This
happened so often that I became satisfied it was a concerted
scheme, and made up my mind that I would not yield to such
a request again.
But one afternoon Senator Wilson of Maryland, a quiet and
most estimable gentleman, whom I had known very well, and
for whom I had a high regard, came to me and said he felt
quite unwell; he could go on that afternoon, if I insisted
upon it; but he would like much better to put off speaking
till the next day. I was just beginning my answer to the
effect that I had heard that so often that I had determined I
would not yield again to the request. But I said to myself,
It cannot be possible that this man would undertake to deceive
me. He is a gentleman of high character, absolutely honorable
and incapable of falsehood. So I answered, Of course, Mr.
Wilson, if you are ill, I will consent to your desire. Mr.
Wilson made his speech the next day. This was December 15.
A few weeks after, on the 24th of February, Mr. Wilson died
suddenly of heart disease. It was an affection of which he
had been conscious for some years, and which he had for some
time expected would cause sudden death.
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