Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1883-01-11
4 Conflict Of Giants.

Acorrespondent of Baldwin's Monthly
from Warrcnton, Va, gives the follow
ing account as it fell from the lips of his
spects much the finest picture ever
drawn of the scene, especially in its de-
scription of the gallant Col. Hayne:
In tho great South Carolina debate
which took place in the senate chamber
on the tariff question of 1928, | was in
the gallery. The notification fever had
risen almost frenzy high. Members of
all parties had deserted the lower house
to witness the splintering of lances be-
tween Robert 7. Hsyne, of South Caro-
lima. and Daniel Webster, o. New Hamp-
shire. When l entered the hall
Gen. Hayne was speaking; he was a
man of general youthful appearance,
with his shirt collar turned over his era
vat. and his hair brushed smoothly
across his forehead. He was of the
middle stature and well made. He was
speaking energetically; his eyes were
peculiarly brilliant, and his face ex-
tremely pale; he moved up and down
the aisle with q rapid and energetic
step; his gestures were vehement, and
he appeared to be under a high state of
excitement. l was peculiarly struck
with his whole appearance, and the
tone OF feeling evident in the chamber.
Mr.. Calhoun Chen Vice Presidency was
in the chair, with his large, steady and
vigiiant eyes witnessing the battle OF
his doctrine; he seemed the very spirit
OF embodied interest, not a word, not q
gesture Of Gen. Hayne escaped his lion
look. The Senate was deeply interested
Ms q matter of course. The language
OF Gen. Hayne was rich and vigorous,
and his powerful effect of the impost
law on the south, the description he
gave OF her people, his own bold and
hazardous %elocution and impetuous bear
ing, were evidently making a strong inn
preston on the body. From time to
time attention would be directed from
him to the gentleman who was expected
to answer him, and whom the general
attacked under cover of a terrible and
CALLING fire.
Cold, serene, dark, and melancholy,
that man, thus assaulted, set apart,
black and frowning as n mountain rock.
he evidently felt the gigantic influences
that were at work around him; but hi.
profound mind was strengthening itself
for the contest. And how deeply SOL
m was that hour, that moment; how
grand that scene; and what were the
meditations and spirit-rallying of that
great, dark man? His c%ountenance
was the same during the whole of that
tremendous speech. Assault after as.
sault was made upon him; but yet he
neither turned to the right nor left, but
calmly and gallantly, like the soldier
awaiting the signal, he bided his hour.
The time of retaliation came as swift as
the thoughts Of vengeance to Daniel
Webster. Who will forget the cxordium
of that remarkable effort, the flashing
sarcasm, the whitening tones of thai
voice, and the temper Of his language:
Gen. Hayne changed color and appeared
much Disconnected. But who that heard
him will permit the perorstion to be for.
gotten-those closing passages Of grand.
eur, the majestic a%llusion to the flag OF
his countryP Looking, with his dark
and lustrous eye, through the glass
dome OF the Senate chamber, over
which he could see the banner floating,
he delivered an apostrophe which ha,
never been surpassed, and seldom
equaled. 1t composed a figure of the
most thrilling Interest," burst of sol.
emn and pathetic feeling-and, coming
from such a source Ca man generally
estimated phlegmatic), it was electric.
1t Was like the beam of sunset, or the
CLEAN of summer lightning, rsdiatins
the brow Of cliff and mountain.