The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1879-12-18
FORTY YEARS AGO.
Some old-Time Congressional Renninis-
cences.

A correspondent at Washington hal
been talking with Capt. Bassett, wht
has been in continuous service of the
Senate for forty-nine years. IT en-
tered the Senate" said Capt. Bassett
ain 1881. as a page, through the infu
ence Of Daniel Webster. Mr. Webster
wanted me to get acquainted thoroughly
with my duties. So during the year
1880 I worked as a page during the
whole year for nothing. Up to 1881
there had been but one page TO forty
eight Senators (the pages now number
fourteen) and there was great opposi-
tion among Senators to have more than
one. They said it was not to be thought
Of, one was quite enough. But Daniel
Webster said that we must have his
boy In, and in went
Speaking of Daniel Webster" the
Captain said, It remember one rainy
day Webster told me to go and get a
hack I hunted for a long time and
came back wet and tired without find
ing any. Webster was very friendly
with me, and SO I came to be quite fa-
miliar with him. On this occasion, be-
ing rather cross, I rushed up to Web
ster, and said with boyish rudeness, Il
can't find any hack Webster just
looked at me. But what glancel [
would rather endure anything than an
other such glance. I felt like sinking
through the floor. Then Webster said,
Go and get that hack 1t is needless to
say, the carriage was found"
/ asked the Captain, one day, what
he thought of Webster's eloquence.
Have you ever seen anybody that
could make you laugh and cry at pleas
ure? Well, he could do it,"
The Captain states as curious fact
that Daniel Webster always required a
certain quantity Of whisky before he
spoke.
The writer has heard, on very good
authority, that on one occasion, the
Senate being in executive session,
Webster, wEo was in that stage when
the mind is most active, got up and
made O. brilliant speech. The question
was on the confirmation of some official.
Webster, with an entire forgetfuIness Of
the matter in hand, quoted an entire
play of Shakespeare. The Senatesswas
enthralled by Webster. Imagined play
of Shakespeare personated by Webster,
with his magnificent voice and awful
presence!
Rufus Choate," continued the Cap
tain, ALWAYS wanted cup of strong
tea before he spoke.
"'Get me a cup of tea he would say,
as hot as hell
"They speak of the eloquence of
Rufus Choate, but [ would rather hear
Matt Carpenter, who studied in his
Office. [ was present at the celebrated
Webster Rayne debate"
well, did Webster get the best ofit?"
" They say SO. He got the best of
the argument"
The way in which the Captain said this
incines one to believe that his sympa-
thies were with the fiery Southerner.
This, however, is merely a conjecture
Bassett said the other day: Il re-
member the fight between Foote and
Benton, that famous one, the end of
which was that Foote waitzed down the
central aisle with a long pistol cooked
in his hand.
Benton jumped upon his desk, and,
throwing open his coat, cried, Shoot,
you villain"
Foote relates this in his book, but
he omits the jumping on the desk.
Bassett again: / was present when
Brooks attacked Sumner. The circum-
stances which gave rise to the attack
are we'll known. Brooks came into
the Senate with a cane in his hand. It
was a gutta percha one-all evidences
to the contrary Notwithstanding. Sum
ner was writing, and Brooks came up
behind him and beat him over the head.
The blood covered the head of the Sen
ator, and he became senseless. I assist
ed him into the cloak-room. The cane
was smashed to pieces, and I have a
piece yet in my possession"