The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1881-04-13


II know Thomas Corwin WELL" said Col
Onel sweeney, the host of the Barrett House,
Burlington, Iowa. an old Mexican veteran
and California pioneer, TO a group of inter
ested listeners seated about the stove. 1--WE
were boys together in Ohio "Black Tom"
we called him when he was at school, and
BLACK Tom" heremained until the day ofhis
death. COrwin amounted tonothing after his
celebrated speech in the United States Sem
ate in opposition to the Mexican War, when
in one Of his remarkable flights of impas-
stoned eboquence he exclaimed: III / were
Mexican as am an American, / would well
come the invaders with bloody hands to in
hoSpitable graves That speech was lob
put up on Corwin by Webster and Others"
said the old Colonel. 81 have heard Cor
win, with tears in his ewes, say so him
self. Webster and his friends were at
heart opposed to the Mexican War and they
had determined TO oppose the voting of
funds tocary il on. The agreement was
that Webster and others should follow Cor
win in speeches against it. He was selected
to make the first speech, and an eloquent
one 1t was; but it raised such howl of in
dignation throughout the country that the
Others thought IL the better part of dIscre-
ton not to continue the opposition. So they
backed out and left poor Tom in the lurch,
as it were BY the bye" said the Colonel,
II have a good story to tell OH
Tom, which is particularly apropos at
this day, when Ohio is sending out so many
big men. Ii was Just the same in Toms
day, as it is now; and wish you all to bear
in mind gentlemen, that / came from
Ohio" The Colonel, 1t may be remarked,
to catch the pith of his intended Jest, stands
fully six feet seven, broad shouldered and
powerfully built. Though verging on sixty
years OF age, his form is straight as a pine,
and his step has the elasticity of a youth. -
Tom" he continued, like great many
other good and great men, was fond of the
flowing bowl, and once in a while,he would
take drop too much. 1t was on q oonvi-
vial occasion when Tom was present at a
banquet at the National Hotel, in Washing
ton. that he was called upon to respond to
the toast of his native State, and L must say
that he acquitted himself with honor to
the State and TO the infinite satisfaction and
amusement OF all present.. in one OF
the most mirth- provoking ostprandfal
speeches | ever listened to. Arising with
all the dignity and gravity that Corwin
only could assume, he acknowledged the
honor conferred in calling upon him to re-
spond to a compliment to the State of Ohio.
Then proceeding in a quasi-grandiloquent
strain, he exclaimed: 'Ohioi Why, Mr.
President, while the United States, this
grand Republic, has produced more great
men than any other country in the world,
Ohio has produced more great men than any
other State in the Republic. It is matter
of history-mark that Why, SIR said
he, Warren County. IN the State
of Ohio, has produced more great men
than any other County in any State in the
Union. II is matter of.history-mark that
Sir, Turtle Creek Township, in the County
of Warren, has produced more great men
than any other Township in any
County in the Union. 1t is a matter Of
history-mark that Then, with merry
twinkle in his Back eye, that for the first
time betrayed the humorous intent of the
speaker, he added: Gentlemen, that is che
Township that l came from-mark that
and he sat down amid the uproarous mirth
and side-shaklng laughter of theiauditors
about the table"