West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1878-01-05
Anecdotes Of Webster.
lFrOm Harvcy's "Reminiscences Of wobs,,


suit may be related as an instance of
Mr.. Wehster'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 10 the
jury and cited some English case, when
Mr.. Peabody interrupted him and asked
where the case was To be found reported,
Mr.. Webster went straight on, paving
no attention to the interruption, and
MIR. 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-
mcnt and they wished To know where
they were To be found, so that they
could judge for themselves as to the
pcrtinency of the citation. Judge Shaw
remarked that counsel had right 10
know where the cases were To be found
and that the Court itself would like To
know. MIR. Webster leaned against the
rail resting ON his elbow, and looking at
the Court, said:
"lt is not very good manners to inter
rupt me in the midst of sentence adj
dressed TO the jury. 1t is practice i'm
which / never indulge. | always let
counsel have their say, and if | can an
swer them, | do as well n 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 bc found reported,
somewhat as if | had quoted a case that
was fictitious. What | wish To say i'm
answer TO that is, that the case to which
] referred was So and so Giving the
names, etc., and that it occurred i'm
the third year of Lord Eldon i'm 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, / don't know. never
trouble myself with these little matters.
Peabody has nothing else to do, and he
can hunt il up at his leisure"
Mr.. Webster became Secretary of
State under General Harrison in 1871.
They had no interview before he was
appointed. 1t was done by correspon-
dence; 10y 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 MassachuAe It's
Mr.. Webster was invited by Mr.. Seaton,
one of the editors of the National IN
teuigcncer, and very warm personal
friend OF his, TO como ts his house, as he
would be more quiet there and less ex-
posed TO intrusion than ut hotel, and
TO stay until he got a house and move
his family into it,
lie 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
self having leisure TO write The Gen
eral at once replied that il was not
necessary, that he had prepared his own
inaugural.
oh, yes" said he, 81 have got that
all ready"
"Will you allow me to take it home
and read IL to-night| asked Mr.. Web
ster
Certainly" the President replied
and please let me take yours"
So they exchanged the documents;
and the next morning, when they met,
General Harrison said to Mr.. Webster:
eff ! should read your inaugural in
stead Of mine, everybody would know
that you wrote it, and that ] did not.
Now, this is the only official 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 i'm
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 il Just as / have
written it. | must deliver my own in
stead Of yours"
Mr. Webster told me that nc was n
good deal annoyed, because the message
was, according 20 his judgment and
taste, 80 Inappropriate. II entered
largely into Roman history, and had
great deal 10 say about the States OF
antiquity and the Roman proconsuls and
various matters Of that kind Indeed,
the word prOcOnsul" was repeated i'm
1t great many times.
When he found that the President
was bent upon using his own inaugural,
Mr. Webster said his desire was TO
modify it, and TO eetin some things that
were not there, and get out some that
were there for, a. IL then stood, he said
~ had no more to do with the affairs Of
the American Government and people
than chapter in the Koran. Mr. Web
ster suggested 10 General Harrison that
he should like to put in some things, and
General Harrison rather reluctantly con
sented to let him take it, Mr.. Webster
spent portion Of the next day in mOdi-
flying the message Mrs scaton re-
marked 70 him, when he came home
rather late that day, chat nc looked
fatigued and worried but he replied
that ne was sorry that she had waited
dinner for him.
That is Of no consequence at all.
Mr. Webster" said she: but 7 am
sorry 10 see you looking 70 worried and
tired. ] hope that nothing has gone
wrong. ] really hope nothing has hap
pened."
You would think that sometime
had happened" he replied, eff you