The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1897-03-25
Webster and Benton,
lIARNET'S "REMINISCENCES or WEB
STER.
TIE END.

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 century "a lawyer Of pretty cxten-
slvc practice, with a good deal Of tai
ent man of very violent prejudccs
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 dn oppo-
Sltlon To Colonel BentOn;s Democracy
as it was p personal fcud, as bitter and
between two men. 1t was notorious in
st. Louis that when Colonel Benton
went on the stump, John Wilson would
al ways be there to meet him and to
abuse him in the most virulcnt terms
ard then MIR. Benton would return the
lire. | bad not seen Wilson for Il good
many years, and only met him Oc-
casionalIy in court. He came to me
now broken man, prcmaturely old :,
with wrecked fortune, and after some
conversation, he said:
6 am going to emigratc to Califor-
MIA in nay ola age. MIR. Webster: | an
poor have Il family: and although it
matters but little to me, for the short
time that 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 ny fortunes. My object in call
ing on you is to trouble you for letter
10 i,> f.,l;
say that you know ne TO be Il respect
ahio person, worthy OF contiGcncc.n
After expressing my regret that he
should fee! Oblig d to cmigratc to such
Il distar cc--for then it looked like a
formidable undertaking to go the Cali
'Ornia-i asked him if he was fully
determined.
"Yes,' lie said, 81 have made up
my mind.'
| Then | set about thinking what
could do for him. | saw no way to
give him assistance. had no particu-
iar influence With the government al
that time, and finally | said
am sorry, MIR. Wilson, to shy that,
so far as | am aware, there is not Il
human being in California that know.
II were to undertake to give YOU Il
letter to anyone in California, should
not know to whom to address it."
THAT makes no difference" said
he: everybody knows you, and IL
certificate that YOU know me will be
the most valuable testimonial l'could
have"
81 will write one with great pleas
urc; although you probably overratc
the influence OF my name in Callfor-
MIA, | want to give you something that,
will he OF benefit to you. Let me see,
MR. Wilaon.' Colonel Benton almost
owns &AlifQr1lta, and he could give you
IL letter t0 Fremont and others that
would bc or tiist-ratc service to you.
He looked me in the face, half aston
ishcd and half inQuiring y, as much as
10 say, Can it be possible that you are
ignorant Of the relations between
Colonel Benton and myself ~
L" understand what y0lt mean: am
perfectly aware Of the past dillicutics
between YOU and Mr.. Benton, and the
bitter personal hostility that has OK
istcd. Bat | want to say to you that
Il great change has come over Colonel |
Benton since you knew bin. His |
feelings and sentiments are sOftcned. |
We are getting older. Our fiery hot |
blood is getting cooled and changed. |
1t is hardly worth while for men, while |
they arc getting near the maximum
OF human life. to indulge in these feel
ings Of cnmiLy and i'll will. II is Il
thing that we ought to rid ourselves OF.
Colonel Benton and l have bccn en-
gagged in Il war Of words, as You and
he have, and, up to two or three years
ago. we went cut OF the same door for
years without saying as much ns good
to one another: Now ! 40
not know u man in the senate to whom
[ 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 rcconcilcd to many
of his bittcrcst opponcnts.'
"Is thy servant dog" replied Will
son, "lhnt he should do this thing and
that thirg? | would rot have letter
from him. | would rot speak to him, |
would not be Dcholdcn to him for q
fnvo,-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.
inkc a letter from Mr. Benton? -
"Stop, stop.' said | "that Is the
I'D man speaking in you. That is not
be spirit in which TO indulge. | know
how you feel"