New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-06-08
GENERAL WEBB's CAREER.


GENERAL WEBB'S CAREER.
General Webb was born atClayerack, n. y. Feb
ruary :. 1902. and was educated at West Point. As
second lieutenant he entered the army IN 1919, De-
came first lieutenant in 1928 an assistant COIL
mssary of subsistence i'll 1924, and an adJutant OF
the Sd Regiment in 1926. He resigned his commls-
sion in 1927 to take charge of The Ner- York Con-
,ier which had recently been started. Two years
after The Enquirer was purchased and the two
newspapers were united under the name of The Nec
Morning Courier and Ne1c- York Enquirer. Mr.. Webb
became the chief editor He said himself long after
ward that from party point of view he did not
possess a solitary qualification for the position In
1881 he was assisted by james Gordon Bennett
Until that year The Courier was Democratic organ
and strong Jackson journal. but then, upon the
United States Bank question 1t went over TO the
Wings While it was still Democratic, The Courier
and Enquirer had suggested the nomination In ls29
of Mr. Van BurenfOr the Presidency to succeed Cen
eral Jackson at the expiration of his first term.
This gave the General great offence, and The Wash
inqtoa Telegrqph then under the management of Dun
Green denounced Webb so vio.entlyAtha the latter
went 10 Washington for the purpose OF lnillcting
personal chastsenent upon Green. The enemies
met but rs Green had pistol and Webb nothing
but a cane only hard words came of the rencontre.
Webb afterwa1d branded Green not only a will
full and malicious slandcrer, but also rs coward.
In 1884. when the Abolition riots occurred in
New-York The Courier vigorously denounced the
Aboitionists 1t was always fierce in the expression
of its opinions. 1t had innumerable quarrels and
notably one with Wood an English vocalist who
was driven by it from the New-York boards In
1885 occurred the traglcai due PGl"een az Nr4'
of Kentucky, and Jonathan Alley, OF Maine, Dgtu
members Of the House OF Representatives. win
this affair the name Of General Webb was intimately
connected Matthew l.. Dana &" The spy III wash
put
Der of Congress. in The Courier, OF when ne was
the regular correspondent. The matter was brought
before the House. Mr.. Wise of Virginia. offered a
resolution that the charge be investigated. During
the debate which followed Alley was among tne
most severe of those VINO censured the press: lie
particularly and personally attacked General W ebD
who sent him challenge through MI Grayes
Alley declined to meet General Webb upon the
ground that he did not choose 70 De Drawn LhtO COIL
troversies with tho editors OF public journals lot
words spoken in debate. Mr.. Graves saw fit TO
regard this refusal receive his friend note as an
imputatiOn upon his own honor as the friend ana
second of one who was Il gentleman. lie wrote 10
Mr.. Alley asking If he declined TO receive the mes
sage on the ground OF personal objection TO General
Webb as a gentleman. Mr.. Alley replied that while
not intending to be drawn into personal contIover-
sizes with General Webb, he neither aihrmed nor
denied ANYTHING in regard to his character. Mr..
Graves considered this as involving INN fully III the
dilemma which he was seeking 10 AVOID ana ne
again wrote to Mr. Alley asking him II he declined
to receive General WebOs communication on the
ground that he not gentleman: ms question
Mr. Alley refused to answer, ana Mt GrayeS theh
ch1IIe Ged him They met and Mr. Alley fell at the
fourth lire. General Webb did everything in his
power to prevent the duel his purpose being TO meet
MIR Alley and to force him into fight. lie also ell
deaVOTed to find the after they went out, IN or
der 20 stop the duel or take Mr. Graves place but
he was thwarted III this by change IN the place OF
meeting He bore, no doubt unJustIy, a great zeal
of the Odium of the TRANSACTION.
In June, Is12, General Webb became involved in
a controversy with Thomas /. Marshall, the eccen-
trio member of Congress Tor Kentucky. ne ground
of the quarrel has become obscure but Marshall III
speech made in court OF law III tHlS clty uttered
/. ]. laI m
voked an article which led TO a challenge. The
men met in Delaware and General w bb was shot
in the leg When he came back to New YORK, the
Grand Jury indicted bila FOL leaving the state TO
fight a duel he pleaded guilty and was sentenced
to two years imprisonment IN Slng sing nc was a'
once pardoued by Governor Seward.
A history of General Webb's misunderstanding
and quarrels would ill several columns 1t Is hardly
necessary at this time 10 revive their memory IN
1913 he was made engineer in chief OF the state OF
New-York with the rank OF MaJor-1enerai; In I94V
he was appointed hy President Tyler Minister TO
Austria and proceeded to Vienna leaving his news
paper in charge of Mr. Raymond. The nonin alton
was rejected by the Senate. not from hostility 70
General Webb. but because it was then thought de-
sIrable by many senators 10 suspend tIPtoin@3IIC
intercourse with Austria altogether Ia Sol, after
refusing the mission 10 COnstantinCple' ne was APP
pointed by President Lincoln Minister 10 brazil,
where he negotiated the adjustment OF certain long
standing claims against that Goyernment lie re
signed his Office. returning TO New-lOrk IN 1870.
His homo thereafter was at No. IL west Ihlrty-
GENERAL Webb employed the leisure hours of his
.
LEGATION on the questions of the day, especially adj
yOcatiny the protection Of home industry. His COM
nunicatlons IN THE TRIBUNE from time to time
have been read with interest. lie was thrice mar
ricd and was the father Of thirteen children, Of
whom three died in childhood and one, James W at
son after he had grown 10 manhood. Nine children
survive him. four by his first wife and i've by tho
second OF the former one IS the widow OF colonel
James G.. Benton, l.. :. Ordnance Department. an
other the wife of Dennlson Morgan and the others
are General Alexander 5 Webb president OF the
College OF the City Of New-York and Colonel Rob
ert ;. Webb All the children by the second mar
riage are living. They are DR.. William Seward
Webb who married the daughter OF William II.
Vanderbilt and four bachelOrs-H. Walter Webb,
G. Creighton Webb J. LOUIS Webb and f. Egerton
Webb General Webb's habits were abstemious and
to this his long life is attributed He was for many
wears in the habit of eating but two meals day and
meat only once day. Until he became advanced
IN wears he took no wine or spirits.
General Webb published in 1866 AltOwan or
Incidents of Life and Adventure in the Rocky
Mountains" y: III 1896, slavery and its lenden-
cies -; and a pamphlet in 1875 on " A National
Currency" The Courier and Enquirer was united
with The WOrid in lsGl.