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een dining too well。 This was not singular； because then no dinner was perfect in Albany unless there were thirteen courses and thirteen different kinds of wine； and the whole closed up with the famous Regency rum； which had been secured by Albany bon…vivants before the insurrection in the West Indies had stopped its manufacture。 There was a kick in it which； if there had been no other brands preceding； was fatal to all except the strongest heads。 I tested its powers myself when I was in office in Albany fifty…odd years ago。
Hastings said that when Webster began his speech he was as near his idol as possible and stood right in front of him。 When the statesman made a gesture to emphasize a sentence he lost his hold on the balustrade and pitched forward。 The young Irishman was equal to the occasion； and interposed an athletic arm； which prevented Mr。 Webster from falling； and held him until he had finished his address。 The fact that he could continue his address under such conditions increased； if that was possible； the admiration of young Hastings。 Webster was one of the few men who； when drunk all over； had a sober head。
The speech was very effective； not only to that audience； but； as reported； all over the country。 Hastings was sent for and escorted to the dining…room； where the guests had reassembled。 Webster grasped him by the hand； and in his most Jovian way exclaimed： 〃Young man； you prevented me from disgracing myself。 I thank you and will never forget you。〃 Hastings reported his feelings as such that if he had died that night he had received of life all it had which was worth living for。
I do not know what were Mr。 Webster's drinking habits； but the popular reports in regard to them had a very injurious effect upon young men and especially young lawyers。 It was the universal conversation that Webster was unable to do his best work and have his mind at its highest efficiency except under the influence of copious drafts of brandy。 Many a young lawyer believing this drank to excess； not because he loved alcohol； but because he believed its use might make him a second Webster。
Having lived in that atmosphere； I tried the experiment myself。 Happily for me； I discovered how utterly false it is。 I tried the hard liquors； brandy； whiskey； and gin； and then the wines。 I found that all had a depressing and deadening effect upon the mind； but that there was a certain exhilaration； though not a healthy one； in champagne。 I also discovered； and found the same was true with every one else； that the mind works best and produces the more satisfactory results without any alcohol whatever。
I doubt if any speaker； unless he has become dependent upon stimulants； can use them before making an important effort without having his mental machinery more or less clogged。 I know it is reported that Addison； whose English has been the model of succeeding generations； in writing his best essays wore the carpet out while walking between sentences from the sideboard where the brandy was to his writing…table。 But they had heroic constitutions and iron…clad digestive apparatus in those times； which have not been transmitted to their descendants。
I heard another story of Webster from Horace F。 Clarke； a famous lawyer of New York； and a great friend of his。 Mr。 Clarke said that he had a case involving very large interests before the chancellor。 He discovered that Mr。 Webster was at the Astor House； and called upon him。 Mr。 Webster told him that his public and professional engagements were overwhelming； and that it was impossible for him to take up anything new。 Clarke put a thousand dollars on the table and pleaded with Mr。 Webster to accept a retainer。 Clarke said that Webster looked longingly at the money； saying： 〃Young man； you cannot imagine； and I have no words which can express how much I need that money； but it is impossible。 However； let me see your brief。〃 Webster read it over and then said to Clarke： 〃You will not win on that brief； but if you will incorporate this； I think your case is all right。〃 Clarke said that when he presented the brief and made his argument before the chancellor； the chancellor decided in his favor； wholly on the suggestion made by Mr。 Webster。 An eminent lawyer told me that studying Mr。 Webster's arguments before the Supreme Court and the decisions made in those cases he discovered very often that the opinion of the court followed the reasoning of this marvellous advocate。
Henry J。 Raymond told me the following story of Mr。 William H。 Seward。 He said that one morning a messenger came to his office （Raymond at that time was editor of the New York Times） and said that Mr。 Seward was at the Astor House and wanted to see me。 When I arrived Mr。 Seward said： 〃I am on my way to my home at Auburn； where I am expected to deliver a speech for the whole country in explanation and defense of our administration。 ＇Johnson was president。＇ When I am ready I will wire you； and then send me one of your best reporters。〃 About two weeks afterwards Mr。 Raymond received this cryptic telegram from Mr。 Seward： 〃Send me the man of whom I spoke。〃
When the reporter returned he said to Mr。 Raymond： 〃When I arrived at Auburn I expected that a great meeting had been advertised； but there were no handbills； notices； or anything in the local papers； so I went up to Mr。 Seward's house。 He said to me： 'I am very glad to see you。 Have you your pencil and note…book？ If so； we will make a speech。' After the dictation Mr。 Seward said： 'Please write that out on every third line； so as to leave room for corrections； and bring it back to me in the morning。' When I gave the copy to Mr。 Seward； he took it and kept it during the day； and when I returned in the evening the vacant space had been filled with corrections and new matter。 Mr。 Seward said to me： 'Now make me a clean copy as corrected。' When I returned with the corrected copy he remarked： 'I think you and I made a very poor speech。 Let us try it again。' The same process was repeated a second time； and this corrected copy of the speech was delivered in part to a few friends who were called into Mr。 Seward's library for the occasion。 The next morning these headlines appeared in all the leading papers in the country： 'GREAT SPEECH ON BEHALF OF THE ADMINISTRATION BY THE SECRETARY OF STATE AT A BIG MASS MEETING AT AUBURN； N。 Y。'
In the career of a statesman a phrase will often make or unmake his future。 In the height of the slavery excitement and while the enforcement of the fugitive…slave law was arousing the greatest indignation in the North； Mr。 Seward delivered a speech at Rochester； N。 Y。； which stirred the country。 In that speech； while paying due deference to the Constitution and the laws； he very solemnly declared that 〃there is a higher law。〃 Mr。 Seward sometimes called attention to his position by an oracular utterance which he left the people to interpret。 This phrase； 〃the higher law；〃 became of first…class importance； both in Congress； in the press； and on the platform。 On the one side； it was denounced as treason and anarchy。 On the other side； it was the call of conscience and of the New Testament's teaching of the ri