The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1883-07-11
SOME FAMOUS AMERICANS.


lections Of famous men, and though
his views are somewhat tainted, they
are readable and given for what they
are worth. Calhoun, he said, always
dressed neatly, neither too much TT
too little. Webster wore a great
coat with long tails and invariably
decorated with large metal buttons.
Clay generally appeared little
neglige, his cravat tied loosely and
flowing. "Clay | ALWAYS considered
an over-rated man. He was hail
fellow-well-met, full of magnetism
splendid speaker for the masses, but
arfrom the philosopher and profound
statesman that Calhoun was. AS an
cru or he excelled all his opponents.
Silas Wright of New York was also
a great speaker. He always took a
dsep drink just before beginning a
speech, after which he would start
off With stream of cold, polished elo-
quence The fiery orators we're all
from the South, Foote of Mississippi
was a regular skirmisher, and made
a great deal cf fuss in the senate.
He took all sides ofall questions, and
never really had much weight. His
learning however, was wonder full,
and no man of that day was more apt
or accurate in Il classical quotation.
| remember his celebrated debate
with Benton, in which the latter was
completely scathed. The current
number of the Century Magazine, by
the way has very incorrect report of
that scene. Foote was pouring forth
torrent of biting invective, SO scath-
ing that Benton fairly writhed. AT
last he sprang up and advanced as if
to attack Foote. Foote, small, slim,
and why, was not so large as Benton
but stood his ground, whereupon
Benton turned and left the senate.
1t was at that moment Foote, point
ing his long finger at the retreating
figure of the senator, repeated that
famous line from Cicero against Gaia
line which translated means:
"He turns, he turns he flies"
Benton was very conceited man.
He possessed considerable learning
and talent for what might be called
compilations 1t is rather difficult
to properly estimate his standing
He had bulldog pertinacity, which
always goes a long ways. Benton
was large man, something like Stan.
ton. Stanton, Lincoln's secretary of
war, was burly, fat and thick-set.
He was a good lawyer, but not to be
with any other of the giants
who preceded him. The last thing
Stanton said to me after the secession
Of South Carolina was Thompson,
you are going away; neither of us
know when this thing is going to end,
out want you to promise me one I
hing" Is
"What is it? | asked.
"If you are ever in a position where
can help you, want you to call on
ne"
~ promised, and we separated.
Notwithstanding this voluntary as
urance of good will, there was no
nan in the North more vindictive
Igainst me than that very Stanton.
lie had every reason to be friendly
oward me. We had served together
n the cabinet, and it was | who had
irst helped him up. When secretary
# the interior under Buchanan |
the judicial fund, and y
ppointed Stanton to defend the in a
erests of the United States in the al
Almaden quicksilver mines case in
california. The fee Stanton got was
25, 900, and lifted him from absolute
overty to position and final wealth. :
lie forgot all that, though, and was A
opposed to me all through
he war. Seward was a gentleman \
4 bearing, very dignified, and in con-
ersation Notwithstanding of
he professors face. tall, lean man, r
Irge features, heavy eyebrows. ! 4
ever met Lincoln after 81, but /
new him well before that date. He
nd l served in the same congress.
lincoln was always a great buffoon. {
Ie made congress laugh and that was -.
1 If anybody had pointed him out, ~ ~
hen he was a member of the house 81
1916, as a future president, the HI
Ike would have been considered Ga
orse than an April fool affair. One 70
the speeches that Lincoln made
lring the Mexican war was .humor-
is. BE wasoPPosed to the war and
mt into curious speculations as 20
e length of the line of wagons that
,uld be required to hold the money g
ent on the war. He estimated /.
at so many dollars could be gotten =
to a wagon, that it would require
much to carry on the war, and
ally, l believe, calculated that the
e of wagons would be three miles
~, -
Now you may raise the money to Il
.ry on the war, he said, but, gem
men, where can we raise the money