Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1879-11-06
An Interesting visit to Webster.

An Interesting Visit to Webster.
Mr.. H. W. Raymond contributes to
the November Scribner the first of sew
eral papers of extracts from notebooks
kept by his father. Henry j. Raymond,
the journalist We quote the following
paragraphs, showing Webster in some
Of his most characteristic moods:
JANUARY, 1S4S.-During this month,
I made my first visit to Washington.
While there, Mr.. Webster made an argu-
ment before the Supreme Court in case
involving the merits of the rebellion in
Rhode Island in 1912. reported that
argument, and on the Both friday i
called at Mr. Webster's house to read to
him the report of it, which had prepa-
red. The more / see of him, the more
profoundly does he impress me with his
greatness.-a greatness which is intrin-
sic and truly majestic, which derives no
addition from external circumstances,
and which is quite as impressive to the
valet as to one who sees the subject of it
only on holiday occasions.
"Mr. Webster expressed great salts
faction at my report, and seemed espe-
cially anxious to have the argument
clearly set forth. AS 1 read over to
him the successive points. to every one
which seemed peculiarly clear, ne would
exclaim, Good That's true,' That's it.
etc, etc, apparently forgetting that the
argument was his own, and applauding
the performance Of some other person.
After the report was finished. express
ed my great admiration Of its iron logic,
and remarked that ! thought it very
timely, and well calculated to correct
notions which are doing great mischief
at the present time. He said he trusted
it would be of service in that respect,
and regretted the small attention which
public men, legislators, ETC., usually de-
vote to discussions of these fundamental
principles of government. l ventured
to express hope that he would give the
world philosophical history of Wash
ington's administration, upon which /
had been told he had been engaged, be-
cause thought it would be desirable
for his own fame, and would, moreover,
set up landmark for future ages.
"Mr. Webster said he had contempla-
ted such work; be had marked out its
plan; resolved to moke three volumes
of it; divided it into chapters; written
portion, and made very copious collec-
tion of materials for the whole work.
He stated quite in detail the outline of
his plaR-saying that he desired neither
to make it mere narration like Hume,
nor a mere biography like Rapin, but to
combine the two and make the whole as
vivid and graphic as possible The per-
sons whom Washington grouped around
him in council seemed to command his
special admiration and he expressed a
great desire to paint the scenes presented
by their councils with more warmth
than belonged lin his opinion) to his
temperament. '
AT very early period of his life, he
said, he began to think the exposition of
the Constitution his special field, his
mission and the little that he knew, he
added, was in that direction. He had of
necessity studied the life and character
of Washington very closely, and it was
a character which would bear STUDYING.
We often hear, especially at the present
time, of men who, though not wise
themselves, have the tact to choose wise
counselors. Many speak SO of Washing
ton. But the distinction was not Just.
All history, he said, shows that no weak
prince will choose wise counselors; he
does not want to be surrounded by men
superior to himself; he would feel
dwarfed by their presence. Mr.. Tyler
had been unJustly dealt with in this re-
spect. For time he was very willing
to trust public affairs with his secretary,
scarcely interfering with them at all.
The whole Ashburton negotiation-the
little affair with Lord Ashburton' as Mr..
Webster styled it-he conflded entirely
to Mr.. Webster; and so with the Rhode
Island troubles. Mr.. Webster was sur
prised at this, but he said Mr.. TYLER
promised to be much better President
than the public supposed. Until Mr..
Clay's acrimonious violence drove him
into the ranks of the opposition, Mr..
Tyler conducted affairs with dignity
and ability. But he had not been in Office
a month when Mr.. Clay insisted upon an
answer to the question whether Mr.. Ty-
Ter intended to run for second term ?
And he pressed it so pertinaciously and
with so much violence, that Mr.. Tyler
said one day, jocularly, Mr.. Clay, have
been so much annoyed by this that be-
lieve 1 shall send for Mr.. Southland
president of the Senate) and resign at
once This convinced Mr.. Clay that Mr..
Tyler would stand again, and from that
time he denounced him and drove him
into the opposition, thus blasting all the
fruits of the Wing victory of 1910, He
would have had the same difficulty with
Gen. Harrison, had he lived.
81 spoke of Mr.. Clay's pressing for !
now, expressed surprise.
Mr.. Webster said j. @. Adams some
years ago remarked that Mr.. Clay would
be candidate 80 long as he should re-
ceiye nomination from a majority of
the people in the town of Lexington
and he believed it would prove true. |
The mere pleasure of heing talked of as
a candidate, he said, was positive graf |
lfication which became necessary to |
many men, and grew stronger with their |
age. After all, said he, what will Mr.. |
Clay leave for future ages? His speech
ss contain nothing of permanent value
, all relating to temporary topics, and
never discussing fundamental principles
He is not an instructed statesman,-he
Knows nothing of the matters in that pa
per we have talked about; and for what,
laid ne, will he be remembered ?-For
his brilliant, effective,popular eloauence,
suggested. Yes, said he, but how
much has that availed Patrick Henry?
{ Is ephemeral, traditional, of little val
- to any one. Mr. Clay, he thought,