The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1890-06-27

run counter To the opinion which mas
always prevailed, that Webster's greatest
Grafton. that one which he delivered ia
reply to Hayne, was practically an
impromptu speech, as but a single night
interviewed between Haynes fiery oratory
and Webster's great reply. In answer to
this. Col. Ingersoll said that the popular
impression in regard to that address was
wrong. He said:
why, the speech which We read now is
not in form, though it is in spirit. the ad-
dress which Webster really delivered. He
spent many days in carefully revising and
writing out the speech, and the published
speech is Webster's revision aud not the
actual speech heard in the senate chamber.
Furthermore, ii is well known by those
who have made some study of Wehxkr's
life and career that lie had been ferxmany
years preparing this speech; he had be-
slowed upon it precisely that labor which
| have described as essential to the concep-
ton and composition of a great oratorical
work. He had turned these constitutional
truths over in his mind, thought deeply
upon them, elaborated his conception, for
titled his opinion by reference and study,
and was really composing this great con-
stitutional exposition during the space of
many years. He knew well enough that
the time would come when he would de-
liver it, n when the time did come,
IN hat u ar af q or,A1an Cr tu ,raarraponl
impulse, Mr.. Webster was perfecrtly ready
to deliver the speech. Therefore, | declare
that Webster's reply to Hayne was not
an e%xtempore speech. That he may have
been called upon of a sudden to deliver it
does not impair the force of what | say.
He was all ready to deliver ii, and for a
long time had been all ready. It was easy
enough for him to reply to the temporary
Interruptions Of Mr.. Hayne and others;
anybody could do that. The reply might
be interjected into the speech, but it formed
no part of it."
l reminded Col. IngersolI of the current
aneedote about his hasty preparation of
the famous address at Cincinnati in 1876.
which has gone into history under the name
of tho 'Plumed Knight" speech. | told
him that it seemed to be pretty well au-
thenticated that he had neglected to write
the speech, although bescught by his
brother to do SO, until the night before the
nomination OF Blaine was to be attempted
and that then, after he had gone to bed, he
did get up in response TO his brothers
request, and taking a lew sheets of paper,
dashed off the speech in a few minutes and
then returned to bed. There was a sus-
picion of a smile about the Colonel's lips,
and it seemed to me as though this anec-
dote had brought humorous reeollections
to mind of that midnight scene in the hotel
when, rather petuiantly. he yielded to his
brothers request. But he said, speaking
10 seriousness:
Yes; it is true, SO fan as the writing is
conc erned, | did sit dow n and put what
had 10 say upon paper-all but the first
paragraph. The first paragraph was sug-
gested by something which had heard
upon the floor of the convention. 4 speech
had been made nominating another candi-
date than tie one whom | was to put in
nomination, and SOME reference had been
made TO Massachusetts. That gave me an
opportunity of say ing in a single sentence
something eontempoIaneousa and suggested
npon the moment, but after | had spoken
that one sentence ! delivered the speech as
| lad written it out, but the writing out
of the speech was a mere mechanical OPP
Grafton. 1t was no pant OF its composition;
the ideas which | had and which ! uttered
were those which had been III my mind
had been turned over in my miEd, and had
been composed long before
| asked him If the same operation char
aeteIized the composition of the Indian
apolis Decoration Day address, which was
delivered in the same manner that the
'Piumed knight" speech was. Col. In
gersoll did not seem To remember whether
he had written out that address beforehand
or not, but he asserted that its composition
had been going on in his mind for years.
The speech formulated and expressed the
solemn and sublime emotions caused by
an experience upon the battlefields and by
familiarity with the awful tragedies of
war. IL represented thoughts which lad
filled his mind since '6l.-PdtIada. Press.