The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1889-08-10
Webster and Benton-A Touching
Episode.

A correspondent sends to the Local
Neics of West Chester, Pa, some matter
extracted from Peter Harvey's Reminis-
cences of Daniel Webster, relating the
story of Webster's reconciliation with
Thomas H. Benton, after the estrange-
ments of many years, and of subsequent
event of like character The details were
related to Harvey by Webster himself, and
appear in the volume which the former Is
sued some years ago.
"We had" said Webster, "a great many
political controversies; We were hardly on
bowling terms. For many years we had
been members of the same body and pass
ed in and out at the same door without
even bowling to each other and without the
slightest mutual recognition, and we never
had any intercourse except such rs was
official and where it could not be avoided.
There were no social relations between us.
At the time of the terrible gun explosion
aboard the Princeton during Tylers ad-
ministration T. Ii. Benton and | were on
board and he related to me with tears this
incident He said he was standing near
the gun in the very best position to see the
experiment The deck of the steamer was
crowded and with the scramble for places
to witness the discharge of the gun his
position was, perhaps, the most favorable
on the deck suddenly he felt hand
laid on his shoulder aud turned Some
one wished to speak to him and he was
elbowed out of his place and another per
son took it, very much to his annoyance.
The person who took his place was ex-
Governor Gilmer, of Virginia, then Secre-
tary of the Navy just at that instant
the gun was fred and the explosion took
place Governor Gilmer was killed in-
staRtly. Upshur, then Secretary of State,
who was also killed, as was another man of
considerable prominence. Colonel Benton,
in relating this circumstance said. 1t
seemed to me, Webster, as If that touch
was the hand Of the Almighty stretched
down there drawing me away from what
otherwise would have been instantaneous
death. was nearly Frustrated on the
deck and recovered in short time. That
0ae Circumstance has changed the whole
current Of my thoughts and life ! feel
I that | am a different man and want, in
the first place, TO be at peace with all those
with whom have been 50 sharply at vari-
anee. and so have come to yeu. Let us
bury the hatchet, Webster ? Nothing, |
replied. could be more in accordance with
my own feelings We shook hands and
agreed to let the pas, be past, and from
that time our intercourse was pleasant and
/ cordial After that time there was no
person ia the Senate Of the United States
of whom / would have asked favor, any
reasonable aud proper thing, with more as
surance Of obtaining il than Of I. II. Ben
tou One day as Webster was seated in
( his library be was waited upon By John
Wilson. lawyer of St Louis, between
whom and Benton had long existed an op-
I position so bitter and malignant as to be
matter Of notoriety Often in public de
bates they had abused each other in the
most yirulent terms Wilson was now a
{ broken down man, prematurely old and
wrecked in fortune, and he had de,ermin-
cd TO emigrate to California, then but re-
Gently conquered from Mexico by Fremont,
Benlons son-in-law He had called on
I Webster 20 rcgues, letter Of reeommen-
dation L. some one in California, certifying
that he vas a respectable character and
worthy OF confidence. The kind feelings
Of the statesman we're awakened, and after
thinking over the matter a few minutes be
suggested that letter from Benton To
F Fremont would be of greater service than
T anything he could wriie. What followed
shali b. told in his own words, a related
by his biogrspher
He looked me in the face, half aston
ished aud half inquiringly, as much as 10
say Cau it be possible that you are iguo-
I rant of the relations between Colonel Ben
ton and myself?
Il said i understand what sou mean.
I | am perfectly aware of the past difficulties
I between you and Col Benton aud the bit
ter hOstilititS that have existed. But |
want to say TO you that a great change has
( come over Col Benton since You knew him.
( His feelings aud sentiments are sottened
Z We are al getting older. Our fiery bot
( blood Is getting cooled aud changed. Ii Is
hardly worth while for men when they are
getting mp pretty near tn maximum ot
human life 10 indulge ia these feelings Of
I enemity aud ILL., viii Ii Is a thing We ought
I 20 yet rid Of Col, Benton aud have
7 been engaged in waT Of words as you and
he have, and up Ia tw1 or three years ago
We both went out of the same door Tor
years without ~ much As saying "Good
moruipg" to one another Now | do not
I know a man In the Senate to whom ]
/ would 20 with more certainty of having u
( favor granted than To Col. Benton. He
I feels that age Is coming upon him, aud he
I is reconeiled To many of his most bitter
opponents Is thy servant dog. replied
/ Wilson, that he should do this thing? |
would not have a letter from him. | would
( not speak to him would not be beholden
to him tor a favor-not To save the life OF
every member Of my family No sir !
I The thought of it makes me shudder. |
+ feel indignant at the mention of it. take
I a letter from Benton? I Stop, Stop
said |; that is the old man speaking in you.
I This is not the spirit in which to indulge
I | know how you feel While he was raw
ing, and protesting, and declaring by all
the saints in the calendar his purpose to
accept no favor from Col. Benton, | turned
around to my desk and addressed note to
Benton something like this
oDear Sir am well aware of the dis
putes, personal and political, which have
taken place between yourself and the bearer
of this note, John Wilson; but the old
gentleman is now poor and is going to
/ California and needs letter of recOmmen-
dation know nobody in California to
whom | could address letter that
would be of any service to him. | have
assured John Wilson that it viii give your
self more pleasure to forget what has passed
between yourself aud him, and to give him
a letter that viii do him good, than it will
him to receive it. | am going to persuade
him to carry you this note and know you
will be glad to see him.
''Wison got through protesting and |
read him the note Then said Il want
you to carry it to Benton.
Il won't, he replied.
Il eoaxed and scolded and reasoned and
brought every consideration-death, eter
nifty and everything else-to bear, but it
seemed to be of no use. Said | Wilson,
you will regret it,
'After while he got little softness,
some tears flowed, at last | made him