The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1878-04-20

was seated in his library, the servant
announced Mr.. Wilson, of st. Louis
and John Wilson 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 a quarter of
Il century; a lawyer of pretty extensive
practice, with good deal of talent; a
man of very violentpreiudices and tenn
per, who had spent most of his public
life, after he had reached manhood, in
violent opposition to Col. Benton. 1t
was not so much an opposition to Col.
Benton's Democracy as it was person
al feud, as bitter and malignant as any
that ever existed between two men. 1t
was notorious in st. Louis that when
Col. Benton went on the stump John
Wilson would always be there to meet
him and to abuse him in the most viru-
lent terms, and then Mr.. 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 broken man, prematurely old,
with wrecked fortune, and after some
conversation he said:
81 am going to emigrate to California
in my old age, Mr.. Webster; am poor;
have family; and although it matters
but little to me, for the short time that
remains to me, if | am poor, yet there
are those who are dear to me, whose
condition might improve by going to
a 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 a respectable person,
worthy of confidence"
After expressing my regret that he
should feel obliged to emigrate to such
distance-for then it looked like a
formidable undertaking to 90 to Cal
ifornia-I asked him if he was fully de-
termined.
YES" said he, 81 have made up
my mind" Then set about thinking
what could do for him. saw no way
to give him assistance. l had no par
ticular influence with the Government
at that time, and finally | said:
q am sorry, Mr.. Wilson, to say that
50 far as | am aware, there is not a hui
man being in California that l know
{. If | were to undertake to give you a let
ter to anyone in California, | should
not know to whom to address it."
THAT makes no difference" said he
everybody knows you, and a certiti
cate that you know me will be the
most valuable testimonial | could
have"
81 will write one with great pleasure
although you probably overrate the in
tluence of my name in California.
want to give you something that will bC
of benefit to you. Let me see, Mr.. VIII
son. Col. Benton almost owns Califor
MIA, and he could give you letter tt
Fremont and others that would be O
first-rate service to you"
He looked me in the face, half aston
ished and half inquiringly, as much a
to say: "Can it be possible that yol
are ignorant of the relations between
Col. Benton and MYSELF"
81 understand what you mean; an
perfectly well aware of the past diff
culties between you and Mr.. Benton
and the bitter personal hostility tina
has existed. But | want to say to you
that great change has come over Col
Benton since you knew him. His feel
ings and sentiments are softened. w
are getting older. Our fiery hot bloot
is getting cooled and changed. 1t i
hardly worth while for men, while the,
are getting near the maximum of hu
man life, to indulge in these feelings 0
enmity and ill-will. 1t is a thing tina
we ought to rid ourselves of. Col. Ben
, ton and have been engaged in a wa
of words, as you and he have, and, VI
to two or three years ago, we went GU
: of the same door for years without say
ing as much as good morning to on
another. Now | do not know a ma
! in the Senate to whom would 90 wit
: more certainty of having a favor grant
ed than to Col. Benton. He feels tina
age is coming upon him, and he is rec
onciled to many of his bitterest oppo
nents.''
els thy servant dog" replied VII
, son, THAT he should do this thing an
that thing? | would not have lette
; from him, | would not speak to him,
; would not be beholden to him for
favor-not to save the life of ever
member of my family No, sir! TIL
thought of it makes me shudder. fee
indignant at the mention of it, | tax
,, a letter from Mr.. Benton? ="
Stop, stop!' said |; " that is the oil
, man speaking in you. That is not tn
spirit in which to indulge. know no,
you feel.n
, And while he was raving and pre-
testing and declaring, by all the saint
5 in the calendar, his purpose to accep
) no favor from Col. Benton, l turne
= round to my desk and addressed not
= to Benton, something like this:
; DEAR SIR | am aware of the dis
putes, personal and political, whic
have taken place between yourself an
= the bearer of this note, Mr.. John vii
. son. But the gentleman is now old
and is going to California, and needs
recommendation l know nobody il
r California to whom | could address
J letter that would be of any service t.
him. You know everybody, and let
ter from you would do him great dea
of good. | have assured Mr.. Wilsol
, that it will give you more pleasure t
forgive and forget what has passed be
: tween you and him, and to give him
r letter that will do him good, than j