The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1881-12-24
WEBSTER AND BENTON.

One day after dinner, as Mr.. Web
ster was seated in his library, the
servant announced mi. Wilson, of
st. Louis" and John Wilson came
inte the library. Mr.. Webster at
on, e rose and greeted him. Narrat-
ing the visit to me, he said:
Mr.. Wilson was gentleman whom
l had known more or less for quar-
ter of II century;a lawyer Of pretty
extensive practice, with good deal
of talent; man of very violent pre-
judices and temper. who had spent
most of his public life, after he had
reached manhood, in violent OPPOSE
ti0n to Colonel Benton. 1t was not
so much Of an opposition to Colonel
Benton's democracy as it was a per
s0nal feud, as bitter and malignant
asany that ever existed between two
men. 1t was notorious it st. Louis
that when Colonel Benton went on
the. stump, John Wilson would al.
ways be there to meet him and abuse
him in the most violent terms. and
then Mr.. Benton would return the
fire. / had not seen Mr.. Wilson for
good many years. and only met
him occasionally in court. He CAME
to me a broken man, permaturely
old. with a wrecked fortune, and
after some conversation he said:
II am going to emigrate to Cali.
fornia in my old age, Mr.. Webster;
l am poor. have family; and al
though it matters but little to me, for
the short time that remains to me, ifI
am poor, yet there are those that are
dear to me, whose condition / might
improve by going to new country
and trying to mend my broken for
tunes. My object in calling on you
is to trouble you for letter to some
one in California; merely to say that
you know me to he respectable per-
son worthy OF confidence"
After expressing my regret that he
should be Obliged to emigrate to such
a distance-f0r then it looked like a
formidable undertaking to go to Cali.
fornia-I asked him if he was fully
determined.
"Yes." said he, 81 have made up
my mind"
Then l set about thinking what l
could do for him. / saw no way to
give him assistance. l had TO par.
ticular influence with the Governor
at that time and l finally said:
II am sorry, Mr.. Wilson, to say
that so far as l am aware, there is not
a human being in California that I
know. If | were to undertake to
give you a letter to any one In Cali
fornia, should not know to whom
to address it,"
"That makes no difference" said
he; "everybndy knows YOU, and a
that you know me will he
the most valuable testimonial 1 could
have:"
IL will write one with great pleas
ure; although you probably oyerrate
the influence of my name in Cali
fornia. | want to give you something
that will be benefit to you. Let
me see. Mr.. Wilson. Colonel Benton
al.GOst owns California, and he could
give you letter to Fremont and
Others that would be of first. rate
service to you"
He looked me in the face, half
astonished and half inquiringly, as
much as to say: "Can it he possible
you are ignorant cf the relations be-
tween Colonel Benton and u,yself!"
Il understand what you mean |
am perfectly well aware of the past
between you and Mr..
Benton, and the bitter personal hos
tility that has existed. But l want
to say to you that great change has
come over Colonel Benton since you
knew him. His feeling aud senti
ments are softened. We are getting
older. Our fiery, hot blood is getting
cooled and changed. 1t is hardly
worth while for men, while they are
getting near the maximum of fhuman
life, to indulge in these feelings of
and iIl-wild, and it is a thing
we ought to rid ourselves of, Colonel
Benton and have been engaged in
a war of words, as you and he have,
and some two or three years ago we
went out of the same door for years
without as much as saying good
to one another. Now, l
do not know a man in the Senate to
whom would 20 with mere certain
~ OF having favor granted than to
Colonel Benton. He feels that age
is coming upon him and he is recon.
ciled to many of his bitterest opps-
nents."
us thy servant dog" replied
Wilson, "that he should do this
fhinU0 Nu0uld n0k hova n lottor