The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1883-06-28
Antlerapu gnte1)igeneey.
ANECDOTES OFTHE GREAT DEBA-
TORS.


When it was known that Daniel
Webster was TO have the floor in the
Senate chamber, it would be crowded
by people who often cared but little for
tile subject under discussion, but wanted
to see and TO hear Webster. Nor were
they ever disappointed, either in the
personal appearance OF the orator or the
intellectual banquet which lie provided.
His stalwart figure was always arraycd in
the old Wing colors of "bluc and buff; !"
his massive head was firmly set OIL his
square shoulders his swarlhy complex
ion was at times radiant with smiles,
displaying his excellent teeth his black,
willy eyes cleaned III carcrnous reccsses
beneath shaggy eyebrows, and his firm
jaws showed his mastin.like grip on what
ever question he took hold of. lcrarcly
spoke in the Senate without preparation,
and he would never permit the pu3!ca-
ton Of the reports made OF his remarks
by the slenographers until he bad care
fully revised them, often rejecting pages
and substituting new sentences. Ills
genial and liberal nature made him n
great fayovit among the senators, who
were always ready 70 enjoy his hospitn!i-
ty, either at Washington or ut Marsh
field.
Henry Clay, who left a scat in TIC
Senate for one in the House, but after
MANY years service at the other end Of
the Capitol returned to the Senate cham
Der, exercised powerful control over the
politics of the republic. ldOlized by the
Whig party, his wonderful powers 0ipcr
sonal magnetism, and his rich, manly
voice would enable him 10 hold an
audience for hours lie made but little
preparation, and used but few notes in
speaking; but when he wrote out his
remarks for the press, .is manuscript
was remarkably neat, without intcrIinc;:-
tons, or blots. lie seldom INDUCED in
classical illusions, and his occasional
attempts to make quotations Of English
poetry were generally failures. On one
from Hamlet, "Lct the CALLED jade vince,
our withcrs are unwrung," but misquoled
the last syllable, calling it ''un.sirung."
The gentlemen who sat on either side OF
him noticed the error, and simultaneous
ly whispered "unwrung." This double
prompting confused "Young Harry of
the West," who Strengthened himself,
and with stronger emphasis repeated
"unhung." This raised general laugh
at tLe close of which Clay, who had
mean while asccrtancd bis mistake shook
his head, and said with one of his mimi
table smiles "Ah murder will out !!
Un-wrung's the word" The fascination
which he exercised over all with whom
be had personal intercourse,-c his
political adversaries,-wasr remarkable
but he was imperious and domiueering,
exacting unconditional and unqualified
support was the price of his friendship.
John &. Calhoun was among the purest
A -tr
enemies could find no opprobrious cpl
thet for him but "Cataline," and could
accuse him of no crime but m inordinate
political ambition. AS Webster said,
when pronouncing his eulcgy ole
had no recrecations, and he never seemed
to feel the necessity for amusements."
He never was subjected to that ordeal OF
newspaper slander through which nearly
all of our public men have had to pass
and his only fault was thirst for poIiti.
cnl power, to crafty which he would
rather "reign in hell than serve in heav.
en-" When he last entered the Senate
chamber, during the discussion of the
compromise measures of 1850, ho looked
like skeleton summoned from the tomt
and inspired by indomitable zeal. Una
bic to speak audibly, ho gave tho argu.
ment which he had prepared to Senator
Mason to read, but his eagle eyes follow
ed the utterancc Of every word, occasion
ally gianoing at Clay and Webster ms i
to note the effect produced on them
were called upon to eulogize him in the
Capitol.
Inferior in intellectual ability to Web
ster, Clay or Calhoun, Thomas Har
Benton had no superior az q man Of iron
will and naughty disposition, during the
twenty.nine years and seven months that
he served continuously in the United
States Senate. Aggressive, bold, and
defiant, he would occasionally strike out
recklessly al everything and everybody
about linn, like the huge wild buifaloes
OF the Missouri prairies, treading his op.
ponents beneath his feet in his angry rush
His greatest display of ungovernabe
rage in the Senate chamber was when, in
angry debate, he advanced with threat
ening gestures toward Senator Foote, Of
Mississippi, who, fearing that he was to
be attacked, drew small pocket pistol
The eight CT this TeapeTi made benton
uncomfortable, and endeavoring to shake
off the grasp of friends who seized him,
he shouted: "The cowardly assassin, let
him shoot me if he dares. I never carry
arms, and he knows it. Let the assassin
hre" After quiet was somewhat restored,
Clay suggested that both senators should
enter into bonds to keep the peace, upon
which Benton rose and exclaimed: II
will rot In jail, sir, before will do it !!
No, air will rot in Jail first and ne
proceeded to pour forth torrent of
bitter in7ectives on Foote before he could
be quieted. Even when he was defeated
in seeking reelection for the sixth time
to the Senate, and was forced to accept n
seat in the House of Representatives,
Benton failed to display chastenea am
bition or sotlened heart
There were other senators who we're
dwarfed by the great regulations of the
four great leaders, but who were far
above tho. average senator of to day rs
orators and useful legislators. Preston
of South Carolina, and Pinckney of
Maryland, silver.tongued speakers, would
hurl their weli.rounded sentences upon
their audiences, like the discharge of
shot from Gatling gun. Silas Wright,
making no pretentions to oratory, dealt
with facts as he found them, and made
speeches that the farmers and mechanics
of tho cnupfrv rdod N, ;,,d;r:.l J..