The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1877-12-20
Anecdotes of Webster.
From Harvey's "reminiscences of webster.l


suit may be related as an instance of
Mr.. Webster's keenness and power of
'repartee. Augustus Peabody, one of
the opposing counsel, was very familiar
with the "books," and no case could be
cited which he could not find. at once.
He was a sort of walking dictionary of
law. Mr.. Webster was arguing to the
jury and cited some English case, when
Mr.. Peabody interrupted him and asked
where the case was to be found reported,
MIR. Webster went straight on, paying
no attention to the interruption, and
Mr.. Hoar and Mr.. Peabody hurriedly
consulted together. Then Mr.. Peabody
rose and claimed the protection of the
Court. He said that Mr.. Webster was
citing authorities to sustain his argu-
ment and they wished to know, where
they were to be found, so that they
could Judge for themselves as to the
pertinency of the citation. Judge Shaw
remarked that counsel had a right to
know where the cases were to be found
and that the Court itself would like to
know. Mr.. Webster leaned against the
rail, resting on his elbow, and looking at
the Court, said:
at is not very good manners to inter
rupt me i'm the midst of a sentence ad-
dressed to the jury. 1t is practice in
which l never indulge. I always let
counsel have their say, and if can an
swer them, / do, as well as l can. This
interrupting don't like; it is rather a
habit of my learned friend on the other
/ side, and is quite annoying. He has
appealed to me to know where the case
that / have cited can be found reported,
somewhat as if l had quoted case that
was fictitious. What / wish to say in
answer to that is, that the case to which
l referred was so and so giving the
names, etc., and that it occurred in
the third year of Lord Eldon in Chan
Gerry. In what particular volume of re-
ports by Lord Eldon, on what particular
page, and how many lines from the top
of the page, 1 don't know. I never
trouble myself with these little matters.
Peabody has nothing else to do, and he
can hunt it up at his leisure"
Mr.. Webster became Secretary Of
State under General Harrison in 1s41
They had no interview before he was
appointed. 1t was done by correspon-
dence; by an officer of the place on the
part of General Harrison by letter and
acceptance on that of Mr.. Webster.
They did not meet until eight or ten
days previous to the Inauguration.
General Harrison arrived at Washington
from Cincinnati about the time Mr..
Webster arrived from Massachusetts.
Mr.. Webster was invited by Mr.. Seaton,
one of the editors of the National In
teligencer, and a very warm personal
friend of his, to come to his house, as he
would be more quiet there and less ex-
posed to intrusion than at hotel, and
to stay until he got house and move
his family into it.
He was constantly occupied with
General Harrison on matters connected
with the formation of the Cabinet, from
early morning until the dinner hour,
which was six o'clock. 1t seems he had
prepared an inaugural message for Gen
eral Harrison. One day, among other
arrangements, he suggested to the new
President, in as delicate way as he could,
the fact that he had sketched an in
augural, knowing that General Harrison
would be overwhelmed with calls and
business after his election, and he him
sell having leisure 10 wrlte. Inc uen-
eral at once replied that 1t was not
necessary, that he had prepared his own
inaugural.
all ready"
VIII you allow me 10 take IL nome
and read II to-nghtF asked Mr. "eD-
ster.
certainly, the PRESIDENT repneo !;
ana please let me take yours.
80 they excnanged tne documents;
ana the next morning. "nen tney met
General Harrison SAID TO MI. Wepster: !:
II should READ your inaugural IN
stead OF mine, everybody would know
that you wrote 1t, and that did not.
Now, this IS the only ofhclal paper which
| propose to write, for do not intend to
Interfere with my secretaries; but this
is a sort of acknowledgement on my
part to the American people of the great
honor they have conferred on me in
elevating me to this high office; and
although, of course, it is not so suitable
as yours, still it is mine, and | propose
to let the people have it just as 1 have
written it. must deliver my own in
stead of yours"
Mr.. Webster told me that he was a
good deal annoyed, because the message
was, according to his judgment and
taste, SO inappropriate. 1t entered
largely into Roman history, and had a
great deal to say about the States of
antiquity and the Roman proconsuls and
various matters of that kind. Indeed,
the word "proconsul" was repeated in
it great many times.
When he found that the President
was bent upon using his own inaugural,
Mr.. Webster said his desire was to
Masa oy ~ ~, thars 6au " "a aet ont soms III Of
were w there the % fo, | as # then stood besaid,
# had no more to do with the affairs Of
the American Government and people
than a cbanter in the Koran Mr. Web.