The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-03-09
THE CAPITALS OLD DAYS.
CHARMING "REMINISCENCES OF a
PAST POLITICAL EPOCH.

berlin's EoteI-A Famous old Law
yer Detailing Memories Of Clay, Cal
houn, Benton, Polk, Westcott, and
Other Eminent Ststesmen-1h First
Meeting Eetween Forrest and Kean.
At the Dinner Table.
From the Nec York Sun.
WASHINGTON. March 2.-There are still a
few venerable citizens living in Washing
ton y ho retail charming "reminiscences OF
former political epochs. Among them are
George Bancroft, Hugh McCulloch, Albert
Pike, and Capt. Isaac Bassett These, how
ever, are by no means the most reminiscent.
Occasionally an old lawyer or a statesman
of long ago is seen wandering in the cor
ridors of the capitol or poring over some
rare books in the congressional library.
Once break through his shell, and the en-
tertainment is delightful. His mind sweeps
back from half to nearly three quarters of
a century. The glow of the old days comes
into his eyes as he opens the storehouse Of
his memory.
The other night famous old lawyer sat
slipping his toddy in John Chamberlin's
caravansary. His head was whlteued BIZ
IS Writers. He was a man Of massive
frame, over six feet tall. his intellect shoue
like an electric light, and his memory of
the old times was as vivid as one or Mes
sonier's pain tings. He had known person
ally Clay, Webster, alhoun, Benton. Cass,
Clayton, many o-her statesman whose
names are emblazoled upoI the scroll Of
fame. H ur after hour did he char his
listeners with Interesting stories OF these
great men. There we're enough OF them to
fill a volume, and all were well worth re-
failing.
In the conversation some one casually
mentioned the name of William L. Seaton
of Gales & SeatoD, the old-time publishers
of the Congressional Globe. Tue name
awakened anew the Old lawyers memory.
He said that he frequently called upon
Seaton at his hou,e in the old times.
Seaton lived on F street, opposite the post
office, where there Is now little beer ger
den. Il have never dared to visit the beer
garden" the old man observed, "for fear
that Seaton's shade would confront and
reprosch me. Many time did dine with
him on that spot long ago befo there was
a lager beer saloon in America"
He described Seaton as tall, big boned,
and fine looking. Indeed, he was a mag
nificent specimen of manhood. He kept
dogs, loved sport, and u sed to go hunting
regularly. 'He was of Scotch descent, II
not s, otchman by birth" the old lawyer
said, Il think he was the latter At y
footstool."
N rs. Seaton was typo and an honorary
member of the Typographical Al union. She
and her husband were the first to report
the proceedings of Congress. 1t Is
well known that to them world owes
the preservation of Wetster's immortal
reply to Hayne. The old lawyer often met
Benton at her house. She once told
him a story about old Tfppecanoe. When
Gsn. Harrison came down here TO be inau-
gIuated be stopped at her house. On March
4 lie lost MS inaugural address. He came
back to Seatoa's 10 see if he mad left il there.
Mrs, Seaton said that he came in with tears
in his eyes They hunted for it high and
low, but could not find it. He found 1t later
while on his way to the capitol. Mrs Seaton
said that from shaki G hands with his ad-
mirers lump as large as a hens egg had
formed under Gen. Harrison's arm. She
told him he ought to stop shaking ha dis
with everybody, but the old warrior kept
on shaking every hand proffered until the
day of his death.
CLAY AND CALHOUN IN CONFLICT.
TIE old lawyer said that he should never
forge one evening spsnt with Mr.. Seaton.
Upon entering the house the host led the
way into the back parlor The visitor told
him that he felt rather blue, and Mr..
Seaton proffesed some whisky. 1t was ac-
copied. The glasses were filled and
emptied I he visitor smacked his lips and
casually remarked that it was magnificent
liquor.
''You are right" Mr. Seaton replied, 81
have had it for a long time. never shall
forget the night that Henry Clay first
tasted of it. IL was in the winter of '37 and
'3S. There had been a fierce and bitter
debate in the Senate. Angry words had
passed between Clay and Calhoun. 1t was
in a debase over the compromise measures
that made an end of qualification. Clay
had asserted that the measures were his.
and that by them he had saved the neck of
the gentleman from South Carolina Cal
houn replied hat in these mat ers he was
the master of the gentleman from Ken
lucky. Whereupon Clay angrily retorted:
THE gentleman from South Carolina nv
MASTER l would not own him for my
slavep
81 was sitting right here one evening"
continued Mr.. Seaton, "when the excite
ment caused by this debate was at its height.
] heard the d0orknocker work. serva t
came in and SAID that Mr.. Clay would like
TO see me. Clay entered. l took him into
this room and gave him glass of this same
whisky. He drank it, hacked his lips and
frowned. He was unusually grave.
"'Mr. Seaton,' said he, L came down to
see you about an affair that troubles me
very much. | never liked dues. I've been
in several and thought I'd had enough Of
them, and was done with them forever
But Mr. Calhoun's conduct lately has been
SO GU trageous, SO uncomfortable, that must
challenge him. We must meet face to face.
My determination is taken, and nothing eau
shake it. l will fight him. and came here
to see you about it"
Mr.. Seaton said that he had hardly re-
covered from the shock that Claws words
gave him when he heard the knocker again.
Clay turned out another glass of whisky.
and looked at the bead upon the mellow
liquor. The servant announced that ga
gentleman would like to see Mr.. Seaton.n
II went out" Mr.. Seaton said. Judge
of my surprise-there was Calhoun. l
didn'G know what to do. but l had to do
something. Clay was in this back parlor,
so 1 took Calhoun into the front parlor |
didn't offer him any whisky, for / knew
that he never drank any, and, moreover,
the decanter was in the back parlor. Cal
houn opened at once, saying, 'lMr Seaton,
I've come to see you as a frie d about a
matter that concerns me very much. You
know l am opposed to dueling, and have
never bee engaged ir, but Mr. Clay's co l.
duct has become 50 unbearabe and so infa-
nous that must bring him to account l
shall compel him to face me- !"
Mr.. Seaton saw that they were both
bent on blood. He knew tie violence of
hot -. ! "a