My usual numbers of maps being finished this morning as well as Bacon who has been
found and resumed. Madame was also much better this morning although her health does
not appear so good as it has been. I then went to the House expecting much entertainment
today. Mr. Randolph had commenced, and I never knew the House so much crowded in my
life. Ladies were admitted in the floor of the hall and it was impossible to get in
at the side doors of the gallery. After a long trial I succeeded in obtaining a moderately
good place and heard the latter part of his remarks. There is so little connection
in his arguments that it is impossible to condense them or make a summary. He has
still the power of ridicule and exerted it today with a good deal of force. He is
too apt to talk of his past services and what he was
“Fallen, fallen, fallen, fallen
Fallen from his high estate”
which excites pity and finally ridicule in the minds of his hearers for he is not
old enough to carry proof of what he says with him, and therefore raises the idea
of that mental malady with which he is already known to have been attacked. But we
look at him as a crumbled pillar, mourning over the loss of it’s own beauty and jealous
of the more modern and perhaps less pure ones. He again attacked the South American
resolution
1 and made some pretty pointed remarks at Mr. Webster. Perhaps said he, some learned
Theban is waiting without the walls for the appointment to the agency, clearly referring
to Professor Everett who is here, it is supposed, for the purpose of obtaining this
mission in case it is determined upon.
{ 64 } He continued speaking for about an hour and a half with his usual power and fluency
occasionally reverting to former times. His age has come upon him early and he will
soon do nothing but “fight all his battles o’er again.” Mr. Webster followed him and
answered all the gentlemen who had spoken on the other side. He retorted playfully
and severely upon Bartlett, sharply upon Wood and noticed occasionally all the rest.
I think myself that it was a better speech than the former. He ridicules the idea
of danger, supposes it an unmeaning resolution or nearly so, and says that it does
not force the President to any measure which he would not approve. He laughs at the
declamation about war, assures them that there is no danger, but with all this it
appeared to me that he felt as if he had got into a scrape which he might as well
be out of.
Webster made a severe allusion to Bartlett by quoting Don Quixote in his tilt with
the Wind mill—and some remarks upon Mr. Wood and his late examination of Grotius.
2 Mr. Fuller then took the other side and quoted out of the same romance, by making
an analogy between the boy who was whipped by his master, and relieved by the knight,
while present but as soon as gone whipped doubly—and the state of Greece and Turkey
with respect to this country. He argued also that the President had not yet even recommended
a step of this kind, and it was not worthwhile to do any thing until he did. It was
evident that he supposed it not worthwhile or dangerous. In fact the argument on this
side is so conclusive in every point of view that even the supporters of the cause
do not pretend to argue but to feel. Not exactly a correct guide in government.
But now we had the pleasure of a little warmer work. Mr. Bartlett made some remarks
in answer to Clay’s observations yesterday with most tremendous force. Mr. Webster’s
attack he turned off admirably by referring to the pride he felt in having to boast
him a fellow townsman, and that although he had been
<unhappily> the cause of some bitter remarks, yet he could scarcely deem it unfortunate or disagreable
to himself as it had afforded the opportunity of displaying such bright corruscations
of his
3 wit as to seize even his admiration. For Mr. Clay, he prepared another dose, informed
him that his advise was altogether gratuitous and unasked for, that he was of an age
to select his own instructors in political integrity, however young he might be, whenever
he felt that he had occasion for any. He repelled the charge of opposing Mr. Webster
because he was a Federalist, saying that it was just as unfounded as if he was in
his turn
{ 65 } to charge the Speaker with making speeches to collect golden opinions, outside of
the walls of that House. As to the Speaker’s charge, if it was meant for him, he threw
it back upon him as “unjust, ungenerous, untrue.” He then adverted to the Speaker’s
threat, assuring him that he dare go back to his constituents as boldly as any gentleman
in that House, let his vote be what it would. That he would make as poor a slave to
the Grand
[Seignior] as any man, and then made some severe remarks upon Clay in reference to his conduct
in wishing to obtain a certain high situation. The remarks were cutting to the extreme
and all proper except insofar as they did not
[dash?] too much when he struck upon the last thing. Had he not forced it a little higher
than proper, his strictures otherwise were most admirably just and well applied.
They stung Clay to the quick, and he answered in the most furiously passionate manner.
In his former remarks he said he had treated the
young member with more moderation than at the time he deserved. Nay he had even praised
him, and lavished compliments for which he had been thus repaid. He had never heard
of the gentleman before; he doubted whether the House had; he was altogether a new
Member he believed to every one. He then replied with great violence to the charge
of catching golden opinions for a certain office.
4 He said it was ungenerous to advert to it; he was placed where he could not help
himself and it was improper for any one to take advantage of it. Here he was twice
stopped by the chair, which decided him out of order as he was answering what had
not been said, on the contrary that he
5 had expressly disavowed such an attack. This capped the climax and made him rave
like a mad bull. “Yes Sir,” said he, “I know he has disavowed it,” stamping his foot,
“but how has he done it, if a person should tell me black is white am I to believe
it though he should swear, contrary to the evidence of my own senses.”
6 He closed by saying that he had some private words for the gentleman, as he could
not condescend to trouble the House with the terms which he felt himself obliged to
use towards him, and that as far as referred to the accusations upon him personally
he cast them back on the shoulders of him whence they came with indignation and contempt.
The House finding it burning too hot then adjourned.
I came home with my feelings very much excited. I must confess, I thought Clay by
his violence had exposed himself and that Bartlett had nobly shown himself perfectly
independent of all the personal influence and weight which Clay possesses. The latter
inflicted a
{ 66 } severe blow upon himself and gave the former an opportunity to rise. We were employed
all the afternoon and evening talking about it, and conjecturing the probability of
a challenge as Blunt, who spent the evening here, said that some difficulty was likely
to arise, and that the quarrel was evidently embracing sectional prejudices and that
the East supported Bartlett against the West and Clay. This
[is] a queer young man and a little of a bore here, but being a New York intriguer he
is here a good deal. We all separated quite early, my feelings having been strongly
worked upon today.
7