, and just as be reviled Boorman bccnuse
his father was a ditelieY, so be abused
Greeley because OF bis mean dress. lie
WAS MS much mistaken in this attack as he
had been in that on Boornun. Mr.. Gree
~ replied ir calm tone, but with l. vii
which was the sharper because CT it,
equapimity. lie admitted the charge
Ills clothes we're plain aud unfashionablei
hut after all they we're fully as becoming
rs the suit Webb would have worn had il
not been for Sewsrds clemency.,' Thi'
astort shu. up the mouth of a vain and va
can't mindtd aristocrat, for it turned on hun
atresl pubic laughter and contempt. Gree
lev might have added that the clothes were
paid for. and be never followed Webb. ex
nple Of going through bankruptcy. Webb
ran The Courier aud Enquirer ne long a,
be could get men of taent to work for him
Raymond left him in 1851 to start tn,
Times Afterwsrd others left, and the
est man TO stay By him ~ns the accom-
nlished Bogart, well known as Sentinel
In 1860 Webs career as an editor wn
anished by merging his paper into Tn
World. lie then obtained, through a,
abuse Of political friendship, the mission I,
RIO and removed at once 10 a sEddcn man
ner. Ills furniture was sold at auction
and it is reported that he iefr heavy de-
behind him. When he comes back n
boubt his creditors will be glad TO hin
at least those whoso claims are not out
lawed. In the meatime Il ia 10 he hope,
that the charges brought agains, him wi
b. thoroughly investigated, for IS Ia
Herald observes, his telegram from Er
rope is very unsatisfactory" ! doubt
however, his retaru. He has been absen
ten years, and this shows that he Is in n
hurry to come back. IL would, no doubt
be better for hin, to stay 10 Europe, wbsr
10 be descended from ditcher is consider
4 disgrace. America 10 too denocrsti
tor such man. 1t Raymond were sliv
he SUI iect would receive such ventila'ie
- no cher zen could administer; but IA
Heil.a, as i am glad to observe. is incline
II strip the ass Of his lions skin.
pe~sp=rers are still talking abou