Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1880-11-11
Forty Years Ago.

Some interesting "reminiscences were
related by Capt. Bassett, who served
more than a generation in the United
States Senate: II entered the Senate"
said Capt. Bassett, 1881. as page,
through the influence of Daniel Web
ster. Mr.. Webster wanted me to get
acquainted thoroughly with my duties.
So during the year 1880 l worked as
page during tee 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
opposition 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 he must have
his boy in, and in went.
Speaking of Daniel Webster" the
Captain said, 81 remember one rainy
day Webster told me to go and get a
hack 1 hunted for a long time and
came back wet and tired without finding
any. Webster was very friendly with
me, and so l came to be quite familiar
with qim. On this occasion, being rath-
er cross, rushed up to Webster, and
said with bOyish rudeness, Il can't find
any hack Webster just looked at me-.
But what glance! l would rather en-
dure anything than another such glance.
felt like sinking through the floor.
Then Webster said, go and get that
hack 1t is needless to say, the carriage
was found"
1 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 a 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 Sen
ate being in executive session, Webster,
who was in that stage when the mind
is most active, got up and made bril-
liant speech. The question was on the
confirmation of some official. Webster,
with an entire forgetfulness of the mat
ter in hand, quoted an entire play of
Shakespeare. The Senate was enthrall-
ed by Webster. Imagine, a play of
Shakespeare personated by Webster,wi
his magnificent voice and awful pres
enee!
"Rufus Choate," continued the Cap
tain, always wanted cup of strong
tea before he spoke"
"'Get me cup of tea,' he would say,
'as hot as h
"They speak of the eloquence of Ru-
fus Choate, but 1 would rather hear
Matt Carpenter, who studied in his Of
fee l was present at the celebrated
Webster-Hayne debate
well, did Webster get the best of 1t 2
"They say so. He got the best OF the
The way in which the Captain said
this inclines one to believe that his
sympathies were with the fiery South
erner.
The old man continued: Il remember
the fight between FOote and Benton,that
famous one, the end of which was that
Foote waltzed 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: Il was present when
Brooks attacked Sumner. The elrcum-
stances which gave rise to the attack
are well known. Brooks came into the
Senate with cane ia his hand. 1t was
a gutta percha one-all evidences to the
notwithstanding. Sumner was
writing, and Brooks came up hehlnd
him and beat him over the head. The
blood covered the head of the Senator,
and he became senseless. l assisted him
into the cloak-room. The cane was
smashed to pieces, and / have piece
yet in my possession.