The sun., 1889-11-10


This. the author thinks may be accepted as
an historical fact. S1 NJ. W. II.
Tho Senate Forty Years Ago.
Among the recent contributions to Amer
lean history none is worthy OF more serious
attention 4 than R volume ISatttled Gfsat
Senator's. by OLIVER DYER. In its three hun
dred pages are comprised the authors per-
sonal recollections Of Calhoun, Clay. Webster,
Benton. Houston. Jefferson Davis, and other
men who played conspicuous parts in
American politics during the evontfui years
Of 1S4S-49. What renders especially note
worthy the appreciative and even euogis-
tic estimates of the great nulliler and
Of the ex-President Of the Southern Confed-
eracy Is the fact that they record the impress
sions OF one who. mt the time when he was
brought in contact with those statesmen. was
himself an ardent aboitionist. His testimony.
therefore. to their admirable qualities of intel
lect and character will be accepted as of
the most conclusive kind. His analysis.
Also Of Webster's individuality is the
most searching that we have seen-in-
deed 1t Is the only one which accounts at
once for the trtumphs and the shortcomings OF
the great parliamentary champion Of the
Union. We should not omit to mention that in
addition to portraits OF the distinguished men
enumerated the book contains the first aut hem
tic and exhaustive disclosure OF the political
intrigue which brought about the nomination
of Gen. Taylor for the Presidency. and the
Barnburner revolt under Van Buren, against
Cass, which made Taylor's election possible.
1t would be easy to fill columns with effective
extracts from this volume, but we must confine
ourselves to two or three examples Of incisive
and impartial delineation. We naturally select
fnr 10 ri nf mt ha fhnr hna
say about Calhoun and Jefferson Davis. We
read, for instance. on page 148, that when the
author went to Washington in December.
1848, full to the brim of abolition bigotry
and prejudice. was eager to get a sight
OF the great South Carolina nuiliGer and
disunionist, and when he was pointed
out to me In the Senate Chamber gave him a
searching scrutiny. His appearance satisfied
me completely. He seemed to be perfect
image and embodiment OF the devil" Present.
ly. however. Calhoun arose TO speak. and be-
fore he had ended. his physiognomy seemed to
the onlooker to have undergone change. In
stead Of looking like devil. he impressed me
as high-toned gentleman. with brilliant IN
tellect. a sweet dsposition.a sound heart. and
a conscientious devotion TO what no believed to-
be right Twas vexed and astoniehed that such
a change should have occurred In, my feeling
toward the Great Nullifer. u seemed to me
that was becoming Q traitor to my status as
an Rbolitionist, but as time went on, the
change also went on In spite of all that
could do" Subsequently the author saw
a good deal of Calhoun at the latter's house.
and found him Unexpectedly urbane. refined,
gentle. winning: and yet he was strong and
thoroughly manly. with an engaging invinci-
benesS pervadinR his softness and gentleness.
/ admired Benton; I admired Clay still more; ]
] admired Webster. on the intellectual side.
most OF all but loved Calhoun, and as came
to know him we'll, and saw his exquisitely
beautiful nature mirrored In his face. his
no longer seemed Satanic. but
angelic. and his benignRnt greeting in the
morning was like benediction that lasted the
whole day." '.' a..5" .-.a-
In one OF his interviews with Calhoun the
author. forgetting that Jackson's enmity had
ruined Calhouns political career. asked the !
South Carolina statesman what kind Of man
Jackson was. AS soon as the question was |
put, Calhoun sank Into profound quiescencc.
seemed to be unconscious OF my presence, and |
was apparently absorbed In retrospection. |
Then his relations TO Jackson flashed vividly |
INTO my mind; was appalled, at my blunder
and awaited the result with trepidation. Cal.
houn's reverle continued but a short time. |
soon he looked at me benignantly and said:
'assingly beautiful expression Of Calhoun's |
ieep eyes. and the sweet. gentle tone of
his voice. as he thus answered my question
ire now present with me as l write. although
hat answer was given more than forty years
Igo Tho General was In his grave. and he
vas himself beginning to be enveloped with the
hadow Of death. Why should he. a dying man. |
ontinue to hate him. who was already dead2
fe would not continue to hate him. It seemed
8 though this, or something equivalent to 1t.
assed through Calhoun's mind and touched
be inmost nobility OF his nature. and caused
i'm to give the answer which came from him
Ike a renunciation Of all his animosity and an
ssertion OF spiritual reconciliation with his
cad foe."
1t was in December. 1s4S, that the author
aw something of the man destined to be the
resident OF the Confederate States Davis
Ias then Senator. and the impression which
o made on tho mind OF the young abolitionist
'as. In spite OF preconceived prejudlces most
lyorable. We are told that "I-tben a young
ian OF "A. and only Just out OF the woods OF
taRara county-became attached TO Jefferson
avis on account OF his genial personal kind
ess. Sometimes there were bills before the
enate full OF Indian names. or Aztec Names
r Spanish names that the Senators could not
correctly. and which we re-
orters could not catch; hence. 1t was
ecessary for us to got sight OF the names
print In order to write them out cor
'ctly in our reportS Whenever a dis
lssion on such = bill took place. used to
oply 10 Mr.. Davis for copy OF tho document,
ld he would always got me one. no matter
ow much trouble 1t gave him to do 80. And
} did 1t with such genial courtesy and kind
'ss that his manner went straight to the heart
i'd stayed there, In fact used 70 notiee thar
seemed TO give Jefferson Davis plSAsurs 10 !