The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1910-03-30

IHS WV "eSH'NHo "iSA AS DNNA tNOSN1 "'ot~ WV WV
this question at rest.
Mr.. Calhoun's speech on the Force Bill was positively I'M
answclable. Mr.. Webster undertook to reply to it, not by an
answering the argument, but by asserting Il dramatically
opposite view, which was at variance with his own opinion,
previously expressed, which fact was noted by Mr.. Calhoun in
his reply. Mr.. Calhoun's reply to Mr.. Webster was perhaps
the most masterful speech of its kind ever delivered in the
United States Senate. The contest was a contest of giants. The
issue was the burning question ofthe day.
We have thought that as light appears brighter when envel-
loped in darkness, so the ability of these men was accentuated by
a background of the uneducated masses at that time. In this we
were in error. A careful study oftheir careers leads one to the
conclusion that they would tower above the representative men of
this government at any stage of its Development. The contest
was a contest Of the two sections of the United
States, about equally divided as to population, and each voicing
its sentiment through its ablest representative. Great was the
question involved, and equally great the master minds, driven
by opposing forces to solve it. 1t was a test between the broad
sword of Richard and the scimiter of Saladin. Of the long Ca
rer of these two men in the Senate, this was the single occasion
recognised as Il decisive engagement; and there can be no doubt
that Mr.. Webster's elegance of dichon and force of eloquence,
which he possessed as perhaps no other man ever possessed, went
down before Mr.. Calhoun's power of analysis and his capacity to
force g. question i~rresistibly to its logical conclusion. This was
admitted by the North American Review, a strong supporter Of
the Federal Doctrine, which then as now was ably edited. 1t
was practically admitted by Mr.. Webster himself, who, after Mr.
Calhoun's speech, "sat in sullen silence, and never attempted to
reply. 1t was on this occasion that John Randolph, a past mas
ter in the art ofsarcasm and invectve, so feeble that he could
hardly rise from his seat, said to some one near by: take away
that hat; | want to see Webster die muscle by muscle"
AS no account of Mr.. Calhoun's life work would be COM
plete without reference to MI. Webster, so would it be incom-
Iplete without reference 10 MI Clay. undoubtedly II e ranked
with the greatest men of the Nation; but just here. it is sufficient
to say that he possessed more of the elements of the astute rea-
soner than Mr.. Webster and more of the elements Of the orator
than Mr.. Calhoun, with perhaps less stability of purpose than
either. He was a powerful speaker, and because of his superior Ca
pacity for organization he was perhaps the most formidable of
the three as an antagonist.
While Mr.. Calhoun, Mr.. Webster and Mr.. Clay were sell
dom all united on public issues, it is a little remarkable, if not
amusing, that on anotabe occasion, the powers of the three were
outwitted by a little by-play of politics, linked with "Old Hick-
ory's" never failing popularity with the people, right or wrong.
Resolutions offered by MI. Clay, had passed the Senate, con-
demning the President for arbitrarily removing the Government
deposits from the National Bank. Mr.. Benton, of Missouri,
alone voted against the resolution. On three separate occasions
afterward Mr.. Benton undertook to have the Senate expunge the
resolution, but it would not hear to the proposition. While Mr.
Calhoun never cordially supported the existing banking system,
it had the sanction o. Congress, and his respect for order and for
the constitution, precluded his sanction of the act of President
Jackson in arbitrarily removing by force the Government de-
posts. He dreaded the crash in the financial system, but he
dreaded more executive ursurpation, however well meant. n
this view he was cordially supported by both Mr.. Clay and Mr.
Webster.
Another turn was given to the affair. Friends of the Presi
dent, knowing his great popularity with the people, had many
of the States to instruct their Senators to vote for the expunging
resolution. With this number to build on, Mr.. Benton, by
winning and dining and nursinga few who were weakened, fin
ally got together a majority. At the earliest possible hour, it
was determined that the work should be done. 1t was anticipa-
ted that a storm would be raised, and that the three giants
would undertake to speak the resolution to death. Mr.. Benton
prepared for this eXigency. He provided one of the Committee
rooms with turkey, ham and other inviting dishes, with plenty
to wash them down. They prepared for a siege, and determined
not to adjourn until the eXpunging resolutions had passed. AS
expected, Mr.. Webster, Mr.. Clay and Mr.. Calhoun all spoke with
great feeling of the act that was about to be perpetrated, subordi-
mating the legitimate authority of the Senate to the arbitrary
power of the executive. Mr.. Clay's speech was a perfect master
piece of its kind. But none of this counted against the ham and
turkey and the small majority who had sworn to do their work
before adjournment.
And so this array of logic, eloquence and force went down at
a late hour of the night before the tactics of the gentleman from
Missouri.
Mr.. Calhoun and Mr.. Webster were personal friends
throughout their public association, though they were separate
"as far as pole from poe' on vital public issues. Mr.. Calhoun
and Mr.. Clay, in the beginning were members of the same poit-
ical party, and while their views were not often seriously diver
gent on vital public questions, they had personal differences later
in life, no doubt growing out of aspirations which each entertained
ed to become president. There are storms in the higher as well
as the lower atmospheres. Jealousy is the handmade of ambi-|
ton, and it is rare that the mistress enters the human heart alone.
ga mans a man for a. that!'
Was it a mere coincidence that these men, each a star of the
first magnitude, and each respcndent in mis- own sphere; should
have risen at a critical period of the Nations history, to light
the way for the millions to a full understanding of the antagonis-|
and overturn existing institutions? Herewas a colossal scene I'M
land, a son was born, the greatest of American orators, and ereI
long he found his way to the centre of the National stage. lnl
his suite were millions of American people, clamoring for central
ization of government and executive power. During the same
calendar year, in the sunny South, that section which even yet
has not felt the congestion of alien blood, another son was
born, the greatest of American debaters. A little earlier than
the first, he found his way to the centre of the National stage,
and in his suite were millions of American people demanding