The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1897-03-23
Webster and Benton.
HARvEY's "REMINISCENCES OF WEE
STER.

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 q gentleman whom
[ had known more or less for a quarter
OF a century 4; q lawyer of pretty exten.
sive practice, with a good deal of tai
emit a 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 dn oppo-
sition TO Colonel Benton's Democracy
as it was a personal feud, as bitter and
malignant as any that ever existed
between two men. 1t a notorious in
went on the stump, John Wilson would
always be there to meet him and to
abuse him in the most virulent terms {;
and then MIR. Benton would return the
fire. | had not seen Wilson for O good
many years, and only met him oc-
casionally in court. He came to me
now a broken man, prematurely old,
with q wrecked fortune, and alter some
conversation, he said:
81 am going to emigrate to Califor-
mia in my old age, Mr.. Webster; am
poor have a family; and although it
matters but little to me, for the short
time that remains to me, il | am poor,
ct there are those who are dear to me
whose condition might improve by
going to a new country and trying to
mend my fortunes. My object in call
ing on you is to trouble you for q letter
to some q In California; merely to
say that you know me to be q respect
able person, worthy of confidence"
After expressing my regret thai he
should feel oblIg d to emigrate to such
a d~istance-for then it looked like a
formidable undertaking to go the Cali
'ornia-I asked him If he vas fully
determined.
Yes" he said, - have made up
my mind"
Then | set about thinking what l
could do for him. l saw no way to
give him assistance. had no particu-
lar influence With the government at
that time, and finally | said:
81 am sorry, Mr.. Wilson, to say that,
so far as ] am aware, there Is not a
human being in California that know.
Ii | were to undertake to give you a
letter to anyone 10 California, | should
not know to whom to address it,"
lldO IhdhSS uo uIuSTcuCc, SalQ
he: Everybody knows you, and q
certificate that you know me will be
the most valuable testimonial l could
ave-"
Il 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
viii be Of benefit to you. Let mo see,
Mr.. Wilson. Colonel Benton almost
owns California, and he could give you
u letter to Fremont and others that
would be Of tirst-rate services to YOU"
He looked me in the face, half aston
ished and half inquiringiy, as much as
to say. Can it be possible hat you are
ignorant OF the relations between
Colonel BENTON and myself 2"
:" 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 arc softened.
We are getting older. Our fiery hot
blood il getting cooled and changed.
1t Is hardly worth while for men, while
they are getting hear the maximum
OF human life, to indulge in these feel.
ings Of enmily and il will. 1t is q
thing that We Oughtto rid ourselves of.
Colonel Benton and | have been en-
gagged in IL war of words, as YOU and
he have, and, up to two or three years
ago. wc went out Of the same door for
years without saying as much as good
morning to one another. Now | do
not know Il man in the senat TO whoh
would go with more certainty of hav-
ing u favor granted than to Colonel
| Inntnn Hn fnnlo thuf ~ I, pN,;n
upon him, and he is recunciIed to many
of his bitterest opponents."
lis thy servant a dog" replied Will.
son, that he should do this thing and
that thing =? ] would not nave a letter
from him, | would not speak to him, l
would not DO beholden to him for a
fAvor-not to save the life of every
memberof my family ! No, sir! The
thought Of it makes mo shudder. |
feel indignant at the mention Of it,. |
take ii letter from Mr.. Benton? l.
old man speaking In you. That is not
the spirit in which to indulge. | know
how YOU feel"
q J white he was raving and pro-
ttstlMS and declaring, by all the saints
IL the calendar, his purpose to accept
no favor from Colonel Benton, | turned
round to my desk and addressed u note
to Benton, something like this:
Dear sir, | am aware of the dis
putes, personal and political, which
nave taken place between yourself and
the bearer Of this note. Mr.. John Will
son. But the gentleman is now old,
and 10 going to California, and needs "a
recommendation. l know nobody in
California TO whom l could address a
letter that would be of any service to
him. You know everybody, and a
letter from you would do him n great
deal Of good. | have assured MIR. Will
son that it will give you more pleasure
to forgive and forget what has passed
between you and HIM, and to give him
a letter that will do him good, thar it
will him to receive it. | am going to
persuade him to carry this note, and
| know yOn will be glad to see bim."
Wilson got through protesting, and
| rood him the note. Then | said:
"Inaat sou to carry it to Benton"
81 won't J he replied.
! cOaXed and scoIdcd and reasoned,
and brought every consideration
death, eternity. and everything else
to bear, but it seemed OF no use. Said
/:
Wilson. you will regret it,"
After n whila be got 81 littla cotton