Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1892-06-24
THE SENATE DOORKEEPER.
Capt. Bassett Tells Some Queer Stories of
His Sixty. Year Watch.

Cant. Bassett Tells Some Queer Stories of
His Sixty Year Watch.
Capt Isaac Bassett counts time, not
by wears like his fellow-mortals, but
by the generations Of statesmen whom
he has seen serve their country, wisely
or otherwise, and pass to their reward.
To those men whose privilege it is to
write senator before their names Capt
Bassett is known by the kindness of
his heart and the geniality Of his man.
ners. To the rest Of the world he is
famous for the patriarchal length and
wilderness of his beard, for the clock
like regularity with which he sits on
the left-hand side of the vice-president,
for his ancient snuff box, his broad ex-
panse of the finest linen bordered with
ministerial broadcloth, and, most of all,
for his perennial act Of turning back
ward the flight of time.
"Sixty years is long time to stay in
one place." said the venerable door
keeper, as he led the way into his coy
sitting-room and seated the questioner
who married the repose of his evening
at home. Sixty years certainly does
seem long to men Of the day of cleo
tricity and steam, who do things with
a rush, and who at the halfway stone
of the psalmist's allotted years, which
have been given Capt. Bassett, would
be glad of his bright eyes, his rosy COM
plexion, and his erect form.
at was sixty years ago when came
in to the senate" he said, ''the 5th day
of December, 1881. Daniel Webster
was my sponsor on that occasion. My
father was in the employ of the gov
eminent, and I was a twelve-year-old
lad. Webster took liking to me and
had me appointed page. The senate
met then in what is now the supreme
court room. was there when they
moved into the present senate cham
Der. In 1859 1 moved with them, and
have been attached to the senate ever
since without break.
1.-THE earliest political event within
my memory" said Capt Bassett, drop
ping into his happy reminiscent strain,
twas the debate between Webster and
Hayne. That was in 1880 before be-
came a page, but 1 was on the floor and
remember it distinctly. Such crowds
don't come out to debates now. Hun
dreds were unable to get in. 1t was a
wonderful scene. Hayne was the
greater orator, but Webster was the
greater statesman He had more tho
bearing of great statesman than any
of the hundreds of statesmen / have
known since then, and his voice was
like roll of thunder. Once he asked
me to go out and order carriage for
him. ! came back and told him was
unable to find one You get me car
riagep he commanded, in tones that
fairly took me off my feet ! found a
carriage for him very soon after that
l have given great many pinches of
snuff to Webster, as we'll as to many
other distinguished men. Everybody
carried a snuff-box then
Andrew Jackson was president
when was serving my rrst years as o
page. can see him now just as he
looked. He was tall, thin, soldierly,
man, who rode around on horsebacy,
over the swamps which are now
covered with houses. Presidents have
driven in coaches generally since tf.en,
sometimes behind four-in-hands I
have been present at every inavyura-
ton since Jackson's, and have had a
speaking acquaintance with every
president who has followed him. Presi.
dents Harrison and Arthur / new in
the senate. Who were the greatest
men l have known? That would be
hard to tell. Clay was wonderful
man, and so was Calhoun. Clay was
the most eloquent speaker l ever