The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1897-03-31
WEBSTER AND BENTON.
Peter Harvey, in his interesting

Peter Harvey, in his interesting
"reminiscences of Webster, tells this
One day after dinner, as Mr.. Web
ster was seated in his library, the ser
want announced "Mr. Wilson, of St.
Louis" and John Wilson came into
the library. Mr.. Webster at once
arose and greeted him. Narrating the
visit to me, he said:
Mr.. Wilson was gentleman whom |
had known more or less for a quarter
of a century a lawyer Of pretty extern
sivc practice, with good deal of tai
ent; man of very violent prejudices
and temper, who had spent most of his
public life, after he had reached man
hood, in violent opposition to Colonel
Benton. 1t was not so much an oppo-
sition to Colonel Benton s Democracy
as it was personal feud. as bitter and
malignant as any that ever existed
between two men. 1t was notorious
in St. Louis that when Colonel Benton
went on the stump, John Wilson
would always be there to meet him
and to abuse him in the most virulent
terms; and then Mr.. Benton would re-
turn the fire. I had not seen Wilson
for good many years, and only met
him occasionally in court. He came
to me now a broken man, prematurely
old, with wrecked fortune, and after
some conversation, he said:
II am going to emigrate to Califor-
MIA in my old age, Mr.. Webster; I am
poor; have family; and although it
matters but little to me, for the short
time that remains to me, if I am poor,
yet there are those who are dear to me
whose condition might improve by
going to new country and trying to
mend my fortunes. My object in call
ing on you is to trouble you for
letter to some one in California mere
ly to say that you know me to be
respectable person worthy of conf
dence.
After expressing my regret that he
should feel obliged to emigrate to such
distance-for then it looked like
formidable undertaking to go to Cali
formal asked him if he was fully
determined.
eyes" he said, IT have made up
my mind.
Then I set about thinking what l
could do for him. I saw no way to
give him assistance. I had no particu-
lar influence with the government at
that time, and finally 7 said:
II am sorry, Mr.. Wilson, to say that,
so far as | am aware, there is not a
human being in California that know.
If I were to undertake to give you a
letter to anyone in California, I should
not know to whom to address it. y
"That makes no difference" said
he; everybody knows you, and
certificate that you know me will be
the most valuable testimonial / could
have"
II will write one with great pleas
ure; although you probably overrate
the influence of my name in Califor-
MIA. want to give you something that
will be of benefit to you. let me see,
Mr.. Wilson. Colonel Benton almost
owns California, and he could give you
letter to Fremont and others that
would be of frst-rate service to you.'
He looked me in the face, half aston
ished and half inquiringly, as much as
to say, "Can it be possible that you
are ignorant of the relations between
Colonel Benton and myself ?"
II understand what you mean | am
perfectly aware of the past difficulties
between you and Mr.. Benton, and the
bitter personal hostility that has ex-
listed. But want to say to you that
a great change has come over Colonel
Benton since you knew him. His
feelings and sentiments are softened.
We are getting older. Our fiery hot
blood is getting cooled and changed.
It is hardly worth while for men, while
they are getting near the maximum OF
human life, to indulge in these feelings
of enmity and i'll will. 1t is thing
that we ought to rid ourselves OF.
Colonel Benton and [ have been en-
gagged in war Of words, as you and
he have, and, up to two or three years
ago, we went out of the same door for
years without saying as much as good
morning to one another. Now [ do
not know man in the senate to whom
I would go with more certainty OF hav,,
ing favor granted than to Colonel
Benton. He feels that age is coming
upon him, and he is reconciled to many
of his bitterest opponents
us thy servant dog replied Viii.
son, "that he should do this thing and
that thing I would not have letter
from him, l would not speak to him, l
would not be beholden to him Tor a
favor-not to save the life Of every
member of my family No, sir The
thought of it makes me shudder. |
feel Indignant at the mention Of it. l
take letter from Mr.. Benton -? T."
"Stop, Stop!' said I; that is the
old man speaking in you. That is not
the spirit in which to indulge. l know
how you feel"
And while he was raving and pro-
testing and declaring, by all the saints
in the calendar, his purpose to accept
no favor from Colonel Benton, | turned
round to my desk and addressed a note
to Benton, something like this:
Dear sir, Lam aware Of the dis
putes, personal and political, which
have taken place between yourself and
the bearer of this note, Mr.. John VIII
son. But the gentleman is now old,
and is going to California, and needs
recommendation. I kncv nobody in
California to whom ] lid address a
letter that would be ca any service to
him. You know everybody, and let.
ter from you would do him great deal
of good. I have assured Mr.. Wilson
that it will give you more pleasure to
forgive and forget what has passed
between you and him, and to re him
a letter that will do him gooC, ;. ! it
will him to receive it. | am going to
persuade him to carry this note, and l
know you will be glad to see him.
Wilson got through protesting and |