San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1881-09-01

sentiments, or an arm, weak ana en-
feebled as it may be with age-that
voice and that arm will DO on the
side Of my country, for the support
Of the general authority and for the
maintenance Of the powers OF the
Union"
1 heard the famous 9TH OF March
speech" Of Mr.. Webster. To me his
oratory was q perfect surprise and
curiosity. He not only spoke with
very unusual deliberatlon, but with
pauses having no relation whatever
to the sense. His sentences were
thus broken into the oddest frag-
ments, and the nearer was often per-
picked in his effort to gather the
meaning. In declaring, for example,
that he "would put IN no Wilmot
proviso for tho purpose of q taunt,'
etc, he made n long pause at "Wil-
mot, perhaps haIf minute, and fin
ally having apparently recovered his
breath, AIDED the word 'proviso;
and then, after another considerable
! pause, went on with his sentence.
HIS speaking seemed painfully lpbor-
ious. Great drops Of perspiration
stood upon his forenead and face, not
withstunding the slowness OF his
utterance--suggesting possible ex.
pianation OF IL Very recent and heavy
dinner or greatly troubled conscience
over his final act of apostasy from
his cary New England faith The
latter was probably the truth, since
he Is known to have pondered the
question OF his ultimate decision |;
and with his naturally great and
noble traits of character, he could
not have announced it without mani
fest tokens of uneasiness. was
greatly interested i'll the brief dia-
logue between him and Mr.. Calhoun,
winch followed this speech. Refer.
ence was made to their famous pas
sage at. arms. twenty years before |;
and Mr. Calhoun, while taking excep-
tions to some OF Mr. Websters posi-
tions, congratulated him on his
strong denverance in the interest OF
slavery. The great Carolinian was
then wrestling with the disease which
soon afterwards terminated his life,
and was tim, pale and feeble OF step |;
but his slnguluriy intellectual face, and
the pecullur light which flashed from
his eye while speaking, made hun the
most strikingiy picturesque figure IN
the Senate. No man Can compute
the evils wrought by his pontlcal
theories; but IN private life he was
thoroughly uprignt and pure, and no
susplclon OF political joDbery was
ever whispered in connection with
his name. In his social relations he
was most genial and kindly, while he
always weicomed the society OF young
men who sought the aid OF his TREND
ly counsel.
l happened to be in the Senate on
April II, just before the memorable
frlcas between Foote, OF MISSISSIPPI,
and Colonel Benton. They had had
an unfriendiy encounter not long be.
fore, and 1t was well understood that
Benton had made up his mind that
Foote should not henceforth name
hlm OF allude to him in debate. Foote
was ON the floor and IN speaking OF
the late Southern Address refer
red to Benton IN terms which every
body understood In an indirect
way he became more and more per-
sonal as he proceeded. Colonel Ben
ton finally rose from his seat with
every appearance of intense passion,
and with a quick pace moved towards
Foote, who was addressing the sen
ate from his desk near the the main
aisle. The Vice President demand
ed "order" and and several Senators
tired to hold Benton back; but he
broke loose from iis keepers and was
rapidly moving upon his foe. When
he saw Benton nearing him, Foote
sprang INTO the man aisle ana re-
treated toward the Vice President,
presenting a pistol as be fed, or, ~
ne afteward expressed it, advanced
backward" In the meantime Ben
ton had been 80 obstructed by the
Sergeant-at arms and others, that
Foo.e, il disposed to shoot, could not
have done 80 without firing through
the crowd. Bat Benton, with sever
al Seniors hanging to hlm, now pro
ceed round tae lobby SO as to meet
Foote at the opposite side OF the
OF the Chamber, Tearing himself
away from those who sought to hold
him, and throwing open his bosom
he said Let hIm shoot me! Inc
cowarlly assassin has come here TO
shoot me; let hun shoot me If he
darcs. never carry arms, aud be
knows il i; let the assassin hre. lie
was an embodied fury, and ragged
and raved. the helpless victim OF his
PASSIONS. hal never seen such an
uproar in Legislative body; but the
Serge1nt-atArms at last restored ord
er, when Mr.. Cay suggested that
both parties should vo.untsriiy enter
into bonds 10 keep the peace; upon
which Benton instantly rose, and
said: @Iu rot in jail SIR. before 1
viii do It, No. ssr, IL rUt IN Iail first
Iii rot, SIR and he poured forth
a fr..sa torrent Of bitter words upon
the MN who wss :beB 20 vel known
throughout the NOrthern State -
sHsngIn1n Fooie-
The soddeh death u GenernI 1@y-