Cary T. Grayson Diary
Title
Cary T. Grayson Diary
Creator
Grayson, Cary T. (Cary Travers), 1878-1938
Identifier
WWP17098
Date
1919 March 8
Source
Cary T. Grayson Papers, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library, Staunton, Virginia
Language
English
Text
The President was today reminiscing on Daniel Webster, Robert Y. Hayne and James Louis Petigru. He often thought on of the great speech made on this day by Daniel Webster. It was a debate on slavery and the participants were Webster of Massachusetts and Haynes of South Carolina, the former being strongly opposed to slavery and the latter in favor of it. Afterwards Webster tried to make a compromise speech; his friends went back on him because of his attitude and criticised him severely. Many thought that it broke Webster’s heart. The President commented on how seldom it is that bosom friends could retain their friendship when they had opposite views on political and public questions. The most striking instance of this the President ever knew was the friendship which existed between James Louis Petigru and Robert Y. Hayne. Petigru was perhaps the most able man of his time. He favored the abolition of slavery. He and Hayne opposed each other bitterly on this question, and yet it never touched their friendship. When Petigru died he was buried at St. Michael’s Churchyard, Charleston, South Carolina, and although he was against slavery, and the feeling was bitter and intense, the bombardment around Charleston ceased on the Confederate side at the time Petigru was buried. Some of the most eloquent tributes ever paid man were uttered in his behalf at that time. The following epitaph appears on his tomb-stone:
JAMES LOUIS PETIGRU Born at Abbeville, ; Died at Charleston, .
JURIST, ORATOR, STATESMAN, PATRIOT.
Future times will hardly know how Great a Life this simple Stone Commemorates, —
The Tradition of his Eloquence, his Wisdom and Wit may Fade; But he Lived for Ends more Durable than Fame.
His Eloquence was the Protection of the Poor and Wronged.
His Learning Illuminated the Principles of Law—
In the Admiration of his Peers, in the Respect of his People,
In the Affection of his Family, His was the Highest Place;
The Just Meed of his Kindness and Forbearance.
His Dignity and Simplicity
His brilliant Genius and his unwearied Industry,
Unawed by Opinion, Unseduced by Flattery, Undismayed by Disaster,
He confronted Life with antique Courage and Death with Christian Hope.
--------------------
In the great Civil War he withstood his People for his Country,
But his People did Hommage to the Man who held his Conscience higher than their Praise
And his Country heaped her Honours on the Grave of the Patriot,
To whom, Living, his own Righteous Self-Respect sufficed, alike for Motive and Reward.
Pettigrew and Haynes lie side by side in the St. Michael’s Churchyard, notwithstanding all the hostility of feeling at that time. Though they differed it never interfered with their friendship. Perhaps a like occurrence is not known in history. Pettigrew never gained a national reputation like Haynes, because he could not be elected to office on account of his anti-slavery views. If he could have entered public life, he would have been recognized as one of the greatest men in his day. The President said: “If he were living today, think what a big calibered man he would be!” With reference to the words -- “unawed by opinion” -- the President remarked: “That’s a great thing; it takes real nerve and backbone to withstand it.”
The President this afternoon was feeling badly, and I persuaded him to remain in bed all the afternoon. He got up for dinner but had no appetite. I took his temperature, which was found to be 102, and advised him to go to bed. About an hour afterwards he had a chill. He has a sore throat and a very sore gum as the result of a filling put in his tooth the day before he left Washington. After making him as comfortable as possible, treating his throat, and giving him other medical treatment, and after visiting him at different intervals during the afternoon and night, he expressed his usual appreciation for taking care of him and said: “Now, don’t you bother to come to see me any more tonight. I will send word to you by the orderly outside of the door if I want you.”
This morning the President told me a story about Daniel Webster. He said Daniel had a brother named Zeek, and they lived in a little house that had a loft to it. Both were playing in the attic and making a good deal of noise, when the father hollowed up and said: “Zeek, what are you doing up there?” Zeek replied: “Nothing.” “Daniel, what are you doing?” “Helping Zeek”, Dan replied.
The President said that Daniel Webster was perhaps one of the few lawyers who ever influenced the Supreme Court by oratory. It was in a case in which Dartmouth College was involved -- Webster’s Alma Mater -- and among the phrases which he used was: “It is a little college but there are those who love it.” The decision in this case established a precedent and influenced the decision in a number of other cases before the Supreme Court.
JAMES LOUIS PETIGRU Born at Abbeville, ; Died at Charleston, .
JURIST, ORATOR, STATESMAN, PATRIOT.
Future times will hardly know how Great a Life this simple Stone Commemorates, —
The Tradition of his Eloquence, his Wisdom and Wit may Fade; But he Lived for Ends more Durable than Fame.
His Eloquence was the Protection of the Poor and Wronged.
His Learning Illuminated the Principles of Law—
In the Admiration of his Peers, in the Respect of his People,
In the Affection of his Family, His was the Highest Place;
The Just Meed of his Kindness and Forbearance.
His Dignity and Simplicity
His brilliant Genius and his unwearied Industry,
Unawed by Opinion, Unseduced by Flattery, Undismayed by Disaster,
He confronted Life with antique Courage and Death with Christian Hope.
--------------------
In the great Civil War he withstood his People for his Country,
But his People did Hommage to the Man who held his Conscience higher than their Praise
And his Country heaped her Honours on the Grave of the Patriot,
To whom, Living, his own Righteous Self-Respect sufficed, alike for Motive and Reward.
Pettigrew and Haynes lie side by side in the St. Michael’s Churchyard, notwithstanding all the hostility of feeling at that time. Though they differed it never interfered with their friendship. Perhaps a like occurrence is not known in history. Pettigrew never gained a national reputation like Haynes, because he could not be elected to office on account of his anti-slavery views. If he could have entered public life, he would have been recognized as one of the greatest men in his day. The President said: “If he were living today, think what a big calibered man he would be!” With reference to the words -- “unawed by opinion” -- the President remarked: “That’s a great thing; it takes real nerve and backbone to withstand it.”
The President this afternoon was feeling badly, and I persuaded him to remain in bed all the afternoon. He got up for dinner but had no appetite. I took his temperature, which was found to be 102, and advised him to go to bed. About an hour afterwards he had a chill. He has a sore throat and a very sore gum as the result of a filling put in his tooth the day before he left Washington. After making him as comfortable as possible, treating his throat, and giving him other medical treatment, and after visiting him at different intervals during the afternoon and night, he expressed his usual appreciation for taking care of him and said: “Now, don’t you bother to come to see me any more tonight. I will send word to you by the orderly outside of the door if I want you.”
This morning the President told me a story about Daniel Webster. He said Daniel had a brother named Zeek, and they lived in a little house that had a loft to it. Both were playing in the attic and making a good deal of noise, when the father hollowed up and said: “Zeek, what are you doing up there?” Zeek replied: “Nothing.” “Daniel, what are you doing?” “Helping Zeek”, Dan replied.
The President said that Daniel Webster was perhaps one of the few lawyers who ever influenced the Supreme Court by oratory. It was in a case in which Dartmouth College was involved -- Webster’s Alma Mater -- and among the phrases which he used was: “It is a little college but there are those who love it.” The decision in this case established a precedent and influenced the decision in a number of other cases before the Supreme Court.
Original Format
Diary
Files
Collection
Citation
Grayson, Cary T. (Cary Travers), 1878-1938, “Cary T. Grayson Diary,” 1919 March 8, WWP17098, Cary T. Grayson Papers, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum, Staunton, Virginia.