Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1897-04-15
MISCELLANEOUS.
Webster and Benton.

'ouiiH'ScenceSo ol WEBSTER, tells this
One day after dinner, as Mr.. Web
ster was seated in his library, the
servant announced 81 Mr.. Wilson, OF
st. Louis" and John Wilson came
into the library. Mr.. Webster al
once rose and greeted him. Narrat
ing the visit to me, he said;
MIR. Wilson was a gentleman whom
had known more or less for quar-.
ter of century; lawyer of pretty
extensive practice, with good deaI
OF talent; man of very violent
preJudices and temper, who had
spent most of his public life, after
he had reached manhood, in violent
opposition to Colonel Benton. Ii
was not so much an opposition To
Colonel Benton's Democracy as il
was personal feud, as bitter and ma
lignant as ever existed between two
men. 1t was notorious in st. Louis
that when Col. Benton went on the
stump John Wilson would always
be there to meet him and abuse him
in the most virulent terms; and
then Mr.. Benton would return the
hAS. hoI SSSu w llSOIl IOT IL
good many years, and only met him
occasionally i'm court. He came to me
now broken man, prematurely old ,
with wrecked fortune, and after
some conversation, he said:
81 am going to emigrate to Cali
fornia in my old age, Mr.. Webster ;
l am poor; have a family; and al
though it matters but little to me,
for the short time il remains TO me,
If / am poor, yet there are those who
are dear to me whose condition
might improve by going to a new
country and trying to mend my for
tunes. My object in calling on you
is to trouble you for letter to some
one in California; merely to say that
you know me to be respectable
person, worthy of confidence"
After expressing my regret that
he should feel obliged to omigrate to
such a distance-for then it looked
like formidable undertaking to go
to California; asked him if he was
fully determined.
"Yes," he said, 81 have made up
my mind"
Then | set about thinking what /
could do for him. saw no way to
give him assistance. l had no par
ticular influence with the govern
ment at that time, and finally said :
." am sorry, Mr.. Wilson, to say
that, so far as / am aware, there is
not a single person in California that
| | know. If | were to undertake to
give you letter to anyone in Cali
fornia should not know to whom to
address it,"
"That makes no difference" he
said everybody knows you, and a
certificate that you know me will be
the most valuable testimonial j
could have"
IL will write one with great pleas
ure; although you probably over
rate the influence OF my name In
California, | want to give you some
thing that will be of benefit to you
Let me see, Mr.. Wilson. COlone
Benton almost owns California, ant
he could give you a letter to Ere
mont and others that would be OF
first-rate service to you"
He looked me in the face, hal
astonished and half inquiringly. a
much as to say, "Can it be possible
that YOU are ignorant of the relations
between Colonel Benton and my
self?"
81 understand what you mean
am perfectly aware of the past diff
ficulties between you and Mr.. Ben
ton, and the bitter personal hostility
that has existed. But | want to say
to you that a great change has come
over Colonel Benton since you kne"
him. His feelings and sentiment
are softened. We are getting older
Our fiery hot blood is getting cooleC
and changed. 1t is hardly wortt
while for men, while they are gettini
near the maximum of human life, 4
indulge in these feelings OF enmlt!
and i'll will. 1t is a thing that w
ought to rid ourselves Of. Colone
BentOn and have been engaged II
war of words, as you and he have
and, up to two or three years age
we went out Of the same door 10
wears without saying as much
iqood morning to one another
? Now I do not know a man In TN
> Senate to whom / would go wit
i more certainty Of having a favo
0 granted than to Colonel Benton. ri
/. feels that age Is coming upon MIN