The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1881-02-12
COL. WIN. H. SPARKS.
RECOLLECTIONS OF EVERY PRESI-
DENT BUT WASHINGTON.
Jefferson, Madison and Story-Secession
in I82o-Interesting "Reminiscences cf
the Past
Of the Philadelphia Times.

Correspondence Of the Philadelphia Times.
ATLANTA. GA. January 1881.
Almost any day, sunny or wintry, there
can be seen on the streets of Atlanta Il
short, thickset, sturdy old gentleman,
bearing erectly on unusually broad
shoulders an immense head, surmounted
with Il crown of white hair. \ tritie
reserved, holding himself like a gentle
man and man of affairs. with ruddy face
and quick, penetrating eye. holding a
! stout cane in his hand, less for support
than in Difference to all Old habit of the
! Southwest, the stranger who sees him
usually inquiries of some one for his name.
| Any bystander will inform the inquirer
that it is Colonel w. II. Sparks, an old
veteran, who has known more distin-
guished people than any man living L
do not think there is so remarkable link
between the past and present to be found
anywhere. Colonel Sparks is not GEN.
| tenarian. being only about eighty-three,
and has none of the querulous weakness
or vagueness of old age. He is still good
for ten year tramp; is a decisive and
vigorous old gentleman. He has been
prominent in politics and society all his
| life and as legislator, writer and wit has
| been famous for more than half century
throughout the West and Southwest. He
| has known personally every President
since Washington and has the most en-
pertaining gossip about each OF them.
He was the intimate of Henry Clay,
Prentiss, Crawford and the most of their
contemporaries; sat opposite Aaron Burr
at table for three months: heard the story
of the execution of Andre from the lips
of the man who superintendent it: heard
all the small-tallk of the signers of the
Declaration of Independence from the
mouth of John Adams, and is, i'll short,
perfect treasury of gossip and personal
history.
Your correspondent asked him this
IL IL "tto u uN tl'b iiS iittNi pSSi
personally acquainted with every Presi-
dent of the United States. except Wash
ington.
"Yes, sir he replied, Il have had
the acquaintance of every man who oc-
cupied the Presidential chair since George
Washington left it; the friendship and
ann tnnan Of o,nSf of thn,, ri ~ in ~ pr
the greatest of them
"Where did you meet John Adams >
He must have died when you were very
young"
There is story connected with that.
| was at Cambridge with three young
Southern chums. We were discussing
the best way to spend our Fourth of July
and determined to spend it with Ex-
President Adams. | wrote a letter So
Letting the privilege of calling on him
and destroyed quire or two of paper
in forming the request. Mr.. Adams
replied that he would be happy to see us
and instructed us to stop ut a certain
hotel in Boston. As soon as we were
registered the landlady informed lis that
Mr.. Adams carriage was awaiting us.
At the door we found his coach drawn by
four horses and equipped with great
pomp. We were rapidly driven to his
home, where he welcomed us cordially.
being touched. ! think, at the respect
shown him by Southcrners. He gave us
Il most graphic account of the signing of
the declaration and the election of Wash
ington as commander in-chief. While
We We're with him he received the first of
those letters from Jefferson that led to
the correspondence between them. He
read it to us and said: ''This is the finest
letter ever written by an octogenarian.' a."
Did you know Jefferson intimately?"
Il knew him well. | was once travel
ing through Virginia with Il young friend
and stopped at small tavern. AS we
were sitting in the tap-room four distin-
guished looking men passed upstairs and
entered a small room. | inquired as to
who they were and was informed that
they were Ex-President Jefferson. Ex-
President Madison, Chief-Justice Mar
shall and - | at once deter
mined to see them and knocked ut the
door of their room. Mr.. jefferson came
to the door. and | stated that we were
Georgians who desired to pay our respects
to himself and his friends. He took us
cordially by the hand. and introduced us
to the company. Mr.. Madison was sit
ting in corner, with his head tied up in
IA handkerchief. and merely %runted when
we were presented. We soon secured
attention. as we had just left Washington
and bore to these distinguished men the
first news they had of the Missouri Com
promise. When We left. after an hours
STAY, Mr.. Jefferson followed us to the
door. He took our hands III his and
bending his head forward-it was as flat
as board on top-sail: $50 home,
young gentlemen, and prepare to devote
your talents and your lives to the service
of your country. This Compromise has
only scotchcd the snake. not killed it,
and it will yet tear this country asunder.
The South will need your services" How
prophetic were these words. | have since
given the lives Of my sons to the service
he then dedicated me-
WAS there much open talk of seces-
sion them
LET me tell you of a scene in Mr..
| Crawford's room just prior to the passage
of that compromise. William II. Graw-
ford, of Georgia, was then the most pow
erful man in Washington. His rooms
were the rendezvous of band of lofty
and ardent spirits. such as Lonndes. Cal
houn. Clay, Troup, Randolph. Forsyth.
| He would have been the candidate of his
party to succeed Madison had he not de-
clined to oppose Mr.. Monroe. He was
sent to France as Minister to succeed
Mr.. Livingstone. who was hard OF hear
ing. Crawford could not speak French
and Napoleon said after his reception:
".America has sent me two Senators, one
OF whom was deaf and the other dumb. "
On the night speak Of there was 4 meet
ing at Crawiord's rooms to discuss the
Missouri question. Mr. Holmes, of Maine,
was present Mr. Crawford was lying.
as he was wont. on Il sofa. Addressing
the Southern men present he told them
that if they held slavery of more import