Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1877-04-20
Webster, Clay, and Calhoun,

OF Webster. as of Clay Calhoun, Presi-
dent jackson, and others, gave my impress
sions IN my books on America nearly twenty
years ago. L will not repeat anything then
and there said, but will merely point.out how
their fate corresponded with their ordeal
"1ly dear woman" said Mr.. Webster to me
at his own table, laying his finger on my arm
to emphasize his words, ''GOn't you 90 and
believe me to be ambitious. No man can de-
spise that sort of thing more than l do. L
would not sacrifice an hour of my ease for all
the honors and powers in the world Mr..
Clay made no protestations Of this sort to
me, nor Mr.. Calhoun, whom, with all his alb
surdities. L respected by far the most of the
three III the long run. All were hugely am
bilious, but Calhoun was honest III the main
point. He lived and died for the cause of
slavery, and, however far such a career Is
from the sympathies of English people, the
openness and directness of his conduct were
at least respectable. lie was infatuated by
his sectional attachments, but he was out
spoken and consistent. Mr. Clay never sat
isfiod me of his sincerity on the great ques-
ton of Lin time; but there was much, outside
of that trying matter, that was interesting
and even honorable-a genuine warmth, II
capacity for enthusiasm, and vast political
ability Our intercourse amounted to friend
ship at last; but his unworthy conduct dur
ing the closing years of his life overthrew
my esteem, and destroyed my regard Tor
him. While protesting desire to provide
for the future abolition OF slavery, he pre-
vented IN some parts Its immediate abolition,
and he extended in others the area of its
prevalence. lie was ms well aware any,
body of the true character Of the coloniza-
ton scheme OF which he accepted the presi-
dency, and he continued to land 1t 70 foreign
ers as an agency of emancipation, when he
knew that it was established and upheld by
Shareholders like himself for the protection
and security of the institution of slavery.
His personal ambition was as keen AZ Web
ster's, and the failure of both in their aspira-
tons for the presidency DESTROYED them both
In regard to genius, both were OF so high an
order, and their qualifications were so little
alike, that there Is no need to set the one
above the other. Webster's training was
the higher his position as n Massachusetts
man the more advantageous, morally and
politically; his folly and treachery in striving
to win the supreme honOrs OF the State by
winning the South through the sacrifice OF
the rights and liberties OF the North, were,o1
necessity, more extreme and more consplcu-
Gus than any double dealing OF MIR. Clays
his retribution was the more striking; and
the disgrace which he drew down on his last
both these men, who might have rivalled the
glory of Washington himself, by carrying
the State through 4 stress as real AND fearful
as that of eighty years ago, will be remem-
bered as warnings and not as examples As
far as appears, they were the last OF the
really great men who led the craftsmanship
of the republic; and to their failure, moral
and political, may, perhaps, be mainly charged
the fatal mischief which now hangs as
doom over the State that the best men de
cline entering political life, and that there
is every inducement for the least capable
and least worthy to be placed in the highest
seats. The ablest men of their generation
did not attempt to reverse or even retard the
retrogression of their country; but, on the
contrary for their own ends they precipitated
it. l feared this when | observed their pro-
ceedings on the spot, and they afterwards
proved the fact to all the world; and sad has
the spectacle been. There is not even the
consolation that being dishonest, they fail
ed; for their failure was on account OF their
eminence and not their dishonesty. They
were put aside to make way for knayes of an
obscure cast, who might more readily be-
guile or evade the Indignation of the world,
which would not waste on Fillmore or Il
Pierce the reprobation which would have at
tended on Webster or Clay who had done
their deeds and committed their tlcieS. Al
ready so long ago as twenty years. there was
n striking contrast between the speech and
manner of venerable elders, like Madison
and Chief Justice Marshall, and those OF the
aspiring statesmen, Webster, Clay, and, in q
smaller way, Everett and other second-rate
politicians. The integrity, simplicity, and
heart-breathing earnestness ofthe aged states
men were singularly contrasted with the af-
fectations, professions, cautious procedures.
and premeditated speech of the leaders of
the time. How rapid and how great the de
terioration has been since every new page of
American history bears witness. Still, there
is no reason for despair. A safe issue is
always possible. and most probable, where
there is any principled and active body of
true patriots, like the Abolitionists of the
United States. Their light shines the bright
er for the gathering darkness about them;
and they belong to a people who, however
scared at new dangers for time, cannot for
ever love darkness rather than light. The
choice is being offered to them more and
more plainly; and my knowledge Of them,
personal and by study, gives me every hope
that their choice will be the right one, if only
they are compelled to make it before the lust
of territorial aggrandizement has become
overwhelmed by indulgence. From HirTiei
hTtiHeau'S autobiography.