The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1882-08-24
Long Johns Story,

In recent lecture ex-Mayor John
Wentworth, of Chicago, describes how
Daniel Webster raised a storm" in
Congress:
Mr.. Webster won my lasting gratitude
by his assistance in the passage of the
River and Harbor bill in 1S45. The bill
had passed the House and been referred
to the Committee on Commerce, ma
jority of whom were of the ''strict con-
struction'' school, believing that Con-
gress could improve a natural harbor.
but not make one. I went before the
committee to defend the appropriation
for harbor at Little Fort, now called
Waukegan. l found had no friends
there but Senator Reverdy johnson, Of
Maryland. The committee recommend
ed that the appropriation be struck out.
Senator John A. Dix, of New York, led
the opposition. He had been a grad
uate of West Point, was good engi-
neer, had brought the map of survey
into the Senate, and was having great
influence against it. Twas seated in the
lobby directly behind Col. Thomas III.
Benton, and Webster was upon his usual
walk. He gave me q nod of recogni-
ton and passed on. Gen. Dix kept up
his fire and felt it. Our Senators, Sid
both from the southern part of the State
and had no personal knowledge of the
merits of the case. The Indiana Sena-
sin had no Senator'S. AS Webster was
travelling to and fro past me the thought
occurred TO me that, as he was "a lib
eral constructions" he was Just the
man to rectify all the damage that Gen.
Dix was doing. But It was o small mat
ter for so great man. Besides, knew
that his colleague, Senator John Davis.
was taking the side of Senator Dix.
Every time Webster passed me re-
solved that the next time he came
would speak to him. But my courage
would forsake me when reflected that
he was Whig and 1 was Democrat
l wanted some excuse to speak to him.
He had known my father. He was
son of New Hampshire and a graduate
of the same college with myself. But
my heart failed me; and yet it was all
the time sighing Webster, Webster,
do but speak to me-" At length came
his voice, in deep, sepulchral tone:
"Wentworth, what Is Dix making all
this ado aboutp' Promptly the answer
came: ''Mr. Webster, since your trip
around the lakes from Chicago in 1887
we have had but few appropriations for
old harbors, and none for new ones.
This place is halfway between Chicago
and Milwaukee and we want harbor
of refuge there" II see the point, I
see the point" says Webster, and ut
once went to his seat upon the Senate
floor.
When Gen. Dix had concluded, Mr..
Webster observed that he could add
nothing to the conclusive argument of
the Senator from New York in favor of
the appropriation. He thought he had
satisfied all the Senators that there was
no harbor at the place, and so the House
must have thought when it made the
appropriation to construct one there.
Upon what did the Senator from New
York found his doctrine that, when
God created the world, or even Lake
Michigan, he left nothing for man to
do? The curse pronounced upon our
first parents for their transgression was
in entire conflict with any such doc
trine. He did not believe that the Con-
stitution of the United States was such
narrowly contracted instrument that
it would not permit the construction Of
q harbor where the necessities of COM
merce required. He then foreshadowed
the growth of the West, its abundant
products, its gigantic commerce, Its
numerous people. He started a steamer
for Chicago laden to the guards with
freight and passengers. He then de-
scribed a storm in a manner that no
man but Webster could describe. His
flight of eloquence equaled his best at
Bunker Hill or Plymouth Rock. You
could hear the dashing waves, the
1ybic ,in1 <ho ,Lnv
and the shrieking passengers, and, as
he sent the vessel to the bottom, with
all on board, he exclaimed: What
but a merciful Providence saved me
from such a catastrophe when passed
over Lake Michigan in 1892" At such
dire disaster could the Senator from
New York derive any consolation from
| the reflection that his narrow interpre-
tation of the constitution has been main--
tanned? AS Webster closed, Col. Ben
ton turned to me and said: THAT Is
the greatest speech upon SO small q
matter that 1 ever heard.n Reverdy
johnson came up and said, "Now don't
you abuse the Wings any more" And
Senator Breese said, ''Now you can go
us'' The bill passed without amend
ment. But alas! President Polk vetoed
it. And out of his veto grew that Won
derful event in the history of Chicago,
the River and Harbor Convention of
1917, vast assemblage composed of
the most talented, enterprising, wealthy
and influential men of all parts of the
country. At the laying of the corner
stone of the Douglas monument Gen.
Dix was here as the principal orator.
While others were speaking, called
his attention to our magnificent harbor
works. After complimenting them high
ly he said, ''They ought to protect you
from any storm-even from such one
as Webster manufactured for you in the
Senate in 1886"