The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1875-05-15
RiND0M IEC0LLE:Ti0yS.

In the spring of 1919, l was sit
ting in the parlor of the Montgom-
cry Hall at Montgomery, Alabama,
conversing with Ex-Governor Ben
jamin Fitzpatrick, who had just
returned from Washington. As
soon as it was known that he had
returned home, the lawyers of that
town called to pay their respects,
and ascertain his experience as a
Senator of Congress.
1t was delightful to witness the
cordial greeting between this gen.
tleman and Isaac w. Hayne, John
"A. Elmore, the Jacksons, L. Y.
Fair, Judge Abram Martin, and
other members of the bar of Ala
bama. lie seemed to be pleased
beyond all measure, and related
his Congressional experience, par
ticularly dwelling OH the last night
of the session. One of the gen.
tlemen asked about ii. s. Foote,
then newly elected Senator from
the State of Mississippi.
"Foote," said Fitzpatrick, sis
the most popular man in the Sem
ate, and destined to be the most
popular manin the United States"
~ am told" said one of the
lawyers, that the scene enacted
in the Senate on the last night of
the session was quito rich.n
"Yes," replied Fitzpatrick,
"Foote and Webster went from
the Senate Chamber arm in arm
every half hour to drink brandy
in our private room, staggering as
they went, both being drunk. On
one of these occasions Webster
stepped at my desk, and pointing
to Calhoun said: He is the devil
at brush, but if you give me
time, think that | can meet him."
| may state in this place that Mr..
Webster never took the initiative
in a debate, but always reserved
himself for reply. When this was
mentioned to Calhoun, he said /:
" Webster never replied to any re-
ply of mine."
In the autumn of 1852 l was in
Cahawba, Alabama, attending the
Circuit Court. The Democratic
lawyers held meeting and adopt
eQ b resolution, saying that Ala
bama should not receive her share
OF the surplus revenue from the
Treasury Department Of the Uni
ted States. 1t was determined to
win over the Senator, w lliam r..
King, who subsequently became
Vice President when the Demo-
cratic party triumphed in 1858. A
delegation was appointed to visit
him and present the resolution,
also requesting him to address the
people of Dallas county, at the
Court House at Cahawba.
l was one of the delegates ap-
pointed. We visited Colonel King
at his residence near Cahawba,
and after spending pleasant eve
ming, presented the letter and res
olution before retiring TO bed. In
the interval, however, one of our
party spoke about the propriety
Of Alabama's refusing to receive
Incorporation of the distribution.
"Ah!' said King, "tbat is a sub
ject about which Alabama will
say nothing" But he read our
letter after retiring, consented TO
address our citizens, and in his
speech agreed to our resolution.
The evening passed off very
pleasantly, for Colonel King was
racy, affable, and amused us with
a variety of anecdotes of public
life in Washington. He had just
had q viohnt alteration with
Henry Clay about Blair, the gov
ernment printer. In his speech
denouncing Blair, the Kentucky
Senator was very bitter, and as
Colonel King had placed the name
Of Blair in nomination, he concei-
we'd the idea that Clay designed
some of the remarks for him. He
therefore challenged Clay TO fight
a duel.
The challenge was accepted, but
the quarrel was amicably adjusted
through the interference chiefly Of
William G. Preston, the Senator
from South Carolina.
Colonel King spoke very highly
of the gallant attributes of Henry
Clay. He compared him with
Daniel Webster, much to the dis
paragement of the latter. "Clay,"
said King, "makes Webster take
his seat in the Senate whenever he
chooses"