Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1880-03-14
AN HISTORICAL CHARACTER.
Forty Nine Years I'm ths.servtse OF the
Senate.

Chicago Times. -sN
Visitors to the national capitol when they
come into the senate while it is in session
have often noticed in the neighborhood of
the clerks desk an old gentleman with very
white hair and a very long beard, and
The old gentleman is Captain Isaac Bas-
sett. assistant doorkesper in the senate OF
the United States. One could not tell
where he got his title but sarely he has as
much right to 1t as . great many mNjors
generals, and colonies, and perhaps in the
sequel it will.appear not undersigned.
The captain dresses in a neat suit of
black, and his hair trimmed in a style
which suggests forgotten age. He,is al
ways to be found at his post while the
senate is in session--thst is in the large
chair to the left Of the vice presidents, In
fact, 80 great is his punctuality that the
senate would rather go by him than by the
clock.
They would say the clock struck twelve
when Captain Bassett was in his chair, not
Captain Bassett was in his chair when the
I~clock struck IL. Capt Bassett entered the
senate in 1880. and has been in constant
employment of the senate for 40 years. he
is therefore, full of "reminiscences, and en-
tertaining ones.
Il entered the senate,n says he" in 1880
as page, through the influence of Daniel
Webster Mr.. Webster wanted me to get
acquainted thoroughly with my duties.
SO during the year 1880 worked as page
during the whole year for nothing. Up to
1881 there had been but one page to 48 sena-
tors lthe pages now number l4) and there
was great opposition among senators to
have more than one. They said it was
MOTTO be thought of, one was quite
or nh na ptal aksta h.
have this boy, and in went" Speaking
of Mr., Webster the captain said, II re-
mem Der one rainy day " ebster told me
20 go and get mack. hunted for long
time and came back wet an tired without
finding any. Webster was always friendly
with me AID so Icame to be quite famii-
lar with him. On this occasion, bein, rather
cross, rushed up TO him and said with
boyish rudeness, I can't find any hack
Webster just look at me-, But what a
glanc l would rather endure anything
than mother such a. glance. 1 felt like
sinking through the foor. Then Webster
said Go and get that hack
1t was needless to say, the ca riage was
found.
l asked the Captain one day, what he
thought Of Webster's eloquence:
Have YOU ever seen any body that could
make you Laugh or cry at pleasure2 We'll,
v
The Captain states as a curious fact that
Danlel Webster always required certain
quantity OF whiskey when he spoke.
The writer has heard, on very good au-
thoriiy, that on one occasion, the senate
being in executive session, Webster,
who was in the stage when the mind is
most active, got up and made brilliant
speech. The question wssson theconfrma-
ton of some official. Webster, with an
entire forgefulness of the matter in hand,
quoted an entire play of Shakespeare.
Imagine play Of Shakespeare personsted
by Webster. with his magnificent voice
"Rufas 6hoate," continued the Captain,
always wanted cup Of strong tea before
he spoke. IN ga r
Get me cup oftea, he would say, hot,
as hell."t
"They. speak of the sloquence of Rufus
Choste, but.I would rather hear Matt Car
pointer. who studied in his office. | was
present at the celebrated Webster Hayne
deb ,tsn -s-.z.- -.rT r.t-r"F NJ.
well, did Webster get the best of itp"
They say so. He got the best of the
argument" sg .-rea
The way in which the Captain said this
inclines one to believe that his sympathies
were with the fiery southerner. This,
however. is merely toLjecture. ..
Bassett said the other day: II remember
the fight between Foote and Benton, that
famous one, the end of which was that
Foote waltzed down the central aisle with
long pistol cooked in his hand.
Benton jumped up ON his desk, and
throwing up his coat cried. shoot, you vii
lain.'n
Foote relates this in his book, but he
omits the jumping on his desk. p - 81
Bassett again: l was present when
Brooks attacked Sumner. The cir. UNI
stances which gave rise to the attack are
well-known. Brooks came into the senate
with cane in his hand 1t was o. gutta
percba one--all evidence to the contrary
Sumner was writing and
Brooks came w behind him and beat him
over the head. The blood covered the
head of the senator and he became sem
seless. l assisted him into the clock-room.
The cane was smashed to pieces, and
have piece yet in my possession. read
some time ago an account of the presenta-
ton of this cane to an historical society in
one of the southern states. The pieces had
grown together again, i suppose, / am 4
going to publish a book containing my
perepces, but am waiting until ! com
plete 80 years in the service of the senate,
that is one year more, ifthey will only let
me stay lsng enough"
But who thinks of removing the hons
est Captain2 1t would ba sacriledge. Hell
could stay in the senate q thousand years