Rensselaer Union, Volume 10, Number 14, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 December 1877 — Daniel Webster’s Seventeen Murders. [ARTICLE]

Daniel Webster’s Seventeen Murders.

One day, among other arrangements, he suggested to tno new President, in as delicate a way as he could, the fact that he had sketched an inaugural, knowing that Gen. Harrison would be overwhelmed with calls and business after his election, and he himself having leisure to write. The General at once replied that it was not necessary, that he had prepared his own inaugural. “ Oh, yes,” said he, “I’ve got that all readv.” “ Will you allow me to take it home and read it to-night?” asked Mr. Webster. the President replied; “ and please let me take yours.” So they exchanged the documents; and the next morning, when they met, Gen.. Harrison said to Mr. Webster: “If I should read your inaugural instead of mine, everybody would know that you wrote it, and that I did not. Now, this is the only official paper which I propose to write, for I do not intend to interfere with my Secretaries; but this is a sort of acknowledgment on my part to the American people of the great honor they have conferred upon me in elevating me to this high office; and although, of course, io. sjwtable as yours, still it is mine, and I propose to let the people have it just as I have written it. I must deliver my own instead of yours.” Mr. Webster told me that he was a good deal annoyed, because the message was, according to his judgment and taste, so inappropriate. It entered largely into Roman history, and had a great deal to say about the States of antiquity and the Roman Proconsuls and various matters of that kind. Indeed, the word “Proconsul” was repeated in it a great many times. When he found that the President was bent upon using his own inaugural, Mr. Webster said that his desire was to modify it, and to get in some things that were not there, and get out some things that were there; for, as it then stood, lie said, it had no more to do with the affairs of the American Government andpeoplethan

a chapter in the Koran, Mr. Webster suggested to Gen. Harrison that he should like to put in some things, and Gen. Harrison rather reluctantly consented to let him take it. Mr. Webster Spent a portion of the next day in modifying the message. Mrs. Seaton remarked to him, when he came look fatigued and worried; but he replied that he was sorry That she had waited dinner for him. " That is of no consequence at all, Mr. Webster,” said she; “but I am sorry to see you looking so worried and tired. 11 hope nothing has gone wrong. I really hope nothing has happened.” “ You would think that something had happened,” he replied, “ if yon knew what I have done. I have killed seventeen Roman Proconsuls as dead as smelts, every one of them!”— Peter Harvey's Reminiscences. “•You have often,” said the clergyman, “ heard the brethren say * Amen! amen!’ while some one was praying. What did they mean? If any one knows, let him hold up his hand.” Up jumped a little fellow, so eager to answer as not to wait for recognition, “Iknow!” he called out. “It means hurry up andget through.” There was an audible smiie.