The Portland daily press., 1878-10-09
| washington Correspondent to the N. Y. worldl
Old Times In the Senate,

There are about one hundred and thirty en-
ployes of the Senate, including pages, committee
clerks, etc. OF this numberit is said that only
three persons who have served the Republican
party will be retained. The fortunate ones
who are thought to be indispensable to the Sem
ate are Assistant Doorkeeper Isaac Bassett,
Acting Assistant Doorkeeper James Christie,
and AMI Smith, superintendent of the docu.
ment room. Smith, it is said, will be retained
because he is the most capable officer ever in
charge of the Senate documents. Christie Is
universal favorite with Democratic as well as
Republican Senators 1t is not thought possi-
BILE that any one would have the temerity to
suggest Bassetts removal. To lemove from
the Vice Presidents side the erect form, snow
white hair and beard of Basset would almost
be an act of sserlege. Parties have como and
gone, but Bassett seems likely to stay forever
Hearing that ne intended writing a book,
World correspondent called upon the old ger-
tleman to learn the truth of the rumor.
II have thought of it," smilngly replied
Captain Bassett when asked IL be intended COM
piling history of the Senate. "I will have
been here forty-eight years next June. would
like to serve two years longer, just to make an
even term of half a century, and then / would
have better title for my book, If wrote one.
The "reminiscences of half a Century sounds
better than the Experiences of Forty-eight
Years was appointed page In the Senate
in 1881 through the influence of Daniel Web
ster. Previous to that time there was only one
page in the Senate, and he devoted himself too
exclusively to the side of the chamber on
which Mr.. Benton sat. Mr. Webster thought
that ne wanted page, too, and insisted on my
appointment"
;k ID
pondent, SHAT the seats and desks which were
once occupied by Webster, Clay, Calhoun, BEN
ton, Cass and the Senate generally of half q
century ago are now in use in the Senate cham
ber?"
"Perfectly tlde," was the reply 81 know
the Senators who occupy the seats and desks Of
the statesmen you have named. L am the only
person, believe, who knows the history of the
furniture of the chamber. 1 have certain
marks on the desks and seats which Clay, CAL
houn, Webster, Benton, Cass and dozen other
prominent Senators of their time occupied, By
which l Can identify them. 1t costs me a great
deal of tt ouble to keep the chairs and desks to-
gether during the sessions. The sweepers move
the chairs about. Often l have found Web
ster's chair before Clay's desk, aud the new
chair of some member from State recently ad-
mitted to the Union before Cslhoun's desk.
You see every time Stat) is admitted two new
chairs and desks are made for the new Senators
frequently am asked by Senators to point out
to them the seats of Webster and Clay, but
always refuse. If the history of the seats De-
came known curiosity-seekers would cut and
deface them. just about the time the seats
were moved from the old chamber, where the
Supreme Court row il, to the new one. some one
cut few splint3 from Webster's chair; but i
had it repaired and changed the position of Ii,
and it has not been marred since. 1t is not
possible for me II be mistaken about the iden-
tity OF the furniture. In an iron safe, keep a
| list Of tae seats and desks l have named, with
the names of the Senators who occupy them st
| present Some of them are very able men, as
| sure you. Others are not so able
"Is the seat and desk occupied BY JEFF. Davis
now in the senat3?'
"Yes, and it has a history, too" said Mr.
Bsssett. 81 opened the doors of the senate
chamber during the war to admit the Massa-
chusett9 regiment which was mobbed at Balti-
more on its way south. The troops lodged in
the chamber. The seats and desks had not
been taken out at the time. One morning when
came to the Capitol heard terrible noise in
the senate. / hurried through the lobby, and
opening the door to the chamber saw about
twenty soldiers charging bayonets into Dayis's
desk. yelled to them to stop, and asked them
what they meant by demolishlng the furniture.
This is that old traitor Davis's seat one Of
them replied, 'and we mean to smash it.
No, it is not cried. That seat belongs TO
the United States. Davis only occupied it.
The boys saw the sense of what said aud they
stopped jabbing the desk with their bayonets
| L had it repaired and it is now occupied BY
| Here the old gentleman stopped short as II
| ne had almost forgotten himself and, without
naming the occupant of Davis's seat, changed
| the subject.
"Benton was a great taker," sail Mr.. Bas-
| sett FOote was the only one who could out
talk Benton. FOote had somethipg to say on
| every subjsct. L saw Foote draw pistol on
| Benton in the Senate, 1t was during the
| debate on the Missouri compromise. Those
| were exciting times, IL can tell you. Words had
| significance then, and when uttered meant
something more than noise. Senator Salisbury
| of Delaware a brother to the present Senator
| from that State, ouce drew pistol on me 10
the Senate chamber. Mr.. Salisbury made a
| speech in which he used unparlamentary Ian
| guage, and when called to order refused TO keep
| quiet The sergeant alarms was directed 10
| remove him from the chamber. was the act
| ing sergeant-at-arms, and walked up 10 him
and said, mir. Salisbury, walk out with me-
He drew big pistol from his pocket and put
ting il against my breast said, 'Bassett,- you
if YOU touch me I'll blow hole through you'
not cooked. He finally laid the weapon down.
1t was taken away, aud he came out Of the
chamber. took him to his committee room,
and the services of small squad of policemen
were necessary TO keep him quiet that night.
On the next day Senator Clark had drawn up a
resolution moving the expulsion OF Senator
Salisbury for drawing a weapon in the Senate
chamber Mr.. Salisbury made personal ex-
| planatiou said he was not in the habit Of car
ryiug pistol did not remember the occur
rences of the night previous, aud expressed hs
sorrow at having been guilty of such conduct.
Mr. Clarke's resolution was laid on the table,
and Mr. Salisbury served out his term"