The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1883-06-15
THE GREAT TRTUMvIRATE.'
Some RecoIlections of Clay, Webster and
Calhoun.

Told Fogy, In the Courier ournal.I
John g. Calhoun, Henry Clay and
Daniel Webster entered Congress al
most simultaneously. They were re-
garded as the three greatest statesmen
of the country in their day. They
were all men of very great ability, of
very different character OF mind as we'll
as style of oratory. They also differed
widely on many questions of public
policy.
On the 4th day of March, 1850, Mr..
Calhoun entered the Senate Chamber,
supp rted on the one side by his col
league, Judge Butler, and on the other
by Senator Mason, of Virginia, who
escorted him to his seat. He was so
pale and emaciated that he looked al
most literally a corpse. His health had
been failing him for year, and during
that time he appeared only occasionally
in the Senate. After resting short
time, 10y the aid of another, he rose and
said, in feeble tones, that he had pre-
pared and had printed the remarks he
intended TO offer, but, as he felt too
feeble to perform the task of delivering
them, he must ask the favor of Senators
TO allow his friend, Senator Mason, to
read them. The request was of course
granted. That speech was but little
more than recapitulation of the senti-
ments he had often expressed on the
slavery question.
An intelligent writer thus describes
the scene:
"The reading of this speech by Mr.
Mason-the Senate Chamber and gal
leries filled to overfowing-the appear
ance of Mr. Calhoun, standing, as all
knew he did, upon the brink of the
grave, wrapped in a cloak, his long,
bushy hair hanging wildly down the
side of his pale, emaciated face; his
cOuntenance lighting up and his eye
flashing out of its deep socket as he cast
1t around on Senators when.certain pas
sages We're read, as if to arrest their
attention and enforce his words with its
wonted fire, was a most unique, i'm
pressive and dramatic scene. He was,
by the voice of friend, uttering his
last and most emphatic words in that
illustliOus body, of which he had long
been one of the most distinguished
members. 1t was his last appearance
in the Senate: of this he and all others
were conscious. As he left his seat
supported by his venerable colleague,
Judge Butler, and by Mr.. Mason, the
Senators gathered around him to express
their sympathies and bid him an affec-
tionate and eternal adieu. Supported
by his two friends he then passed slow
ly out. Impressive as were his last
words, his own appearance was mcom-
paratively more so.
Twenty-seven DAYS thereafter, March
81, 1850, he died. aged IS years and l3
days. His death was announced in the
Senate the next day by his late coll
league, Judge Butler, on which occa-
sion Mr.. Clay and Mr.. Webster deiv-
cred some touching and eloquent re-
marks. They. too, were to follow their
early companion in "A little over two
years.
Mr.. Clay's extraordinary labors in
originating and etlecting the adoption
of the compromise measures in the
Congress of 1880 greatly impaired his
health. After the close of that Con-
gress, March 1, 1851, he went to New
York and took passage from there TO
Havana, hoping to derive benefit from
milder climate. He remained in
Havana but a short time, as his health
did not seem to improve, and then pro-
ceeded home by way of New Orleans
and Mississippi. Though afflicted with
distressing cough. he came to Wash
ington at the commencement of the
Thirty-second Congress, but the fatigue
of the journey SO weakened him, and
his cough so increased, that he was not
able to take his seat; nor was he able
TO leave his room. Ills son Thomas
came on and remained with him to the
end. He died ON the 18th of June.
1852, aged 70 years, , months and
II days. His death was an
nOunced the next lay in both houses OF
Congress, and eloquent eulOgies were
pronounced upon him. The funeral
solemnities took place the second day
after his death. The remains were
placed in the rotunda of the Capitol
for some hours, and were viewed by
thousands. They were then sent to
Ashland. his own beloved home, where
they now repose.
Thus another of the great triumvate
had passed away. The third still re-
NAMED, but soon to follow his great
compeers.
Daniel Webster died at his favorite
home, Marshfeld, Mass, surrounded
by his family and few devoted friends,
on the oath of October, 1852, aged 20
years, months and 6 days. He was
then Secretary of State under Presi-
dent Fillmore.