Daily Republican., 1880-10-27
i'd South would make 8 solid and sue

| ia CUutu WOulU m6N0 . nVAtu ehu DIV
oesaful North. Next 10 mr. own life,
always felt that the Union was th,
dearest thing In the wofta to me. Lit
tie Delaware has made as much by !,
as any State. / was past the age ol
service when the war broke oat, but
even then II had known anything OF
military discipline, eoald not have re.
strained myself from going into the
army, felt so keenly the Importance
Of the struggle.
My first public act upon the slavery
question was at the time of the Wilmot
proviso. / favored the acquisition Of
California. Gold had not yet been dis
covered there, but believed that some
day we should reash the shores Of the
Pacific, and ! saw that California must
fall under our star otempirs. 1t was fear
ed that the admission Of California
would lead to the introduction Of slav-
cry into Texas. With my views I voted
for the proviso, and was the only Wing
In the slave States that did 30. A change
Of law would have been necessary in
order to make Texas q slave State, for
she was still under the Mexican Law.
The South wanted to submit such q
change to the legislature. The South
was always aggressive and ultra Oh
the question Of slavery"
After pause the judge resumed
SAT the same time the Democrats wsra
parsimonioas in their policy. They
wanted to do as little as possible for
their country There was always much
discussion about sonstitutionality. Con.
stitutionality was the great question in
everything. The clause "To regulate
commerce" was one which always cfea-
ted confusion among newcomers, but to
man versed in American colonial his.
tory 1t was clear enough. In this way,
I know, came up the consideration Of
river and hsrbor Improvement. Bills
for highways and bridges Jackson vetoed
on the ground Of uuoonstitutionality, as
they were internal improvements. This
was before | went to Congress. Then
the Democrats got the river and harbor
improvements mixed in with internal
improvements. / was much interested
in this question for my State was de-
pendent q grelt deal, you know, upon
her river navigation. was deeply
mortified at the action OF the Democrats
and its results.
Upon my suggesting that he must
have many interesting "reminiscences Of
his political life, he said j:
II was admitted to the bar In '37.
My first stump speech was in 40. In
Al was made Secretary ofthe State.
In "a was sent to Congress, and re.
elected in '46 and '48, and in '55 went
on the bench, where l have served ever
since, without q missing single day.
have been so fortunate as never to
have been kept away, even by sickness.
| was made Secretary Of State through
the recommendation Of Mr.. Clayton.
Judge Cooper also was interestei ! in me.
Mr.. Clayton helped me to Congress, too,
I suppose, but never asked any favor
of him. l can truthfully say that
never sought office but once, and then
| didn't get it, that was o minor posi-.
tion wanted shortly after being ad-
mitted to the bar. Mr.. Clayton and
were very intimate. knew we'll Web
ster, Calhoun and Clay and
others. Mr.. Stephens is the only man
in either house now who was there
then.
s'I rsmsm ber," continued the Judge,
half to him self and smiling at the
thought, ga little incident that i'm
pressed me seriously. was on very
intimate terms with Mr.. Webster, We
used to visit each other frequently. l
had often noticed that Webster and
Clay ton did not seem congenial, and l
could not account for it. / knew that
Clayton admired Webster greatly, for l
ad heard him say so, but still they
didn't seem to meet freely. Well, one
day, shortly after Webster had been
appointed Secretary Of State, he sent
for me. could not imagine what he
wanted, but went to him. He then
told me that he wanted me to try to
bring about more cordial relations be-
tween himself and Mr.. Clayton. He
had made advances, he said, as far as
he could. He admired Mr.. Clayton and
felt that he wanted to know him better,
but Clayton had never responded
warmly. remember his words; 'Mr.
Clayton always appears ugly to nae,
he said; he liked Clayton's policy and
wanted to continue it. I told him that
| knew Clay ton admired him, and that
| could give only one reason for any
GOODNESS Of feeling toward him. You
know, l said, Clayton is a great ad-
mirsr of Henry Clay, and no admirer
Of his could be friend of yours. Mr..
Clay's jealousy would net permit is.
When Clayton came home i'll to Do
yer q short time before his death, | was
ut Georgetown, upon the bench. | came
up to see him one day; we met in Judge
Comegys' parlor. He wanted me to
drive with him next day. 1t was in
the afternoon that we started. l knew
he was very weak, and supposed he
would 90 two or three miles and then
return. But he continued the drive
clear down to the bay shore - it must
bs fifteen miles. We got to talking
about the condition of the country and
he was very melancholy. l remember
we'll what he said, and have always
hesitated to publish it, for knew they
we're due to his even then dying condi-
ton. He prophesied war he had done
all hs could to forestall it, and at one
time he and Benton thought they had
succeeded. But Benton had lost his
seat, and now there seemed to be no
hope. felt that his low spirits were
caused by his i'll health, but it has al
ways made me sad to think Of such a
mans coming to his death with his
hopes completely broken dewn."
1t was growing late, and was rising