The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1879-07-04
CLAY AND BENTON.
AN oLD-TIME QUARREL IN THEsENATE

y Ereencastle, Ind, letter SAYS =
The men who were in the public service
with the giants, Webster, Clay, Cal
houn, Douglass and the other statesmen
so well-knOwn to the elders of the pres
ent generation, and of whom so little is
known to the younger men of the day,
have become very few in number
Among those who were in Congress with
these leaders is Hon. f. +. McClain Of
Greencastle. Mr.. McClain was elected
to the Thirty-first Congress, without op-
position, from his district in Kentucky
and served two years, when his failing
health compelled him to decline a re-
nomination. He enjoyed a personal ac-
qu9intance with Webster. Clay and the
other great men of thar body. and was a
close observer of them and the affairs of
the time.
He recently gave me some interesting
"reminiscences never before published.
He was an admirer of the oratory of
Webster, who, however, in his inter
course with the members was very re-
elusive, though he tried hard to be soc ial.
When he smiled it reminded one of a
CHASTITY grin.
He was much more respectful to his
opponents that was Calhoun, who would
not tolerate any differing from his opin-
ions. Calhoun was unable to be pres
ent at the opening of the session on ac-
count of i'll health, and it was evident
that he had not much longer to live. In
this connection there is an anecdote of
Senator Benton that has never been pub
lished. Benton had met both Clay and
Webster in debate, and was itching for
contest with Calhoun. When the lat
ter returned to his seat he made bitter
friends expected him to reply. But
Benton took no notice of the attack
Some of his friends, Mr.. Mccain
among the number, asked for an eXpla-
nation. Drawing himself mp with all
the dignity imaginable, he replied {:
when the Almighty lays His hand on
a man ] take mine off "
Benton was probably the most egotis-
tical man America ever produced. He
had habit of talking to himself, and as
he frequently passed the hotel where
Col. McClain, Col. Marshall of Ken
tucky, and other members stayed, it be
came the subject of frequent remark
One evening Col. Marshall accosted him
with the Interrogation senator Ben
ton, why do you talk to yourself so
much - With great dignity Benton
replied: "Col. Marshall, l can tell you
talk to myself. | love to talk to a great
man, and love t" hear a great man talk -
Benton also had a fight with Henry
Clay, on the floor. which was carefully
suppressed from The newspapers. Clay
had made direct attack on Benton. to
which the latter undertook to reply. As
wit and humorist he had not an equal
in Congress. Reading a long advertise
ment of cure-all from newspaper, he
saTcaStically'compare it with Clay 5 On
nibus bill, then before the House. say
ing that as Townsend'S was the only
meritOriOus sarSaparilla. so all the meas
ures incorporated in the bill were oh
jectionable until gathered up by Mr..
Clay. He kept the Senate in a roar for
some time, much to the chagTin of Clay,
who finally interrupted him with /:
when Mr.. Benton was canvaSsing his
district in Missouri, he opposed the adj
mission of California as a State
Mr.. Benton replied 4 want to say
to the distinguished Senator that ! gave
the lie to that statement three months
ago. but | now release the instigatOr
and held the prOpogatoT responsible for
it. l pick it up and ram it down the
throat of the Senator: let him swallow
it if he cam "Clav replied Il take
it and hurl it back in the face of the
gentleman with all the contempt with
which it was offered 4; and let him. for
the rest of his life. keep the slander in
the casket where lie keeps the other
slander." This was said with gesture
to the cravat. understood by all familiar
with the politics of that time. referring
to a bOyhOod indiscretiOn to Benton. 1t
was only with difficulty. by the interpo-
sitiOn Of Senators, that an encounter
between them was prevented. The af-
fair was quickly hushed up, but was
much talked of by members at the time