The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1905-10-12
PARLIAMENTARY
LEADERRFIIP

Il Z
slowed on him In Wise's Seven De-
cades" OF brilliant rufian." In the
Recollections. Of an Old stager''
there is narrative OF transaction
In which Clay and Webster were &C.
tors. and illustrates what a domineer.
ing temper the former had. Jackson
was President and Daniel Stevenson.
OF Virginia. was Speaker of the House
Of Representatives. The opposition
controlled the Senate. Stevenson
wanted to be Minister to England,
and Jackson consented to anpoin,
him. but the question was, "Would
the Senate confirm the nomination?
Party spirit was high, and politics
was much like war in "old Hickory's
day." Some of the Democrats saw
Webster about the matter and Web
ster agreed to support the nomination
with his vote and influence. Unfor.
tunately Clay heard of 1t, and resent,
cd the fact that Senator of his party
should make terms with the enemy
without first getting his consent De.
pending on Webster's promise, the
PRESIDENT nominated Stevenson for
The English mission, and Stevenson
resigned his seat In the House of
Representatives. When the nomina.
ton was reported in executive SEES.
sion, Clay took the floor and made n
violent speech against confirmation
He denounced It as a. partisan nomi
nation made In reward for the most
vicious party service, and character.
ICED 1t as an insult to every Wing Sen.
ator. Webster was behind the Vice
PRESIDENTS chair, pacing back and
forth, his brow dark and gloomy.
Clay closed In burst of invectiye.
and pointing to Webster, he exclaiE:.
ed In trumpet tone that might have
intimidated a drawer man than Web.
ter. And now want to see the Wing
who will vote to confirm this nomlna.
ton"
Webster made no reply and meekly
voted to reject the nomination. SIZE.
yenson was greatly outraged, as he
was warranted In feeling, having given
en- up his seat in the House and the
speakership, and many Of the Wings
lsympathized with him. Clay saw the
injustice that had been practiced on
aim and went 10 one of his friends,
Van Buren,, possibly, or Wright, and
said: Il have no objection to Steven.
son; ! simply wanted to give Web.
Ser lesson. Tell Jackson to again
send his name in for the English mis-
sion, will absent myself; Webster
will vote for him and everything will
be righted"
That was done. Stevenson went to
England, and there he saw the coro.
nation of Queen Victoria, and he it
was who gave her the barrel of Able.
marie pippins, which became her ia
yorite apple. and supply OF which
she regularly ordered every year dur
ing her entire reign.
Some years later, when Webster
entered Harrison's Cabinet, he select
ed Rufus Choate as his successor in
the Senate. Lam not quite certain
whether II was then or earlier that
John Quincy Adams bitterly resented
the interference of Webster with his
election to the Senate. II 1t was ear
lier. 1t only showed that Webster did
not fancy Adams as colleague, and
II 1t was now. It was demonstrated
that Webster did not want Adams for
successor. Be the period when it
was. Adams was furious, and vicious
ly assailed Webster. who was defend
ed by George Evans, of Maine. the
latter closing his speech with the in
vective, "a leave him to the contempt
of his enemies. and the pity of his
I friends or words 10 that effect. Ad-
ans tells how he prepared reply,
hut he never delivered 1t, and Evans
remarked to friend that Adams fail
ure to reply had deprived the House
of great "extemporaneous" effort
which, he said. he had burned much
midnight oil in preparing. If Evans
had had the lofty character and had
led the pure life of William Pitt Fes.
sender he might have been President
of the United States. 1t is universal
ly agreed that. next to Webster. he
was New Ensland's greatest intel
lect.
When Choate got to the Senate. he
too, wasscowed by the naughty AFRO
sance of Henry Clay and deeply hui
INFLATED in a personal discussion with
him.
| AS a practical statesman-a -tau,