The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1880-10-02


tirmation, although he was opposed to
the plot against him. Mr.. Weed saw at
once that the rejection of Mr.. Everett
would add to the sectional agitation just
showing itself, and he used his powerful
influence to prevent it. When the nomi-
nation came before the Senate, it was
opposed by Mr.. Buchanan and Mr. King
of Alabama, and advocated by Mr.. Choate
and Henry Clay. Mr.. King, who would
have received the appointment had Mr..
Everitt's rejection created a vacancy, con-
cluded bitter speech by saying that if
Mr.. Everett, holding views in opposition
to the South, was confirmed, the Union
would be dissolved. Mr.. Clay sprang to
his feet, and, pointing his long arm and
index finger at Mr.. King, said: And |
tell you, Mr.. President, that if gentle
man so pre-eminently qualified for the
position of minister should be rejected
by this Senate, and for the reasons given
by the Senator from Alabama, this Union
is dissolved already"
The nomination of Mr.. Everett was
confirmed by vote of twenty-three yeas
against nineteen nays. Every Democrat
Northern and Southern. who voted, and
two Southern Wings, voted against him,
and several Northern Democrats lodged,
among them Pierce of New Hampshire
Williams of Maine, and Wright of New
York. The Southern Wings who stood
their ground for Mr.. Everett, were Clay
of Kentucky, Morehead, Berrien, Clay
ton, Mangum, Merrick. Graham, and
Rives. Mr. Weed had also three or four
other Southern Wings in reserve, who
would have braved the odium of voting
for an abolitionist had their votes been
needed.
A second fiscal agent bill was prepared
in accordance with the Presidents eX-
pressed views, and he said to Mr.. A. IL.
II. Stuart, then 4 Representative from
Virginia, holding him by the hand
';Stuart if you can be instrumental i'll
getting this bill through Congress, l
shall esteem you the best friend | have
on earth.' An attempt was made in the
Senate to amend it, which Mr.. Choate,
who was regarded as the mouth piece of
Daniel Webster, opposed. Mr.. Clay ell
deavored to make him admit that some
member of the administration had in
spired him to assert that if the bill was
amended, it would be vetoed, but Mr..
Choate had examined too many witnesses
to be forced into any admission that he
did not choose to make. Persisting in
his demand. Mr.. Clay's manner and Ian
guage became offensive. Sir said
Mr.. Choate, Il insist on my right to ex-
plain what did say in my own words"
But | want direct answer exclaim-
ed Mr.. Clay. "Mr. President" said Mr..
Choate, the gentleman will have to
take my answer as | choose to give it to
him. Here the two Senators were call
ed to order, and both of them were re-
quested to take their seats. The next
day Mr.. Clay made an explanation which
was satisfactory to Mr.. Choate.
The second bank or fiscal agent bill
was passed by Congress without the
change of word or letter. yet the
President vetoed it. When the veto
message was received in the Senate.
there We're some Kisses in the gallery,
which brought Mr.. Benton to his feet.
Expressing his Indignation, he asked that
the "ruffians' be taken into custody,
and one of those who had Missed was
taken into custody; but, on penitently
expressing his regret, he was discharged.
President Tyler's cabinet first learned
that he intended to veto the second bank
bill through the columns of IL New York
paper, and such was their Indignation,
that they all, with the exception of Mr..
Webster, resigned The Wings in Con-
gress met in caucus, and adopted an adj
dress to the people, written by Mr.. John
p. Kennedy, of Maryland, setting forth
in temperate language the differences
between them and the President. his
equivocations and tergiversations, and
repudiating the administration, THE
Democracy" said Colonel Benton, "re-
joiced, and patted Mr.. Tyler on the
shoulder, even those who despised the
new party, microscopically small, but
potent in the Presidents veto.'
Caleb Gushing. who with Mr.. WISE
headed what Mr.. Clay had christened
the corporal's guard - of the Presi-
dents friends i'll Congress, issued coun-
ter manifesto, defending the acts of the
administration. 1t declared that the
President i'll refusing to sign the imam
cial bills, had "violated no engagement
and committed no act of perlidy in the
sense of forfeited pledge" Mr.. Web
ster was commended for having remain
| cd in the cabinet when call the rest had
| fled, and the address Of the Wing Con-
gressmen was denounced.
Henry 4. Wise had been Mr. Clay's
| instrument i'll securing the nomination
of Mr.. Tyler as Vice President. and was
the most influential adviser at the White
House. He was then i'll the prime of his
early manhood, tall, spare, and upright,
with large, lustreless, gray blue eyes,
high cheek bones, Il large mouth, Il com
plexion saffron hued from his inordinatc
use of tobacco. and coarse long hair,
| brushed back from his low forehead
He was brilliant in conversation, and
when he addressed an audience he was
the incarnation of effective eloquence.-
No one has ever poured forth in the Cap
itol of the United States such torrents OF
words such erratic flights of fancy, Sucl
blasting insinuations, such solemn pray
ers, such blasphemous imprccations.-
Like jeremiah of old, he felt the dark
shadow of coming events; and he regard
ell the Yankees as the inevitable foes o
the old Commonwealth of Virginia.
Mr.. Webster gave to the Tyler admin
istration all of the dignity and character
which it possessed, not only directing it.
diplomacy through the Department O
State, but counseling the other heads o
departments. He wrote Secretary For
ward S report on the currency, and othe-
State papers, besides serving as Il balance
wheel to regulate the movements Of thu
ardent Gushing and the fiery Wise. Mr.
Webster's great work, however, was hi
negotiation of the Treaty of Washington