The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1885-10-21
CLAY AND WEBSTER.
An Estimate Of the Two Statesmen and Some
"reminiscences Relating 70 Them.
CIay's Duel With Randolph and Old Bull
lions Interference Therein.
IPhiladelph!a Times.


Dominion in the Senate. and the National
Intelligencer was at the zenith OF its infiu-
ence and prosperity-the age OF Jackson and
Van Buren,, and of Clay and Webster.
met such a man this morning at neat little
parlor on Pennsylvania avenue, where l had
gone TO enjoy a cup of French coffee and a
roll with butter.
DR.. Marstella is a gentleman of the old
school. who first saw the light in Virginia
when Madison was President and the British
were laundering at Fort McHenry. His
family is of good old cavalier stock, who
left England after RUperts defeat at MarStOn
Moor and sought home in the then infant
colony of Virginia. The Doctor is an +. +
V, born on the eastern shore to a large pat
rimOny. He is as proud OF the blood in his
veins as the haughtiest Plantagenet or the
nOblest Howard whose crest is emblazOned
in heraldry. He is just such man as Wal
ter Scott pictures Colonel Lee to be in
''WOOdstock"-a cavalier of the cavaliers, a
provincial of the provincialS, who had rather
suffer thousand deaths than permit stain
upon his honor.
The Doctor was originally Wing. but
Joined the Democratic party before the war
and gave his whole soul to the Southern
cause. All his sons were with Lee in 1861
g and proved themselves worthy their par
entage. DR.. Narstella was a constant visitor
here in isyOuth, and in 1916 became res
ident of Washington. He is full of remin-
iscence and anecdOte of the statesmen of
quarter of a century ago and loves to talk of
them. To my question. "Who was the great
est man he ever knew he replied;
WEBSTER MD CALHOUN
were the most intellectual men have ever
seen, but Clay was the greatest man." Con-
tinuing. he said:
Webster was lawyer, greater than any
other who ever practiced at the bar of the
Supreme Court. He was an expOunder. 1t
was unfortunate for his fame that he did not
go on the bench in his youth. He would
have been a greater Judge than Mathew
Hale or Lord Mansfield greater than Mar
shall or Story. He had the greatest grasp of
a subject of any man of his day, and his
style of expression was the most powerful.
His Anglo-Saxon was simple and its charac-
teristic was strength
He was a large, pOwerfully-built man,
with immense head, broad shoulders, dark
skin. black eyes and great. bushy eyebrows
He was called the ''God-like," and he de
served the pSsudOnym. He dressed magnif-
Gently, and was most distinguished-looking
man. He had grand voice deep and resO-
nant. The strength of his OratOry was in
the simplicity and dignity OF his sentences,
the majesty of his presence and the charm
OF his voice. He was a powerful lOgician,
and in his reasoning approached nearer
Bacon than any other American. His
sentiment which continued TO grow until
the people of the dominant section thought
the name American prOuder title than all
Others. So far as concerns the graces OF ora
tory, the South Carolinian had the advan-
tage, but the grandeur, the living patriotism,
the broad, expansive nationality OF Web
Ster's speech swept all before it. and made
the American Union a nation among the
people of the earth. Although but a youth,
was much interested in the debate. l was
wrapt auditor of both; my feelings and
sentiments were in sympathy with Hayne,
but my heart sank within me before Web
ster had been speaking quarter of an hour.
de appeared like deml-g0d
''Hc is up
There like Roman statue. He VIII stand
Till Death hath made him marble.
Zone year afterward he was engaged in the
great debate with Calhoun, who wrote his
resignation OF the Vice Presidency while
Webster was replying to Hayne. In the de-
bate with Calhoun Webster opposed ora
tory to keen logic. Webster's speech was
the plea of a lawyer; CalhOuns the warning
OF a Statesman. Ii is now admitted that
Websters was the better course, but Cal
hOun's the better argument. During the
progress of the debate, while Calhoun was
making his last speech. John Randolph of
Roanoke was brought into the chamber. He
was bitterly opposed to Webster. He had in
his youth cOmbated the mild form of ma
v
cOmbated IL successfully He hated Clay'S
GniOnism more than he hated Clay's person
atty, and he hated both with cordial ha-
tired. When brought into the chamber to
hear Calhoun he took seat near Thomas
II. Benton. Webster was in his seat, his
dark face covered with a scowl, and his
broad brow furrowed with deep meditation.
A hat hung between Randolph and Webster.
That eccentric Nirginian put his hand on
Benton and said Benton, remove that hat.
want to see the face of Webster, and see
him die inch by inch. When Calhoun sat
down all eyes were turned toward Webster
bat he did not move. 1t was expected and
hoped by his partisans that he would re-
ply. When requested 10 do so he refused.
and simply said: That speech is unanswer-
able.
TWO ANECDOTES OF WEBSTER.
The Doctor gave me two anecdotes of
Webster which are not new. bur they will
bear repeating. Said he:
webster was a very cOnYivial man. fond
OF pleasure and social amenities. On one
occasion he was at supper at Browns Ho-
tel, and. the wine being good, he imbibed
great deal of il. Jenny Lind was singing at
the Canterbury Theater and at a late hour
Webster and his party OF friends adjourned
from the hotel TO the theater. When they
arrived the curtain had just gone up for the
last act, AID the cantatrice appeared on the
stage TO sing Hail Columbia Webster
lOineu III With MS magnificent DtsS ana &C
ccmpanied her through the song The
audience yelled, stamped and shouted.
They began again, and again sang it through
with the same enthusiasm peryading the
audience. The procedure was repeated a
third, fourth, a fifth and a sixth time be-
fore they were permitted to retire. At the
close Webster made a magnificent bow to
the diva, such as would have made him
Prince had he made il at a drawing-roOm of
Louis lie Grand the singer returned it, and
Webster repeated it, and these courtesies
continued until both had bowed in the most
elaborate manner seven times. During the
whole performance Webster held his fine
silk hat in his hand and Mrs. Webster was
fuggiDg at his coat, signaling him to desist.
son another occasion Webster went to
New York TO sound the keynote OF the ma
tiOnal campaign for the Wings. A dinner
was given at the Aston House, and the in
fention was that he should deliver his
speech in response 10 a toast. The party sat
late at the board and the orator was very
full. When he rose to make his speech il
became necessary TO prompt him by men
1lOning a subject. After the exOrdium the