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could never be dull. One who often heard him, told me he only once saw him ani mated, and that was when the judge, to his surprise, had decided a point against him. It aroused him, and, warming up, he con tended that, admitting the decision of the court to be correct, it was so much better for his client, and he put the case so strongly that there was no reply. An ex-United States senator gave me an account of a visit of Mr. Webster to Rich mond. It had been arranged that he should make an address in the evening from the hotel. The distinguished men of Virginia
ment, and in his deep, strong voice, such as they had never heard before, extending far beyond the most distant auditor, began, "Virginians. " A great cheer broke out from the crowd. Again he cried, " Vir ginians, " and again a cheer. He was aroused then and himself, and made such a speech as only Daniel Webster could have made. Mr. Webster was dignified and courteous in debate to his opponents, and rarely drawn into personal remarks. Almost the only instance recalled was in his reply to the at tack of Charles J. Ingersoll, in 1846, who Hfc
3 •i.
COURT HOUSE IN WHICH WEBSTER TRIED HIS FIRST CASE.
were around him at the dinner table; the conversation was sparkling; all that Virginia hospitality could afford was abundantly supplied; and the condition of the com pany became at length what can well be imagined. The friends of Mr. Webster be gan to fear that he was not sufficiently com posed for the effort, and proposed to defer the address. Several leading men were sent to consult him in regard to it, but he ad hered to his purpose to speak. Mr. John M. Botts, a noted politician of the day, and a special friend, was sent at last to influence him, but his reply was, " Mr. Botts, I shall speak to-night. " At the appointed time, he was aided to the balcony, and placed before the audience. He gazed arouno' f0r a nl0-
had accused him of corruption in connection with the "secret service" fund, and made other charges affecting his integrity. Mr. Webster closed his reply by a sentence whose severity has been rarely equaled : "I now leave the gentleman — I leave him with the worst company I know on the face of the earth, — I leave him with himself." Hon. Horatio G. Parker, of the Boston Bar, repeated to me recently an interesting statement regarding this Ingersoll charge which he had from the lips of Peter Harvey, whose authority was Jefferson Davis him self. Mr. Davis had but just entered Congress, and was much surprised when the Speaker appointed him on the committee to investi
