The Cecil Whig., 1880-01-03

| protest. Different seers interpreted the
! phantasmal appearances in different FASH
ions, and either endeavored to form novel
combinations, or joined in raking common
sewers for filth wherewith to bespatter those
who were the rivals of their favorite candi-
dates. 1t was then that Congressional in
vestigating committees became part of the
political machinery Of the day. The ac-
counts Of President Adams in former years.
when he was serving the country in Europe
as a diplomatist; the summary execution of
descrters by order of General jackson, when
he commanded the army i'll Flerida the
bills for refurnshing the White House, the
atiidavits concerning the alleged bargain
between the President and his Secretary of
! State: and the marriage of General Jackson
to Mrs. Robards before she had been di-
vorced from Mr.. Robards, were, with many
other scandals, paraded before the public.
! Daniel Webster had been recognized in
advance as the leader Of the House, by his
appointment rs chairman of the committee
to inform Mr.. Adams that he had been
elected President This Mr.. Webster did
verbally, but MIR. Adams had prepared a
written reply, which had been copied by
clerk, and bore his autograph signature.
Mr.. Webster never, however, received the
confidence of Mr.. Adams, but he defended
the policy of the administration in the
| House. and subsequently in the Senate. He
was then in the prime of life, unshackled
by pecunary obligations to those who after
wards forced loans upon him, that they
might use him for their own aggrandize-
ment, and never drowning his disappoint-
ments in strong drinks. The Southern Con-
gressmen had then begun to express their
belief in the constitutional heresies first
promulgated by jefferson, which, had they
! prevailed, would have turned our admira-
bly, adjusted political system into an i'll
cenpacted league OF petty soveregntes.
Mr.. Webster was one of the first to see that
this theory of State rights was destructive
to the vital powers of the Constitution be-
| queathed by the founders of the republic,
| and that the union of the States should be
stoutly asserted. Discarding the rhetorical
fiourishes and deciamatery parade then cul-
tivated by Congressional orators, especially
those from the South Mr.. Webster express
ed his vigorous thoughts in sinple sterling
words, using those which hit the hardest aud
made the least shew. He liked to measure
propositions by the constitutional standards
which he had so laborousy prepared, and
to dispose of them as they came up to his
mark or fell short of it.
hr att tl,tn r;6l lof
the embodiment of health and good spirits
His stalwart frame, his massive head crown
ed with wealth of black hair, his heavy
eyebrows overhanging cavernous eyes, all
distinguished him from other men, while
his swarthy complexion gained him the
epithet of Black Dan" He had his first
great sorrow then. His eldest and at that
time his only, daughter died at Washing
ton, and the next year her mother followed |
her to the grave. The maiden name of his |
first wife was Grace Fletcher. She was one
year older than he was, the daughter of a |
New Hampshire country clersyInan; not |
beautiful, but accomplished, and the mother |
of his four children.
EDWARD EVERETT,
who was also a member of the Massach,s-
etts delegation i'll the House, had Won early |
fame Is . popular preacher OF the gospel, as
Il professor at Harvard College, and as the |
editor of the North American Rerieu-
Placed by his marriage above want, he be-
came noted for his profound learning and
for his persuasive eloquence. AT times he
oil, L
reasoning was logical and luminous. and his
remarks always gave evidence of careful |
study. ASS politician, Mr.. Everett was not
successful. The personitcation of self-,lis-
cipline and dignity, he was too much like
an intellectual icicle to find favor with the
masses, and he was deficient in courage
when any bold step was to be taken.
George McDuffie, who represented the
Edgefield district Of South Carolina, had
heen taken from labor in a blacksmth's
shop by Mr.. Calhoun, and was the grateful
champion of his patron in the House. He
was a spare, grim-looking man, who was
an admirer of Milton, and who was never
known to jest or to smile. As a debater, he
had few equals in the House, but he failed |
when, during the discussion Of the Panama
Mission question, he opened his batteries
upon Mr., Webster. The " "expounder of the
Constitution = retorted with great force, re-
mindng the gentleman from South Caro-
lima that noisy defamation was not logic,
and that he should not apply coarse epithets
to the President, who could not reply to
them. Mr.. Webster then went on TO saw
that he would furnish the gentleman from
South Carolina with high authority on the
point to which he had objected, and quoted
from speech by Mr. Calhoun which sus-
tanned his position. Mr.. McDutfie had not
a word to Offer and he aee,r undertook to
call Mr., Webster to account again. This
debate was the beginning of the oratorical |
tournament between Massachusetts and
South Carolina, which was ended by Web
ster's reply to Hayne, ut the other end of
the Capitol.
Tristan Burgess, of Rhode Island, was a |
Stalwart champion of the North, and his |
salies of wit and sarcasm were very effect |
i've. Although under fifty years of aye, his |
white hair and bent form gave him patri-
iopR, "ti' abtu0ti " lilc cllccl Ol MS |
fervid eloquence and his whitening sarcasm
\ man of iron heart, he was ever anxious |
to meet his antagonists naughty in his rude |
Self-conti lence and exhausting every ex-
pletive of abuse permitted by parliamentary |
usage. He was the especial friend of the |
Revolutionary salliers, urging their claims |
for pensions with great force
George Kremer of Pennsylvania, was |
probably the
MOST UNPOPULAR MAN IN THE HOUSE.
An anonymous letter had appeared just be
fore the election of President by the Repre- |
scntatives, announcing an "uuholy coali- |
ton " between Mr.. Adams and Mr.. Clay, |
by which the support of the friends of the |
latter had been transferred to the former, |
"as the planter does his negroes or the |
farmer his team and horses" Mr. Clay at |
once published Il card over his signature |
in which he called the writer "a base and |
infamous calumniator, a bastard ands liar" |
Mr.. kremer replied, admitting that he had |
written the letter. but in such a manner
that his political friends were ashamed of |
his cowarGlice, while the admirers of Mr. |
Clay were very indignant, the more so as
they suspected that Mr.. James Buchanan |
La1 trd the letter Mr. Eremer