The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1878-02-21
Webster and Harrison.

Harvey's recently published reminis-
cences Of Webster contain some very inter-
esting anecdotes of the great New Hamp-
shire statesman. Among the best Is one
in which is recounted Webster's expe-
rience with Harrison's tendency to dilate
upon Grecian and Roman affairs, in his
speeches and inaugural. Webster was
Secretary of State under Harrison in
1S41. Harvey says: General Harrison
arrived at Washington from Cincinnati,
about the time Mr. Webster arrived from
Massachusetts. Mr.. Webster was invited
by Mr.. Seaton, one of the editors OF the
National InteHigencer, and very warm
! personal friend Of his, to come to his
house, as he would be more quiet there
and less exposed to an intrusion than at
hotel, and to stay until he got house
to move his family into It. One day,
among other arrangements, webster
suggested to the new President, in as
delicate "a way as he could, the fact that
he had sketched an inaugural, knowing
that General Harrison would be over
whclmed with calls and business after
his election and he himself having leis
ure to write. The General at once re-
piled that it Was not necessary, that he
had prepared his own inaugural.
"Oh, yes" he said, II have got that all
ready"
"Will you allow me to take it home
and read it t,-night2' asked Mr.. Webster.
"Certaiuly." the President replied.
land please let nae take yours"
50 they exchanged the documents, and
the next morning, when they met, Gen
eral Harrison said to Mr.. Webster:
"If should read your inaugural in
stead of mine, everybody would know
that you wrote it, and that did not.
Now, this is the only paper which pro-
pose to write, for do not intend to in
terfere 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 in ele-
waiting me to this high office; and al
though, of course, it is not so suitable as
yours, still it is mine, and l propose to
let the people have it just rs have
written it. l must deliver my own in
stead of yours"
When he found that the President was
bent upon using his own inaugural, Mr..
Webster said his desire to modify it, and
to get in some things that were not there
and get out some that were there; for rs
it then stood, he said, it had no more to
do with the affairs OF the American Gov
eminent and people than chapter in the
Koran. Mr.. Webster suggested to Cen
erai Harrison that he should like to put
in some things, and General Harrison
rather reluctantly consented to let him
take it. MIR. Webster spent a portion of
the next day in modifying the message.
Mrs. Seaton remarked to him when he
came home rather late that day that
he looked iatigued and worried; but he
replied that he was sorry that she had
waited dinner for him. That is of no
consequence at all, Mr.. Webster" said
she, "Dut am sorry to see you looking
50 worried and tired. | hope that moth
ing has gone wrong. l really hope that
nothing has happened" You would
think that something had happened" he
replied, "if you knew what had done.
| nave killed seventeen Roman pro-csn-
sus rs dead us smelts, every one of
them"