Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1878-06-02
u ebste.' and BENTON.

lOu0Ccu nA. W AAooAi, W ~ A1"eA") AN-
John w ilson came into the library. Mr..
Webster at once rose and greeted him.
Narrating the visit to me he said
Mr.. Wilson was a gentleman whom L
had known more or less for quarter OF
a century;a lawyer of pretty extensive
practice, with a good deal of talent;
man Of very violent prejudices and tenn
per, who had spent most of his public lite
after he had reached manhood, in violent
opposition TO Colonel Benton's Demo
crazy as it was personal feud, as bitter
and malignant as any that ever existed
between two men. 1t was notorious IN st.
LOUIS that when Colonel Benton went on
the stump, John Wilson would always be
there to meet him and to abuse HIM
in the most virulent terms, and then MIR. I
Benton would return the fire. / had not
seen Wilson for a good many years, and |
only met him occasionally in Court. He !
came to me now a broken man, prema-
turelv old, with wrecked fortune, and,
after some conversation, he said:
81 am roing to emigrate 10 California
IN nv old age, Mr.. Webster; am poor
have family; and although 1t matters
but little to me, for the short time that
remains to me, if am poor, yet there arc
those who are dear to me whose concI-
ton I might improve by going to new
country and trying to mend my fortunes.
MY object in calling on you is to trouble
YOU for letter to some one IN California;
merely to say that you know me to be
respectable person, worthy Of confidence. =
After expressing my regret that he
should feel obliged to emigrate to such a
distance -ior then it looked like Tor
u,idablc undertaking to go to California
Il asked him il he was fully determln-
ed.
eyes," said he: 81 have made up my
mind"
Then set about thinking what | could
90 for him. saw no way to give INN
assistance. I had no particular influence
with the government at that time, and
finally said:
~ am sorry, Mr.. Wilson, to say, that SO
far as I am aware, there is not human
being in California that know. Ii l
were to undertake to give you letter to
any onc il California, should not Know
to whom to address it,
!Tbat makes no difference" said he,
every body knows you, and certificate
that YOU know me will be the most val
liable testimonial | ,uld have.''
81 will write one with great pleasure
although YOU probably overrate the III
tluence of my name IN California, l want
to give you something that will be OF
benefit to you. Let me see, Mr.: wilson
Colonel Benton almost owns California,
and he could give you letter to Ere
mont and others that would be OF first
rate service to you"
He looked me in the face, half aston
ished and half inqulringly, as much as tc
say, Can it be possible that your arc
ignorant Of the relations between Colone
Benton aud myself"
al understand what you mean: l an
perlccty aware of the past difficulties be
tween you and Mr.. Benton, and the
bitter personal hostility that has existed
But ! want to say to you that grea
change has come over Colonel Bento1
since YOU knew him. His feelings an(
sentiments are softcnei. We are gcttlns
older Our fiery hot blood is gettin!
cooled and changed 1t is hardly wortl
while for men, while they are gettl1ns
near the maximum OF human lite, to IN
dulge in these feelings Of enmity and il
will. 1t is thing. that we ought to ri
ourselves of: ColoLcl Benton and
have been engaged in war OF words, a
you and he have: and, up to TWO or tnre
wears ago, we went out Of the same doc
for years without saying as much IS .good
morning. to one another. Now. 40 nc
know man in the Senate to whom
would 90 with more with more certalnt
of having a favor granted than to Colont
Benton. He feels that age is comln
upon him, and he Is reconclleu to man
of his bitterest opponents
"Is thy servant d dog replied Wilson
"that he should co this thing ana th'
thing? I would not have letter trol
him, I would not speak to him, Woul
not be holden to him for favor--n'
to save the lite Of every member OF IN
family! No, sir! The thought of
makes me shudder. l feel indignant
tie mention of it. take letter fro
Mr. Benton! L."
"Stop, sto,J!" said I; " that is the o.
man speaking in you. That IS not II
spirit in which to indulge, l know no
you feel.'
And while he was raving and protes
ing and declaring, by all the saints IN Il
calendar, his purpose to accept no tay
from Colonel Benton, turned round
NV desk and addressed q note to Bento
something like this:
Dear Sir: am aware OF the dispute
personal and political, which have tax
place between yourself and the bearer
this note, Mr.. John Wilson. But t
gentleman is now old, and is going
California, and he needs a recomme
dation. know nobody in California
whom I could address a letter that won
pe of any service to him. You knt
everybody, and letter from you wou
do him a great deal of good | have
s,.red Mr.. Wilson that it will give y
more pleasure 20 forgive and forget wi
has passed between you and him, and
give him a letter that will do MIN goo
than twill him to receive it. | am (
ing to persuade him to carry tllis nc
and know you will be glad to sec hin
Wilson got through protesting, and
read him the note Then I said:
II want you to carry it to Benton
~ Won't" he replied ;.
I coaxed and scolded and reason
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