REMINISCENCES OF DANIEL WEBSTER. 285
��REMINISCENCES OF DANIEL WEBSTER.
��BY HON. JOHN VVEN'IWORTH, LL. D.
TO have seen Daniel Webster once was to have seen him ahvays : and I never have heard that any one was mistaken for him or looked like him. Age had as little effect on his personal appearance as upon his intellect. Those who were struck with his peculiar swell and roll of voice, when he spoke in Chi- cago at Fort Dearborn, in 1837, would have recognized it when he made his last speech in the senate, in March, 1850. There were his ever blue coat, white cravat, and buff vest, his massive and overhanging brow, his raven hair, dark and deep-set eye, portly form, and erect gait. During the sessions of the sen- ate and supreme court he walked to and tro, much of the time, in the area or lobbv, with his hands behind him and under his coat, occasionally bowing to people, but very seldom stopping to converse. People would wonder if he was listening or studying out some great legal or constiludonal problem. He had no taste for the details of legislation, and seldom participated in them. One speech, one great and exhaustive speech, upon the general merits of the measure, was all that could be expected of Daniel Webster. He could not be called a social man, especially in the sense that Clay was. Yet he was far from being unsocial. Every one looked upon him with a sort of reverential awe, and had a hesitency as to any degree of familiarity. He walked to and from the capitol with the promiscuous crowd made up of congressmen, su- preme court lawyers, and visitors. He had a passing acquaintance with most of them. He never conversed upon personal and local politics. He had no hobby, no specialty, no ism upon which you could excite him as you could Clay, Benton, or Calhoun. All bis conversation was marked with cool delib- eration. He would ask concerning eminent lawyers resident where persons were hving, or judges in their state whose opinions had commanded his atten- tion. Oftentimes he would originate a conversation by quoting some abstract principle, generally of law. Occasionally he would quote from the
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and try to bring out discussion. If a great man should do this at the present time, we would think he was trying to dodge the interviewer. But in Web- ster's case, it was but showing the natural drift of his mind. He was thinking aloud. I never heard him say one word to which any person could take the least personal offence. He could, at all times, converse in the most friendly manner with his colleagues, and was about _^the only prominent senator who could do so. He ever spoke to the greatest intelligence of mankind. And his political friends ever complained that they could never utihze his eflbrts in po- htical campaigns, as he would never come down to the understanding of illiter- ate voters. It was said that in a congregation of promiscuous masses he would select the man appearing to be the most intelligent, and seemingly address all his remarks to him as if he alone had a vote. Whilst the politicians of his par- ty would not visit Washington without calling upon Mr. Clay, they took no such liberty with Mr. Webster. But the reverse was the case with the eminent scholars, clergymen, lawyers, and especially capitalists. And however illiterate a man was, it he was only immensely rich, he would throw himself in Webster's way, seek an introduction, try to cultivate his intimacy, and tender the hospi- talities of a magnificent home if he should ever visit his locality. When it was
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