Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1879-08-06
Pinkney and Webster.

r.. Rev. Wn. Pinkney, As ,s.ant Protestant
Episcopal Bishop Of Maryland, has writteu uu
Interesting letter to the A|bapy Law Jourua,
In denial of an incident related in Peter H,r-
Vey's "Reminiscences of Daniel Webster at the
Bar Harvey tells the story, which has been
heretofore dis,redi.ed, that Mr.. Webster told
blm that be had on oae occasion locked Mr..
Pltkoey in one Of the grand Jury rooms of tho
Capitol snG tx0rted from him as he stood
trembling like aa aspen leaf, an humble apol-
ogy Tor dlsc2urteous treatment at the bar, Which
apology Mr.. Plckney repeated tbs nexs day 10
open court.
Bisoop Pinkoey, who is uoth,w of the
great ]urldt. says that be perused these pages
very painful ttlcg to be compelled to pose tho
gross iuaccuracy CT this whole statement, yet it
will De clearly seen that no near relatives of Mr.
Plokaey clu suffer it 10 pass wi.hout the rC-
buke it 60 richly merits. NJ one, be says, who
knsH MIR. Ptnkuey will behave this story. 1t
Is too artstlcslly drawp. Mr.. Piakoey' cour-
age has beea too often tested TO be q1astiooeG.
VI powerful physissl fame and moral nerye
tlat few men possessed 10 tql2l degree, hu
bad no cc,aSon TO qu4k3 aad re:a5.o ia the
presence ot tie DISTINGUISHED soa of Msssa-
chuaats, evsn though "ais eyes we're very dark
aat itn."
as further speaks Of ,hs narrative as a moral
lDposS!5!llty, IS, b. says, Webster Was not q
bully, aUd every iostics: CT his csture would
have rscoiled IRON saca a scene, ani &c nau
who kueW William Pink 1ey w2uid believed tsa.
Or. Webster, It be bad been i bully, would
have dsrsd to Go i: in P,nkaey ljfs,ime aud to
his fsc.. /: does not o1Upcri with the Gi3oity
ct the court. fer Ja5gs Marsha! would have
r.buSed 80 acS OF tu,a gross d!sco1rte.y CO
the sp)t.
10 other parts cf toe Latter Bishop P,1koey
says: II 'IEn, thsn, irou Mc. Peter Harvey,
who has rsc!Id d il, TO the Uaoy warm ada
miress Of M:. WEBSTER. scd address 10 them
this my solemn remonslrsuc,. apd | greatly
mistake the character OF the mea to waom I
address this appeal if they d, MOI discard the
deed as one OF shiob alr. Webster cou 90.
pos:-ly DO guilty.. l: may DO said thas this
DEF ace is !org delayed. l. msy oes.il, way re-
vlrw t5e sati CT at this !aic day? | Irrpy. be-
cause that oouk may 4ss toto history; AID also,
beo.uie OF tha high reputation OF Us hero,
1t may be read IL years TO coms, when men
will oot psuse TO Inquire whether what it
c,uta!ns is true or false. and Whco. p'rasps,
slence will be considered proof Of scqui scsuce.
What Mr. Webster thougntor said OF Mr Pink-
Fey ss lawyer or man gives me no Concern
save that should deeply dep;ore nny lsck ofthst
noble Quality which is nowhere II ore beautifully
expressed THAI IN his noble sp-e n agsin-t Hsyns
the quslity that takes no dslisnt in dragging
others Gown. Ate moment wa en- tha heart docs
give out It's truast utterances. III: Webster ask
ed permission to follow Goodoa Harper in his
splendid oulogg on Pinkney, and then and there
he did utter words II pathos and power. y = =
l would not detrsct IFcm Daniel w -biter t. OK
alt or magnify my uncle, if that wero possible.
am too jealous of my ccuulry's heritage Of
glory to be betrayed into any such weakness.
would not dim lhs lustre Of single star IN her
glorious galaxy. . = " But tauely to submit
~ this effort Of Mr.. Harvey to malsn ths ch.r-
acter of William Pinkney by putting form Sir.
Webster rs the sounder of his own trumpet and
tho revesler of Pinkney's cowardce. with no
witnesses present aud in 4 case not remem5 5arsd,
l neither Can nor will"