The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1908-08-13
DANIEL WEBSTER
AND THE ASTOR
The Old Hostelry Which Was
His Favorite Will Soon Be
Nc More.

Before the civil war the great men OF
both the North and South made their
headquarters when in New York at the
Astor house. The registers Of his period
bore the names Of Daniel Webster, Frank
lin Pierce. Martin Van Buren,, James Blu
chanan. Zachary Taylor, William. H. Sc
ward. Rufus Choate. Horace Mann, Thur
low Wood, Genera Scott, President Lin
coin, Stephen A. Douglas. Horatio sey-
mour and Lewis Cass. Among the men
from the South were Henry Clay, John j.
C~rittenden, o C. Calhoun, Reverdy
Johnson and Jefferson Davis.
Webster's opinion Of Stetson was ex-
pressed In HIS parting words to the hotel
man when he left on the trip to his home
In Marshfeld which was hts last. Web
ster said: Farewell, old friend. We have
known and loved for more than 30 years.
You will find a little present from me in
the office" =
There were three r~ooms-parlor bedroom
and dining ~room-always allotted TO Web
ster. They were the choicest rooms in the
house and were across the hallway from
the historic room II. which was reserved
by Mr.. Stetson for his special friends.
Room IL was near the ladies' entrance on
the Vesey street side. Mr.. Stetson never
SutN oSSSPN q Will ITOmN " GDSIer Tor the
use OF those rooms. II another guest were
occupying them and Webster arrived sud-
denly the guest had to get out, no matter
what the hour was.
II was In these rooms tina Webster.
wearing a dressing gown over HIS night
shirt, had a memorable interview. Web
ster had made a speech in 1850 supports
ing Henry Clay's compromise measures
relating to slavery and had stirred up no
and NJ ~ fon n ftnn N a l..zN -
North. He had set his heart on being the
whig NOMINEES for president In 1852, and as
the result of the feeling against him In
the north he expected the support of the
southern delegates.
When the convention met in Baltimore
he got only 20 votes to 131 for General
Scott and 1873 for Willard Fillmore. The
Webster votes finally delivered the nom-
nation to Scott, and when he got the news
be was nearly heartbroken, and left Wash
ington on September s for his home. He
stopped on the way to be consoled by his
old friend Stetson. I
The southern wings appointed a COM
mittee to see Webster and explain 70
him the exigencies that compelled them
to vote for Scott. This committee traced
Mr.. Webster to the Aston house and went
there to see him.
: At the hotel at the time were John G.,
AAN NAN OAhuo II uOIn CLOSE
friends of Webster. They knew how brok-
en- In spirit Mr.. Webster was, and think
Ing it might console him to meet the COM
mittee they got Mr.. Stetson and went TO
Mr.. Webster's rooms at midnight and
pleaded with him to see the committee.
Webster finally consented to do SO. g
When the committee got to webster's
room he gave no one, an opportunity to
explain. He said he wanted no ~expIana-
tions, and told them OF the lnortiication
he felt.
Gentlemen, my public life lie ended" he
said In closing. IT go to Marshfeld to
sleep with my fathers, carrying with me
the consciousness of duty done. When
perilous times come to you, as come they
will, you will mourn In bitterness of spirit
your craven conduct and you base In
gratitude. Gentlemen, L bid you good
night" ..~. s"
Webster went to his home the next day
and died two weeks later. q