Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1877-08-16
GEN. JAMES SHIELDS.
A few Interesting Incidents in Peace
and War.


and War.
This esteemed statesman warrior.
now sixty-seven years old, lives at
Carrolton, Missouri. A public recep-
ton was given to him at Lockport,
New York, last month The New
York Times gathered the following
incidents and anecdotes from his
public address and social conversa-
ton at that time.
DANIEL WEBSTER AND THE QUAKERs.
~While / was in the Senate (said
General Shields) 1 saw much OF
Webster both in and out OF the Capt.
tol. He met me one day and said ::
Shields, find / have got into diff
Guilty with some of my constituents,
who are dissatisfied with my adyo-
cacy OF certain measure, and they
have sent a large delegation down
here from Massachusetts to make q
protest. 1 have promised to meet
them this evening, and I would like
to have you here"
"'What can I dor Hss
"'Your native blarney, Shields-it
may help me out of the trouble
Il laughed at the idea OF blarney
effecting anything where Daniel
Websters eloquence could not con-
vince: and / made that objection, but
he insisted, and I promised to be on
hand. Evening came, and ! joined
Mr.. Webster at his rooms. Presently
the delegation arrived and were
seated; a dozen or twenty OF the most
solemn men 1 have ever seen, all
rigidly costumed In Quaker dress.
Without wasting any time the chair
man arose and addressed Mr.. Webster
in a set speech. He commented Sc
verely on the course OF the Senator
as to the measure in question, setting
forth the bad effect which It might
have on their sect, expressing great
sorrow and surprise that Mr. Webster
had been supporting such a bill, and
concluded with vigorous protest In
writing, which bore many signatures.
Webster listened attentively with un-
changed countenance, and when the
spokesman had resumed his seat, he
arose and replied. He spoke half an
hour, and before he concluded he
grew as eloquent as helis ofsen heard.
His defense was simply that he
deemed the me asure one demanded
by the interests OF the whole country,
although 1t misl;; Eat be especially
adapted to the wants and interests OF
any sect, and after clearly setting
this forth, he made such an appeal to
the delegation to remember that they
were Americans. as well as Quakers,
that 1 was fairly electrified. The
effect produced by his words on the
delegation was astonishing. When
he began they were all seated: after
he had spoken ten minutes one after
another rose to their feet, until they
were all standing; then they COM
menced TO move toward him and
they had soon surrounded him In a
body. Before he finished saw the
chairman take out his petition and
tear 1t into pieces: and when he had
finished, some Of them were shedding
tears, and all were grasping Webster's
hands as fast as they could get them.
Friend Webster, cried the spokes.
man. thee is right acd we are wrong:
we owe thee an apology; we will
say no more about it; thee knows
thy duty better than we.'"
@The next day / met Mr.. Webster
and with a countenance of perfect
gravity he said: @Well, Shields
now didn't we blarney those fellows
nicely?"
ROUGH AND READY"
The first interview with General
Taylor was humorously described !:
Il was sent with my brigade to re-
port to him on the Rio Grande. After
getting my command into camp, 1
puton the most snowy uniform had,
and spent much time rigging myself
up to dc honor to such an occasion as
the meeting with the Commander.in
chief OF the Army of Occupation.
Arrived at headquarters l inquired
for General Taylor, and was shown