The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1878-06-25
WHEELING IL 1887.
Daniel yTebster's speech at the
Old Virginia Hotel and the linz
preston it notwithstanding
Letter From James E. wharton.

Etisca IntelhseoeG:
Upto 1857, and even much later, the
old Virginia Hotel, though often chang
ing propristors, mAintained its position
a. The 6est house in Wheeling. Although
thsU.s S. Hotel wa ls large, and near the
river and stage Offices, the Virginia bad
the mos. bo.rdsrs and travellers. Il &C.
oupIed the corner where the Grant House
Afterwards stood, bat /. consisted only Of
airont the depth Of one room beloE aud
tao chambers above, with two wings
running back TO Market street, leaving =
little square for dirt and boot blacks,
each wing having a tEossory porch, al
fordins the only way TO the chambers
above. It vas not much Of hotel.
Hon. Daniel Webster, with his wife
and daughter Katie, had commenced their
tips westward. They came b. the eoaeh
10 Pittsburgh. We had invited him to
Wheeling, and committee went TO Pitts
bursh for him. On the day he was eI-
pected boat was chartered, all the aIgs
Of the city we're borrowed, and = big
crowd Of citizens went on to meet him.
We met the boat on which be was near
sunse. above MartirSVille, and amid hy'
ing aass, rousing cheers and playing
bands, the boats were IIshtd together and
went triumphanily down to Wheeling,
Beltrhoover, who then kept the house
and kept a good one, bad been employed
to prepare dinner for the DeItday st 2
o'clock at SO ticket, and all that the
dining room would bold were sold. Thi., l
think, covered the whole expense Of the
eomnittee, boat and dinner. The dinner
q Esll a Vioel we're good.
wEssTEK's SPEECH.
Our mail e.ms in from the East about
Il; O'Clock in the evening, and the New
York papers announced the suspension
Of the banks. In the morning handed
Mr.. webstsr the papers. He remarked
that be knew it must take place and ex'
tend over the whole country, bat did not
eIpecs II 90 coon.
His speech at the dinner was couhsed
10 he causes Of the suspension and the
necessary efee.s-A Long. widespread de-
preston Of buSiness, which be traced d.
tsc,ly 10 the action Of government 10 the
tariff Of 1888, and the destruction OF the
Uai,ed States Bank.
Ihad gore in with Frank CanPbsll.and
had carried paper and pencil with view
Of taking some notes and giving synoP'
ii. Of the speech - bet Ieould. We sat
directly opposite him, and both spell
bound, looking in his face until be closed
Ihad:heA.d him often before; bot vas 81
much aSed Is when hrst heard him IN
the CroEinshlsld murder case in 1879
That massive man, Who seemed TO loom
mp above all Others, who inspired one
with his msjssty Of perEon, With BIZ
voice, with The fash OF his deep set dark
hazel eye, sn,l with his every movement
YET be was not really = large mln-ir
height only about hTs feet ten inches
His hssd looked very large, but there an
many - large. BE wore bat. Mr.
CIsys looked much smaller, bot vas o
Tie sane si-s. His shoulders and ehss
we're very large, that vas all; be taPered
70 small hips and very small hands AnC
feet he weighed very little. Il any
Over 200 pounds. The PoSer Of his desI
sonorouI voice, and Of The Oply gestures
BE- ever made, bouing his head slightly
and raising bis right hand 10 q lsTeI
with his shoulder, With a extsOded fore
ansss-Eidsd in the impression o. nSj
esty and power. Possessed TO an equal
sxtsnt bySno other man / hare eTel
heard or Of whom I have ever read, oil
going directly to The point n which BE-
aimed without an unnecessary word, OF
the use Of one for which you could sub
ssitu.s smother without weakening the ser
tsnee, aided, not only in captivating your
fancy or giving scope to your iuAgins-
tion, bot commanded, nay, gr<sPsd
your reason and your soul
cicERo AxDsuSTER.
Gcsro has lived and been toDdIy read
for raany centuries. bot be vas ike the
brook, running over It's Pebbly bed
straight to the sea; Webster, like The
roar Of mighty waters Ehfn the tide
rushss into he Bay Of Fundsy With =
head Of % feet and all living things cry
and a. beiors Il, IS from the simeon oi
de Rreat desert Cicero with bis pure,
limited lnnsuase, With but words enough
% express his IDEAS, was Ike the mar
With bot one suit Of clothes. II his tsilo,
had done his duty be nnst Be vel
dressed, taste OF no taste, While Webster
With the most diffuss Of all languages
wa given whole store full o! clothes
We. Be dressed With the most perfect pos
sible taste. using his own Judgment in The
selection.
You have all seen portraits Of Mr..
Webster; bat none OF them do justice 70
the power his personal appearance had
upon those Who saw him for the fret time
lileasl Willis Gaylord Clarke we'll de-
Eeribsd It in the KaiehzSoe6e1 Of that day,
Wnlkipg 10 company with an English
frispdthey psSsd Webster. The English.
man TUNED and repassed him, and coming
back 70 bis TREND With horror written
on his counlenspee, exclaimed, "Who il
that nanF "Mr. Webster" was the
reply. swh,t WEBSTER "why Daniel
Webster, Of Massachusetts, Of New Eng.
land, Of Aneries, Of the world" III 1
Ih.d met him Ia the Alps should have
asd from him - an sssasSiu." "He il
an assassin Of mind. No one ever met
him bat fell before him."
That speech TO that little dining room
tllI In Wheeling was among his most
powerful efforts. II was Published every.
where and formed the basis Of the hnan.
dial discussions Of 1870, And in bis great
kndeyer speech in 1874 be quoted large.
ly from 1t.
Hsrtnained in Wheeling over Sunday
und stisoded Esv. Dr.. Weeds church on
Fourth street, where be said be heard =
very good sermon. 1. vas amusing TO
zee him and his family going 10 church.
HsEent ahead With that never to Be forgot
Ten tramp, placing his foot down a. though
be intended 1t 10 stay there. There was
10 slssteity in his legs, aud apparently
no bones, heel or instsp In his
let. His vile, not much Tor pretty,
cane about = rod behind, With much
the sane tramp. Mis- Kate went rod
behind her with more Q! good looks and
les Of The tramp. bat she va very hard
70 keep stsp With, and II the daisies Of
NArshhsld WoGid rise unh1Tt from under
hsr feet they are harder than Gby have
Gssn. They left for The West, per steam.
or, on Mo6day nOrSioE and left dark