New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-08-08
A BIT OF HISTORY RECALLED
HOW DANIEL WEBSTER CAME TO BE Sec
RErARY OF STATE.
APPOINTED WITHOUT HIS SOLICITATIONS
KNOWLEDGE BY PRESIDENT HAIR
RrsoN At THE SUGGESTION
OF HENRY CLAY.

KNOWIED0E by PkEsibH'i
RrsoN AT THE SUGGESTION
OF HENRY CLAY
To the Editor Of The Tribune. -,
Sir In the year is4o the year OF the elee.o ".
r,,r,,sor over Van Buren, Matthew l.. DAVIS "
opranhcr of Aaron Burr. was the spec'a' an" e.
corresnondent of THE New-York Coui'e' o." 80,
ouirer" edited by James Watson "ep"' n,.
de plume was the Spy In Wasni"s'o o.,
had the confidence OF Clay. webster al. ,,.h,s
others through whom he Often ootaheu '"
,"r"..,,on not known TO general correspondents
prohab,v not five persons in Washington " ~
VII orts,ds NJ lanes Watson WeDD khe" VIM
was the correspondent over the s'sna th
Spy In Washington" Davis was - .
"OId Row in Specs in Washington, Out "o' 90
newsnaner CORRESPONDENT. Mr. Clay hau "e''
hoa,n, In tho presidential nomination at the con-
vention In 1890 after a three days contest oe'"ee"
CLAW Scott Harrison and WEBSTER pu' "'' W
nomination promptly gave nearly supp a.,
rison throughout the canvass, which 'e' "
Harrison's election. General harriso" eNpi
his gratitude to Mr.. Clay in the strongest terms oy
letter and otherwise. 49,, .
In response to a toast at dinner give" ~ ~
Versailles KY General Harrison said:
81 consider Henry Clay the fttest man for fres'-
dent in this Nation. and would resign the o"'ee
at once were 1t possible for me- by 80 uo'e' "
confer II upon him.. . ,x.
U,s foo,,ny toward Webster quite different
from, several causes Harrison was a strong Demo-
crat and opposed to Federalism. whi.e "eps'e' "a'
been a Federalist In the convention ""o' Nun"
mated Harrison over Clay's large vote the "eo''ei
delegates had been urgently solicited 10 turn 'heir
votes over 10 Harrison, but refused and continued
10 vote for their candidate to the last Daiio VINE"
connral scott's delegates went over In a body TO
tIorr,so, and nominated him. leaving both Gay
and Webster out in the cold. webster ",e"u'
did not go into the ensuing canvass very cheer-
fully but finally Joined IN the song OF lippecanoe
and TYLER Too" which swept the Whole country
for Harrison.
General Harrison's visit to Kentucky was to meet
and consult with Mr. Clay. They met for the
first time after the election at the mousse OF the'r
mutual friend ex- Governor Mecalf, between Mays
Vile and Lexington. where they stayed all night
Governor Metcalf had been In the war OF lsz
o,org with Harrison. The meeting was n cordial
one General Harrison at that meeting SAID 70
Mr. Clay:
sir have come from Great Bend expressly TO
give YOU my thanks for your generous support IN
the last canvass. and TO tender to you the highest
official position within my gift-that OF secretary
OF State.
Mr.. Clay thanked him cordially for the compli-
,rent and honor but said he very DESTROYS OF
retiring from public life within the coming year or
az soon as certain matters he had In view could De
carried out: and that he felt. Notwithstanding the
aattering offer, that he must decline any official
urged his acceptance. then said:
"SIr since | cannot induce to accept the
office will give you the naming of the next Secre-
tary Of State, and whoever you name VIII
appoint"
Mr.. Clay then said: IF had been elected Presi-
dent Of the United States / would make Daniel
Webster my Secretary of State.
"WhatY' said the General. rising considerably
excited, would you hang that - Federal milestone
around my neck? Do you think Daniel webster
the flttest man in the country to be Secretary OF
State?"
Not by twenty" replied Clay but the party
and the people think he Is. and out of respect for
public opinion | would. 1 President, make
Daniel Webster my Secretary OF State
General Harrison returned to Great Bend before
he started for Washington for the inauguration.
On his way to Washington he paid visit to Mr.
Clay at Ashland. where he dined in company with
Garrett Davis Governor Letcher and Ex-Governor
Metcalf There was full discussion OF the future
policy Of the party.
Great the discussions over the whole coun-
try as to who would compose the Cabinet The
New-York Courier and Enquirer" claimed that
neither Clay Webster should go into the
Cabinet. Others thought that both should go in.
1.-THE New-York Herald" on November 90 lS4o
said:
We learn that Mr.. Clay, at the suggestion OF hts
declines to form ps a1t OF w she
ought to decline should he be offered a place
there.
On December l. 1S4O THE Herald" said:
According best sources OF information the Clay
influence in the Cabinet will prevail over Webster
any other influence.
on December 4. 1910. THE Herald said
The recent announcement that both MI. Webster
and Mr. Clay should be excluded from the Cabinet
gives great uneasness to the former When M IN M
they must shake hands and be good friends-thats
%ns on Visit to M cay Thns Of h
On December Il, 1910. THE Herald" stated that:
General Harrison dined with Mr.. Clay at Ash
land on Wednesday last.
About this period a letter received In Wash |
ington from General Harrison. in which he said:
I shall make promise OF office to any one, nor |
shall | give an intimation to any one OF my pur,
am determined not to quarrel with any OF my
friends before the an Of March. After that period
many, Of course. will be disappointed.
Mr.. Clay arrived In Washington, December IA. |
1910. Very late at night Davis sought Mr. Clay at |
his lodgings to learn. II possible from him the |
names OF the persons who were to compose Harri- |
sons Cabinet Mr.. Clay. being absolved from |
further restraint told him what had transpired at
the house Of Ex-Governor Metcalf. recounted in |
this article. and that Daniel Webster would be |
Harrison's Secretary of State Davis set to work |
at once to get of this important news to New !
York. On the morning Of December 16, 1s4O the |
following paragraph appeared in THE New-York |
Courier and Enquirer" under the head Of "In Ad- |
vance OF The MALI
Washington. December A. 1870
Daniel Webster OF Massachusetts,, will be Secre- |
tary of State after March L. 1s4l.
SPY IN WASHINGTON
Those the days OF the pony expresses. often
used to get In advance OF the mals-s,ow |
enough In comparison with the present day For
instance. President Van Burens message, delivered !
TO Congress December 4. 1910. not printed IN |
New-York until the 18th Of that month, being de-
layed by heavy snowstorms. When the copy of
THE Courier and Enquirer arrived In Washing
ton from New-York. Mr. Webster was In his seat
In the Senate Chamber. Another member being
the first to read It, took 1t to Mr.. Webster laugh.
ing al its absurdty Webster read 1t and imme-
dately said.
That statement will be true. The article over
the signature OF the Spy In Washington was