USA > Washington DC > Washington DC > Historic homes in Washington : its noted men and women and a century in the White House > Part 15
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26
But the days of shadows and tragedies in this home were not over. Mr. Blaine and his son Walker, and his daughter, Mrs. Coppinger, all died in this house, and when Mrs. Blaine closed its doors to go to her home in Maine, they were not reopened, but the property, with all its sad history, went into the hands of a company who razed the house to the ground and built thereon a theater.
៛
CHAPTER XVIII. THE HOME OF CHARLES SUMNER.
SUMNER'S CLASSIC HOME-THE SUCCESSOR OF DANIEL WEBSTER. A MAN OF DIGNIFIED' APPEARANCE-BEN: PERLEY POORE, HIS CLERK-ESTRANGEMENT FROM GRANT-BOTH NUMBERED WITH THE GREAT MAJORITY-HIS STUDY-LOVE OF THE BEAUTIFUL-CONNOISSEUR IN ART-INSTINCTIVE LOVE OF FREEDOM-EULOGY-THE CORCORAN HOUSE-A MEMORABLE DISPATCH-MARQUIS DE MONTHOLON'S BALL-HOME OF JOHN SLIDELL AND OF GIDEON WELLES-REVERDY JOHNSON'S HOUSE. DANIEL WEBSTER'S RESIDENCE.
On the corner diagonally across the street from the Madison house stands a red-brick house with a mansard roof. This was once the classic home of Charles Sumner.
When in Washington, for the last nine years that he was in the United States Senate, he lived in this house.
For a period of 23 years Mr. Sumner filled his chair in the Senate as the successor of Daniel Webster. By nature and by education he was pre-eminently fitted for the work before him, extolling what he thought was noble, and denouncing what he believed to be wrong.
No visitor in Congress during that time but can recall his upright carriage and dignified presence-a man fit to succeed the immortal Webster. His life was devoted to an unending effort to secure for a wronged and degraded race the rights of men.
When Brooks struck him down in the Senate Chamber, he was destined to suffer bodily as few men have suffered. What he had to say on resuming his seat after a three vears' absence, in which he endured agonies from the blow of Brooks, was like the man.
"I have no personal griefs to utter; only a vulgar egotism could intrude such into this chamber. I have no personal wrongs to avenge; only a brutal nature could attempt to wield that vengeance which belongs to the Lord. The years that have intervened and the tombs that have opened since I spoke, have their voices, too, which I cannot fail to hear. Besides, what am I, or what
(188)
189
HOMES OF HISTORIC MEX
is any man among the living or among the dead, con- pared with the question before us?"
He was ever ready to attack evil in its strongest hold; and, like the knight of Ivanhoe in the tournament, he struck with the sharp end of his spear the shield of its bravest champion.
When the Republicans came into power in 1861, Mr. Sumner was made Chairman of the Senate Committee of Foreign Affairs, a position for which he was well fitted by his knowledge of the history, literature, and language of other countries. He spoke French like a native, and foreigners from the Diplomatic Corps visited his home frequently for social as well as business purposes.
His selection for clerk of his committee was the late eminent author and journalist, Maj. Ben: Perley Poore. This appointment was made in full confidence of the Major's fitness for the position, and his friendship for the man. For years he held this position with Mr. Sumner, and was afterwards promoted to a more lucrative office.
When Mr. Sumner became estranged from Gen. Grant and his Cabinet, it will be remembered that "Perley," in his dispatches and letters, antagonized his old friend and strongly favored the President. Many of Mr. Sumner's friends did not follow him. Some of them brought these letters to his notice. He would not read them, but would sav:
"I like him too well to read his letters; I like the person, not the writer. We are each doing what we believe to be our duty. Why should we quarrel?"
The years Mr. Sumner gave to the study of art and to the languages made him a man of elegant accomplish- ments, which always brought him the society of the educated and the cultured in the land. His study, which was a large room on the second floor, overlooking Ver- mont avenue, was richly filled with engravings, books and manuscripts. He loved all that was beautiful. In the study of engravings he had acquired a knowledge even of lace manufacture, and to him it was one of the fine arts. He studied it as he would color, or perspective, and it is said of him that he knew more of laces than most ladies.
190
HISTORIC HOMES IN WASHINGTON.
He was also a connoisseur in ceramics; his home was filled with gems of rare old china, and specimens of ori- ental, ancient and modern pottery adorned his cabinets. He brought himself face to face with Phoenician thought, and from the wonders of the Kurium Temple he read the records of the past, and did not doubt the inventive genius, the æsthetic taste, the beautiful ideas that made them masters of their art.
After all, it was high moral qualities that gave him eminence in his own country and throughout the world. Charles Sumner was born with an instinctive love of free- dom, and believed that it was the indefeasible right of every being created in God's image.
The world will voice the sentiments of a brother Senator in his eulogy of this good man:
"When the men, not yet grown old, are gone who shared the studies, the hopes, the joys of this youth of richest promise; when no man lives who remembers the form of manly beauty and manly strength, and the tones of the mellow and far-sounding voice which arraigned the giant crimes of all ages; when no survivor is left of the 15 years of strife, labor, and anxiety, and danger, and victory which began with the Fugitive Slave law, and ended with Appomattox and the adoption of the 13th Amendment; when the feet are dust that are wont to cross the threshold · of that hospitable home. with its treasures of art and literature; when the eloquent voices of eulogy from orator, poet and pulpit are traditions and not a memory, the character of Charles Sumner will still be an efficient force in history and will still have a higher place than now in the gratitude of mankind."
REMINISCENCES OF PUBLIC MEN.
A few rods from the famous house of Charles Sumner, there stands, on the corner of Connecticut avenue and H street, what was the home of W. W. Corcoran. In the long ago, many of the dignitaries of Washington lived there.
191
HOMES OF HISTORIC MEN.
Before and during the Mexican War it was occupied by the British Minister, Mr. Pakenham. Here he kept open house, and it was the scene of festivities which admit of no rivals even in this day of lavish expenditure.
Previous to Mr. Corcoran's purchase it was owned by Daniel Webster, having been presented to the Massa- chusetts statesman by his admiring friends. Here he resided while Secretary of State, and many of the brilliant entertainments of that day were given within its halls.
When Mr. Webster left the Cabinet, he found he could not afford the expense of such an establishment. Mr. Webster is a fair example of the fact that the gift of 10 talents is rarely made to one person, and his deficiency seemed to be an utter want of financial ability; he was ever an impecunious man. Mr. Corcoran made many improvements to the property after Mr. Webster lived there.
At the outbreak of the war Mr. Corcoran's sympathies . were with the South. He did not wish to identify himself actively with the cause, and therefore decided to go abroad, where he remained until the long struggle was ended.
There have been many stories regarding the attempt to confiscate the property by the Government, but we believe the true one to be this, coming from the lips of Mr. Cor- coran's confidential agent, the venerable and courtly gentleman, Mr. Hyde:
After Mr. Corcoran had left the city, and was still in New York, Mr. Hyde on Sunday morning received orders to have the house cleared by Tuesday, as it was to be occupied by the Government. He immediately tele- graphed Mr. Corcoran, whose reply was that he had sometime before rented the house to the French Minister, M. de Montholon.
This dispatch never reached the hands of Mr. Hyde. Monday he called upon the proper officials and told them they could take the house; he should not undertake to move, in one day, all those wonderful works of art, household gods, etc .; he might just as well leave them therc. They politely told him they had changed their minds, and De Montholon took possession.
192
IHISTORIC HOMES IN WASHINGTON.
In February, 1866, when Gen. Grant was stationed in Washington as Commander-in-Chief of the Army, M. de Montholon, who retained the house for the French Le- gation, issued cards of invitation for the most magnificent ball that was ever given at the Capital.
The ball was given by the order of Louis Napoleon, in consequence of which the French ship then lying at Annapolis was ordered here, that her officers might at- tend the entertainment. The city was filled with officers of the United States army in full uniform, which added greatly to the brilliant appearance of the affair.
The Marquise de Montholon wore a magnificent dress covered with jeweled fleur-de-lis, ordered from Paris for the occasion; across her breastwas the Order of Napoleon and that of the house of De Montholon.
There were two women present as brides whose names were conspicuous not only at home but abroad. One was Mrs. Kate Chase Sprague, whose remarkable beauty was world renowned. She appeared in a dress of white moire, ' striped with green, wearing in her dark auburn hair an antique tiara of emeralds and diamonds.
The other bride was the wife of Gen. Williams, and was formerly Mrs. Stephen A. Douglas. She wore her bridal costume of white silk with tulle overdress, and strands of pearls in her hair and about her throat.
The dancing should have commenced at 2 o'clock, but owing to the crowd, 5 o'clock in the morning saw Sir Frederic Bruce, then Minister from the Court of St. James, lead the cotillion.
Gen. Grant's partner was Miss Harris, who was in the box at the theater with President Lincoln the night of his assassination. She afterward married Col. Rathbone, and met her tragic death at his hands some years ago in Berlin.
The dancing lasted until daylight; the gentlemen did not even "go home with the girls in the morning." A royal breakfast was served for many of the company, after which the gentlemen departed for their several places of business, while several of the ladies made their round of calls at morning receptions in ball dress,
ود
.
?
SOUTH GATE-
ARLINGTON, VA
193
-
HOMES OF HISTORIC MEN.
After peace was declared Mr. Corcoran returned from his wanderings in foreign lands, since which time, up to his death, he resided in his beautiful home, living in a quiet way, spending the evening of his life in dispensing bene- factions with a princely hand.
He erected the Church of the Ascension, a fine white stone structure, one of the handsomest in the city. He was bountiful in private charities, as many young busi- ness men can testify; but the gems of his endowments are the Art Gallery and the Louise Home.
The next house east of Mr. Corcoran's was formerly owned by Mr. Ritchie, the distinguished editor and Gov- ernment Printer. After his death Mr. John Slidell, Senator from Louisiana, became its occupant, and stepped out of it when he stepped into the Southern Confederacy. Mr. Slidell was born in New York and educated at Co- lumbia College; but he subsequently took his birthright and his education and planted them in New Orleans. The fruit they bore him proved exceedingly bitter to the taste.
In the Autumn of 1861 he was sent as Commissioner to France, at the same time that Mr. Mason had a like ap- pointment to England. Capt. Wilkes, of the United States frigate San Jacinto, boarded the British mail steamer Trent, and arrested the Commissioners, who were confined in Fort Warren, Boston Harbor. They were afterwards released on the demand of the British Government, and sailed for England; after which Mr. Slidell had as little use for his country as his country had for him. He settled in England, and died there in 1871. .
After Mr. Slidell left the house, Gideon Welles, Secre- tary of the Navy, occupied it during his term of office .. His striking figure will be well remembered by all those who have ever seen him. His long white beard and heavy white wig distinguished him, and gave him the look of the heavy grandfather in a genteel comedy.
The Hon. Reverdy. Johnson, when Attorney-General under President Taylor, built the house that was known for many years as the Johnson Annex to the Arlington Hotel.
. IR
194
HISTORIC HOMES IN WASHINGTON. 1
It was more prominently known as the home of Mr. Johnson during the time he was Senator from Maryland, when the country was going through its darkest days from 1863 to 1868. It is no longer standing.
It will be remembered that Reverdy Johnson was an uncompromising Union man. He was the only border State Senator who voted for the abolition of slavery in the District of Columbia.
The characters of our public men might be better known and the mysteries of Government better understood if the walls of many of these historic homes were phonographs, and could be set talking at will, revealing the secrets of the conferences held in the last 30 years.
What politician, in fact, what man is there in this Re- public, who would not like to turn the crank and listen to the arguments used in the conference convened in the Johnson house, that decided, on Feb. 22, 1868, the votes of Mr. Fessenden and Mr. Grimes, with whom lay the balance of power which acquitted President Johnson, who had been impeached for high crimes and misdemeanors? Again would be heard pledges that were exacted and given.
They must, at least, have been satisfactory to Mr. Fessenden, for when Chief Justice Chase, in his impressive manner, asked, "Mr. Senator Fessenden, how say you, is the respondent, Andrew Johnson, guilty as charged?" he firmly replied, "Not guilty."
Mr. Grimes voted the same. They fulfilled their pledge. It is well known that Mr. Fessenden, while not wholly in sympathy with all the accusations of the prosecuting party, had grave misgivings of the fidelity of Mr. John- son to his party.
Whether President Johnson was faithful to the pledge he made and solemnized at the conference held in this house, contemporary history must decide.
Lovely women and eminent men from all over the world lave peopled these rooms. The last party of note that occupied this house was the Presidential party of Benjamin Harrison, which was here one week before . the Inauguration and occupancy of the White House.
CHAPTER XIX.
THE HOMES
OF DANIEL WEBSTER, GEORGE
BANCROFT, JOHN HAY, THOMAS RITCHIE,
MONTGOMERY BLAIR, AND ADMIRAL PORTER.
LAST HOME OF WEBSTER-A KING AMONG MEN-A SENTIMENTAL SIDE TO HIS LIFE-GRACE FLETCHER-"PRECIOUS DOCUMENTS." A BORN GENIUS-THE CONSTITUTION-A BIT OF HISTORY-A MEMORABLE PICTURE IN CONGRESS-WEBSTER AND CLAY RIVALS-PERSONAL RELATIONS OF WEBSTER AND CALHOUN. SEVENTH OF MARCH SPEECH-CALHOUN'S DEATH-MR. WEB- STER'S RELATIONS WITH MR. BENTON-A TOUCHING INTER- VIEW-BURYING THE HATCHET-NOMINATION OF GENERAL SCOTT-DISAPPOINTMENT OF MR. WEBSTER-HIS LAST SPEECH. A GRACEFUL EFFORT-HIS CAREER AS A POLITICIAN ENDED. MR. WEBSTER'S DEATH-A GIANT IN REPOSE-GEORGE BAN- CROFT-CHANGE IN SOCIETY-RANK NO PASSPORT TO POLITE SOCIETY-A MAN OF LETTERS-PEN PICTURE-LIVES AMONG HIS BOOKS-HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES-IN THE ATMOS- PHERE OF THE HISTORY-MAKING REPUBLIC-WITH THE IRON PEN OF HISTORY-MAKING RECORD-THE CHANGES HE HAS 1 WITNESSED-HIS FLOWERS AND HIS FRIENDS-THE PEOPLE HE HAS SEEN-AN HONORED CITIZEN-JOHN HAY'S HOME. WHERE SITUATED-AMONG THE HOMES OF THE LITERATI. HISTORY OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN-"PIKE COUNTY BALLADS." "CASTILIAN DAYS"-MR. NICOLAY-THOMAS RITCHIE-THE NEWSPAPER FRATERNITY-ALL HAVE PASSED AWAY-EDITOR OF THE RICHMOND WHIG-SUPERSEDED BLAIR & RIVES-A GEN- TEEL OLD FOGY-AN ESTRANGEMANT-"HOW GREAT A MAT- TER A LITTLE FIRE KINDLETH"-HIS HOME ON G STREET-THE SLIDELL HOUSE-A DESTINY THAT SHAPES OUR ENDS.
The last home of Daniel Webster in Washington is on Louisiana avenue, between Fifth and Sixth streets, and . known as the Webster Law Building. It was those of his friends who possessed the open sesame to his fireside who know the better part of Daniel Webster.
It is not upon his public life that we shall mostly dwell; that is already well known. Mr. Webster has written his own biography. We know what share he had.in the molding and shaping of public opinion. We appreciate
(195 )
.
196
HISTORIC HOMES IN WASHINGTON.
his influence upon the history of this country. That is already stereotyped upon the hearts of his countrymen.
No one who has ever seen Mr. Webster will need any aid to memory to recall his personal appearance. His con- manding figure, large head, broad chest, penetrating eyes, deep-set and enkindled by glowing thoughts, can never be forgotten. He was a king among mien.
This old home was the place where his friends learned the depth of his friendship, his kindness of heart, his sweetness of temper. Men like Edward Everett, Rufus Choate, William Wirt, John Marshall, Mr. Seaton, and scores more, learned here of the pathetic and the humor- ous side in his home life.
No one need question that the great statesman, orator, and dintomat had also a sentimental side to his life.
When he was a young lawyer he met in Portsmouth Grace Fletcher, who afterward became his wife. He was a frequent visitor at her home. One evening he had been assisting her in untying skeins of silk, when he suddenly stopped, and looking up into her face, said:
"Grace, we have been engaged in untying knots; let us see if we cannot tie a knot which will not untie for a life- time." He then took a piece of tape and partly tied a knot of peculiar style, and passed it to her to finish. This was the proposal and ratification of their engagement.
After his death a little box was found among his be- longings, upon which was written with his own hand, "Precious documents." When opened there were dis- closed the early letters of his courtship and the piece of tape; the knot had never been untied.
When we recall many incidents of his boyhood's life, the grand consummation of his manhood, and the close of his illustrious career, we say Daniel Webster was born a genius. His mind, like the rough, rugged New Hamp- shire mountains that surrounded his birthplace, was fashioned in a giant mold.
The fires of the Revolution were smothered under the furrows turned by the plowshares of peace. The breath of liberty had driven back to old England's shores the wrecks of power, wealth and glory. Out of all the dis-
.
197
HOMES OF HISTORIC MEN.
cord, bold and heroic thought was weaving that mighty prodigy of wisdom, the grand charter of American liberty, the Constitution! About this time the boy Webster chanced to be sent to a neighboring store. He there found a curiosity, or what was such to him.
It was a pocket handkerchief, covered over with some- thing printed in good, fair type. All the money he had in the world was 25 cents, and that was exactly the price of the rare specimen of literature. Of course, the bookish boy bought it and took it home. That evening, until very late, he sat by the large fireplace, in the presence of his father and mother, perusing and reperusing, studying and committing to memory the remarkable treasure thus obtained.
Who can reveal the impressions and results of that memorable night? What Munkacsy or Millet will picture the event? It was Daniel Webster reading for the first time the Constitution of the United States.
It was during the month of November, 1812, after war was declared with England by President Monroe, that Daniel Webster first allowed his name to be brought for- ward as a candidate for office. There seemed to be a crisis in the country, and he yielded to his country's de- mands.
This election brought him the first time to Congress. His trip here he often related and pictured as no other man .could. He would tell how he lumbered along at the rate of four miles an hour in an old mail-coach from Ports- mouth to Boston; how from Boston over to Hartford worked his passage around by land, a long and weary way; then to New Haven, and on to New York City; and how he progressed, day after day, through the State of New Jersey; and of his speculations with Gov. Stockton as to the practicability of some day making the trip by water.'He entered Philadelphia in a big wagon, and thence to Baltimore; and from Baltimore to Washington through many perils, and, after nearly two weeks of laborious travel, he found himself, on the 24th of May, at the seat of Government, in no plight to stand before the assembled wisdom of the Nation,
198
HISTORIC HOMES IN WASHINGTON.
Daniel Webster and Henry Clay were political and oratorical rivals. For 25 years these men contended for the leadership of the Whig party and for its preference for the Presidency. They served side by side in the House and in the Senate, each in turn occupying the office of Secretary of State. They died within a few months of each other.
The personal relations between Mr. Webster and Mr. Calhoun were of the pleasantest and friendliest character.
A touching incident occurred between these men at the time Mr. Webster made his famous 7th of March speech, , in which he abandoned the Wilmot Proviso and justified the Fugitive Slave Law, for which he received much adverse criticism.
The venerable South Carolina Senator was very ill in his room at the Old Capitol building. Mr. Webster had called upon him a few days previous. The coming speech was alluded to. Mr. Calhoun expressed a wish to hear it. Mr. Webster replied that he hoped Mr. Calhoun would be able to get to the Senate. Mr. Calhoun shook his head sadly, and remarked that he feared that he should never again leave the sick-room. Mr. Webster parted from him, fully impressed that his days were num- bered.
Mr. Webster had not been speaking long when a tall, gaunt figure, wrapped in a long black cloak, with deep, cavernous black eyes and a thick mass of snow-white hair brushed back from the large brow and falling to the shoulders, advanced with slow and feeble steps through the lobby behind the Vice-President's chair; and then, aided by one of the Senators, approached and sank into a chair on the opposite side to the chamber.
Mr. Webster's face was turned from him, so that he did not see the almost apparition enter. In the course of the speech he alluded to something Mr. Calhoun had once said in debate as "the utterance of the distinguished and venerable Senator from South Carolina, who, I deeply regret, is prevented by serious illness from being in his seat to-day."
Mr. Calhoun moved restlessly in his chair. his head and
199
HOMES OF HISTORIO MEN.
body bent eagerly forward, and he made a great effort to rise and interrupt the orator. He sank back, evidently exhausted, and Mr. Webster, all unconscious of his pres- ence, kept on with the majestic flow of Websterian elo- quence.
Presently he had occasion to refer to Mr. Calhoun again as "the eminent Senator from South Carolina, whom we all regret so much to miss from such a cause from his seat to-day."
Mr. Calhoun again grew restless, his hands nervously grasped the chair, his black eyes grew fiercer in their eagerness, he half rose from his seat and in his old voice exclaimed:
"The Senator from South Carolina is in his seat."
Mr. Webster turned towards him with a startled look, and when he saw that his friend had actually arisen from a bed of death to creep to the Capitol, in his weakness, to hear his speech, he for a time was too much overcome to proceed with his argument. He acknowledged the touching compliment by a bow, and with a sad smile on his face proceeded with his speech.
But a few days more, and Calhoun lay dead in state within those walls! Political and party prejudices often bring sad estrangements among men, but let the finger of Providence be laid upon a man, and how soon these prejudices fade into thin air and the better part of true manhood comes to the surface.
Mr. Webster and Mr. Benton were hardly on speaking terms for many years. They would pass in and out of the same door without recognizing each other with a bow. There existed no social relations between them; but at the time of the gun explosion on board the Princeton, during Mr. Taylor's Administration, Mr. Benton was on board, and Mr. Webster has left on record this interview:
"Mr. Benton related to me with tears this incident: He said he was standing near the gun in the very best posi- tion to see the experiment. The deck of the steamer was crowded, and, in the scramble for places to witness the discharge of the gun, his position was perhaps the most favorable one on the deck. Suddenly he felt a hand laid
200
HISTORIC HOMES IN WASHINGTON.
upon his shoulder and turned. Some one wished to speak to him and he was elbowed out of his place and another person took it, very much to his annoyance. The person who exchanged places with him was ex-Gov. Gilmer, of Virginia, then Secretary of the Navy.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.