Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-09-24


Mr.. Webster was all himself He had all the
soldier seeks IN opportunity. His spirits rose
with the occasion. Confident in his resources, +"
says chronicle, ''springing from no vain esti-
mate OF his powers. but the legitimate off,
spring of previous severe mental discipline sus-
tanned and excited him. lie had gagged bis
opponent. his subject and himself" When he
rose he was the embodiment Of confidence, his
superior strength. He showed it in his bearing,
countenance and every motion. He was even
defiant. His exordium is familiar to the
great body of intelligent persons Of the
past generation. To the present generation 1t
probably is less known. He began by saying,
hen the mariner has been tossed for many
DAYS in thick weai her, and on an unknown sea,
he naturally avaiis himself of the first pause
in the storm, the earliest gleam OF the sun to
take his latitude and ascertain how far the ele-
ments have driven him from his true course,
and then, after few more words, he called FOR
the reading of the resolution which had given
rise to the debate.
As Mr. Webster proceeded the feelings OF his
friends began to change. Confidence took the
place of apprehension and they began to show
it in their looks. This was followed by another
feeling and they began to whisper among them
selves Would ne be able to keep up to the end
the same power OF thought and incompatible
grandeur would he break down-would there
be an Icarian fall There was at timeS,"
saws a chronicler, scarcely dry eve in the
Senate. AL hearts were overcome. Grave
judges men grown old in dignihed life, turned
aside their heads to conceal the evidences Of
their emotion"
In one corner OF the gallery were clustered q
group Of Massachusetts, men. They had listened
to Mr. Websters words with indescribabe emo
tons and were greatly excited. but when he
alluded to their state its early history, to what
Its sons had done in the revolution and to the
fame of the land Of their birth at the same
time turning intentionally or otherwise, his
burning eyes full upon this group, they shed
tears like girlsl
WONDERFUL EFFECT OF THE SPEECH.
The speech was over. No one has ever under
taken to describe the excitement Of the occa-
sion or the effect Of the speech The New
England men who that morning made their
way to the Capitol in a doubling frame Of
mind were now triumphant They walked
down PENNSYLVANIA avenue with heads up, firm
steps and with the air of conquerors. They
looked one in the face thew met fearing no
contradiction. They were defiant and swarmed
the streets, having become miraculously null
titudinous, says q writer.
In the evening Gen. Jackson held a reception
at the White House, which. it was known, Mr..
Webster would attend. Gen. jackson on
such occasions usually the observed of all OBJ
servers; but that night Mr.. Webster had this
distinction, more especially with his friends;
Hayne also was there. and it is related that
Mr.. Webster accosted him with the usual
courtesy. "How are you this evening, Col.
Hayne!' to which the latter replied good
humoredly, "None the better for YOU, sir
1t il due to the truth of history today that
the friends of Hayne at the time did not Sc
riously dispute the claim by Websters friends to
n victory. and the latter's reply to Hayne"
has ever since been referred to the greatest
specimen OF American oratOry we have pro-
duced.
As a speaker Mr. Webster was ponderous
rather than sprightiy and rapid, and he held
the listener by his intellectual power rather
than by flights Of fancy. Two more exact op-
posites than Webster aud HAvne it would have
been difficult to imagine When ! listened to
Webster l felt that he was putting forth only
just so much of his power was requisite to
do his work-hke the noble horse that walked
off with what would have overburdened an
other animal. No one could feel sure what he
might not do. Listeners forgot 10 cheer Web
ster and with them time passed almost without
note.
Some OF 1rr. websters speeches in the Sem
ate. reported in the National Inteiigenrer. read
better than they appeared to those who heard
them at the time they were pronounced. He
seldom or never wrote out even made more
than the merest notes of what he intended TO
say. 1t is said that the speech in reply to
Havne was printed substantially as it was
ported by Mr.. Joseph Gales of the InteiHgencer.
The speech at Albany. 10 which have referred
in the beginning of this sketch. was never re-
ported, nor was there any attempt made at it.
At that time reporting was rarely attempted
and there was only one shorthand reporter in
Albany at that time-Mr. Sherman Cros-
wel-who was one Of the few competent
shorthand in the country. He
was not present. because the night before he
had reported speech for the Albany Ar pls
made by MIR. Webster at the Congress Hall BAN
quet. and that exhausted him for the next day.
am assured that some OF the best things about
Mr.. Webster ever uttered were never reported
for this or some similar reason. Sure am thst
no one that ever heard Mr.. Webster on an occa-
sion that called for display of his power will
say that the impression made bv his personal
presence. notably those eyes of his, ever faded
from memory. c. ID. Il.