The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1878-01-05
A Thrilling Episode in the United States
Senate.

Mr.. Harvey, in his "reminiscences
of Daniel Webster narrates a thrilling
episode that occurred in the Senate on
| the occasion of Webster's 18th of March
| 1850) speech, which we quote in full:
| When Mr.. Webster was about to de-
liver his 9TH of March speech, he in
vited me to come on to Washington to
hear it. He intended to make it a
great effort, the browning address of
his later public life; and, as he knew
beforehand that his actions and mo-
tives would be misconstrued, and that
the speech would bring down upon him
condemnation from many quarters, he
was resolved that he would make use
of all his powers to render it worthy of
his really high motives and his fame.
Early on the morning of the 9TH | was
sitting with him in his house, when the
Sergeant-at-Arms of the Senate came
in He told Mr.. Webster that already
not only the Senate-chamber itself, but
all the approaches to it, were crowded
| by an eager multitude. A great speech
from Mr.. Webster was national event
Mr.. Webster looked at me, and, in sad
voice, spoke of this as being one of the
last times he should ever address listen
ing masses on the floor of the Senate,
and of the rapidly-approaching close
of his public life. Recovering his
spirits again in moment, he turned to
the Sergeant-at-Arms and said: II "
ever crowded the Senate-chamberhs,s1
want you to save two good seats-one
for Mrs. Webster, and the other for my
old friend Harvey here, who has come
all the way from Boston to hear my
speech"
The Sergeant-at-Arms promised that
he would do so. On going to the SEN
ate-chamber at the proper time | found
an excellent seat reserved for me, near
and little front of the spot where Mr..
Webster would stand when he made his
speech. While he was speaking an af-
fecting incident occurred, which illus
trated the warmth of feeling between
Mr.. Calhoun and himself. 1t appeared
that, several days before, Mr.. Webster
had paid visit to Mr. Calhoun in his
sick-room at the Old Capitol building.
The venerable South Carolina Senator
was very i'll, and it was thought that he
would never be able to appear in his
seat again. The conversation turning
upon the speech that Mr.. Webster was
about to make, the sick statesman eX-
pressed an earnest wish to hear it.
Mr.. Webster replied that he hoped he
would be able to get to the Senate, as he
himself was anxious that Mr.. Calhoun
should be present. Mr.. Calhoun shook
his head sadly, and said that he feared
he was on his death-bed; and Mr..
Webster parted from him, fully i'm
pressed with the belief that the venera-
bic invalid must soon pass away.
Mr.. Webster had not been speaking
long on this occasion when saw a tall,
gaunt figure, wrapped in a long black
cloak, with deep, cavernous black eyes,
and a thick mass of snow-white hair
brushed back from the large brow and
falling to the shoulders, advance with
slow and feeble steps through the lobby
behind the Vice-President' chair, and
then, aided by one of the Senators, APP
proach and sink into chair on the OPP
posite side of the chamber. | looked
at Mr. Webster, and observed that as
he spoke his face was turned the other
way, so that he had not seen the almost
ghostly figure come in. He went on
speaking in his deep and sonorous tones,
and at last came to a passage wherein
he alluded to something Mr.. Calhoun
had once said in debate, " as the utter
ance of the distinguished and venerable
Senator from South Carolina, who, |
deeply regret, is prevented by serious
illness from being in his seat to-day"
| +h;c rrlnnnnl 70 I'd tbo tnl
figure across the chamber. He was
moving restlessly in his chair; his head
and body were bent eagerly forward
and he made an effort as if trying to
rise and interrupt the orator. But the
effort seemed to be too much for him,
for he sank back in his chair, evidently
exhausted. The noble current of Web
sterian eloquence flowed majestically
on, all unconscious of the intended in
terruption. Presently the speaker once
more had occasion to refer to some
statement of Mr.. Calhoun; and again he
alluded to him as L" the eminent Senator
from South Carolina, whom we all re-
greet so much to miss, from such cause,
from his seat to-day
The figure grew restless; the hands
nervously grasped both arms of his
chair; the black eyes glared and shone
in their eagerness; and now, half-rising
from his seat, and unable any longer to
bear the thought that Mr.. Webster
should remain unconscious of his pres
ence, he exclaimed, in feeble and hol-
low voice, which yetwas heard through
out the chamber:
1.-The Senator from South Carolina
is in his seat!''
Mr.. Webster turned toward him with
something like start, and when he
saw that his friend had actually risen
from the bed of death, and had indeed
dared death itself to creep to the Capt.
tol and hear his speech, he for mo-
ment betrayed visible signs of deep
emotion. Then, acknowledging this
touching compliment by low bow and
a smile of profound satisfaction, he
went on with his speech.
A few days more, and Calhoun lay
dead, in state, within those very walls.
The Latest EnOch Arden.
I NODAWAY Station. q point on the