The Indianapolis leader., 1881-08-20
"REMINISCENCES.
Taylor, Clay, Webster, Calhoun, Benton
George w. Julian In international Review.

4
George W. Julian In international Review.
Early in the session called on Presiden
Taylor, with Mr.. Giddngs and Judge Allen
/ had a very strong curiosity to see the maj
who's name l had used so freely in two ex
asperating political campaigns, and desired
| to stand corrected in my estimate of hi
character if l should find such correction to
be demanded by the truth. Our interview
with the old soldier was exceedingly inter
esting and amusing. / decidedly liked BIZ
kindly, honest, farmer-like face, and his old
fashioned simplicity Of dress and manners
His conversation was awkward and labored
| and evinced lack of self possession; while
his whole demeanor suggested his frontier
life, and that he had reached position for
which he was singularly untitled by train
ing and experience, or by any natural apti-
tude. In the few remarks which he address
ed to me about farming In the West he
greatly amused us by saying, IL would like
to visit Indiana and see your plows, hoes
and other reaping Implements" failing, as
he often did. to find the words he wanted.
He frequently mispronounced his words,
hesitated and stammered, and sometimes
made breakdown in the middle of q sem
tence. But, although he seemed to be in the
hands of the Shareholders, and was then
about to proclaim his policy of Congressional
non-intervention with slavery in the Ter
ritories, he impressed me as being per-
sonally honest and patriotic. In this
opinion 1 was fully confirmed
later in the session, when fesorrowfully bu.
manfully resisted the attempt Of Senator
Davis, his son -in-law, and other extreme
men to bully him into their measures, and
avowed his sympathy with the anti slavery
sentiment of the country. 1 believe his dy-
ing words In July, II have tried to do my
duty" were the keynote of his life, and
that in the Presidential campaign of l848 1
did him much, though unintentional, iDjus
tice.
1t was about the same time that 1 called,
with other Western members, to see Mr..
Clay, at the National Hotel. He received
us with the most gracious cordiality, and
perfectly captivated is all by the peculiar
and prOverbial charm in his manners and
conversation. l remember nothing like it
in the social intercourse of my life. One of
our party was prominent Whig politician
of Ohio, and old friend of MIR. Clay, and
who seemed anxious to explain his action
IN supporting Gene-al Scott in the Nation
al Convention of 1918. He failed 10 satisfy
Mr.. Clay, whose eye kindled during the CON-
versation. and who had desired and counted
on the nomination himself. Mr.. Clay ad-
dressing him, out turning to me, said: 81
can readily understand the position of our
friend from Indiana, whose strong opin-
ions on the slavery question governed his
action; but your position was different; and
besides, General S,ott had no chance for the
nomin alton, and YOU were under no obl.ga-
= 20 10 10 IN
terms of the Free Soil men; said they acted
consistly In supporting Van Buren in prefer
ence to Taylor, and that the election of the
Wings. / heard MIR. Clay's great speeches
measures; and, although 1 believed
him to be radically in the
wrong, / felt myself at times drawn toward |
him by that peculiar spell which years be-
fore had bouno me to him rs my idealized |
political leader witnessed his principal |
encounters with Colonel Benton during |
this season, in which thought the latter
had the better Of the argument; but his re- !,
ply to Mr.. Bamw of South Carolina, on
July 22, in which he said, Il owe para
mount obedience to the whole union, sub
ordinate one t. my State" and denounced
the REASONABLE avowals of Mr.. Rhett, was
altogether ininitable and unsurpassed. His
scheme of compromise, or omnibus BILL"
was the darling child of his political ambi-
tion and old age; and when, after lovingly
nursing it and gallantly fighting for it
through seven or eight weary months, he
saw it cruelty dsmembered on July 81, and
his sovereign 'emedy for our national
troubles insutet by the separate passage of
the bill providing Territorial government
for Utah, l coud not help feeling a pro-
found personal sympathy with him. Beaten
at last at every point, deserted by some
Senators in whom he had trusted implicitly,
crushed and exhausted by labors which few I
young and vigorous men could have en-
dured, he bowed to the inevatiole and re
tired from the Senate Chamber. But the [
next morning prbr to his departure for the
sea-shore he asin his his seat; and with
lightning in his eye,and figure erect as ever,
he paid his respects to the men whose work
of political havoc lie deplored. His impas-
stoned arraignmen. of the disunionsts was
loudly applauded by the galleries, and
clearly indicated the part he would have
played in the laie Rebellion had his life |
been spared to witress that direful event.
80 long," said he 'as it pleases God to give |
me voice to express my sentiments, or an |
arm, weak and enteebled as it may be with |
age-that voice and that arm will be on |
the side of my country, for the support of
the general authority and for the mainten- |
ance of the powers of this Union"
l heard the famous 18th of March speech" |
of Mr.. Webster. To me his oratory was a |
perfect surprise and curiosity. He not |
only spoke with very unusual deliberation, |
but with pauses having no relation what
ever to the sense His sentences were thus |
broken into the oldest fragments, and the |
hearer was often perplexed in his endeavor
to gather the meaning. In declaring, for |
that he 'would put in no Wilmot |
provise for the purpose of taunt," ETC., he |
made a long pause at "Wilmot, perhaps a |
half minute, and finally, having apparently |
recovered his breath, added the word "pro- |
viso;" and then, after another considerable |
pause. went on with mis- sentence. His |
speaking seemed painfully lsboroua. Great |
drops of perspiration stood upon his fore
head and face, Notwithstanding the slow
ness of his utterance- suggesting as pos
sible explanation very recent and heavy |
dinner, or greatly troubled conscience
over his final act Of aposiasy from his early
New England faith. The latter was prob
ably the truth, since he is known to have
pondered the question Of his ultimate de-
cision and with his naturally grea. and
NOBLE traits of character he could not have
announced it without manifest tokens of un-
easlness. / was greatly interested in the
brief dialogue between him and Mr.. Calhoun,
which followed this speech. Reference was
made to their famous passage-at-arms
twenty years before; and Mr.. Calhoun,
while taking exception to some of Mr.. Web
ster's positions, congratulated him on his
strong deliverence in the interest of slavery.