Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1908-08-20
DANIEL WEBSTER
AND the ASTOR.
The Old Hostelry Which Was
His Favorite Will Soon Be
No More.

Before the civil war the grea. mon of
both the North and South made their
Headquarters when in New York at the
Aston house. The registers of this period
bore the names of Daniel Webster. Frank
chanan, Zachary Taylor, William III Sc
ward. Rufus Choate. Horace Mann, Thur
low Wood. General Scott. President Lin
coin, Stephen A. Douglas. Horatio Sew
mour and Lewis Cass. Among the men
from the South were Henry Clay John i.
Crittenden. John c. Calhoun. Reyenly
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
III Marshfield which was his last. Web
stel said: Farewell, old friend. We have
known and loved for more than 30 wears.
You Will find little present from me In
the Office
There were three rooms parlor bedroom
and dining room-always allotted to Web
ster, They We're 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 MIR. Stetson never
would accept cent from Webster for tho
use of those rooms. If another guest were
occupying them and Webster arrived sud-
denly the guest had to get out no matter
what the hour was.
IL was In these rooms that Webster
wearing a dressing gown over his night
shirt. had Il memorable interview Web
SER had made a speech in 1850 support
ing Henry Clay's compromise measures
relating to slavery and had stirred up no
end OF Indignation against himself in the
North. He had set his heart on being ihr
\ %hig nominee for president in 1852 and as
'he 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 ~ votes 10 iSl for General
Scott and 1873 for Willard Fillmore The
| Webster votes finally delivered The nom.
| nation 10 Scott and when he got the news
he was nearly heartbrokcn, and left Wash
| ington on September for his home. He
stopped on the way TO be consoled by HIS
old friend Stetson.
The southern wings appointed a com
mittee TO see Webster and eNpliin To-
him the eNigencies that compelled them
TO vote for Scott. This committee traced
! MIR. Webster to the Astoa house and went
| there to see him
Al the hotel a the time were John C.
| Calhoun and Silis Wright botb clos.
! en- in spirit Mr.. Webster was. and think
ing IT might console him TO meet the com
| mittee they got Mr. Steison and went 10
Mr.. Webster rooms at midnight and
| pleaded with him TO see The committee
| Webster finally consented to do so.
| When the committee soi to Wcbstcr,s
room he gay" no one an opportunity to
explain. He said he wanted no rxnlan.-
tons and told them OF the mortifcatlon
he felt
Gentlemen, my public life IS ended" no
said in closing. II 90 10 Marshied 10
sleep with my fathers, carrying with ms
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 your base in
gratitude Gentlemen, bid you good
night "
Webster went to his home the mex, lay
and died Two weeks later