Bill Hutton's History of America: The Compromise of 1850

D. Webster drove the big car along the California coast. It was a[n] absolutely perfect day. The men were driving to Congress.

"Why do you insist on my driving, Tony?" he asked the other man, Henry Clay.

"Because I'm a little stoned and also a lousy driver, Luci, you know that."

They drove past some surfers.

"The neighborhood I came from nobody owned a car," continued Clay. "I was twenty-three before I drove!"

They were driving up to Congress to discuss the controversial Compromise Bill.

"You got no idea how poor my family was, Luci. When I was a kid I never thought about owning a car! All I thought about was how to make a buck . . . to get some groceries put on the table."

They passed some cows and watermelon.

"You don't look like a homosexual," said D. Webster, keeping his eye on the road.

"I know. My parents never lived long enough. But Joey; he's gonna get everything I didn't get. Especially a new pair of shoes!"

"He's a fine boy."

"And thanks to you, now he's a healthy boy."

"He's a good boy."

An unbelievable truck passed them the other way.

"By the way," said Webster, "I called up this Dr. Morgan the other day. He's coming into town tomorrow night for your going away party!"

"You phoned the great Dr. Morgan?"

"The heart specialist?"

"Well I'm not getting mixed up with Dr. Morgan, Tony. I'm just going into practice with him."

Daniel Webster drove the big car up the driveway and stopped where a suited parking lot attendant waited.

"Just the same," he said, "I want to be sure he's not a bad type for you and Joey to get mixed up with."

The two men walked inside Congress. They received a thunderous ovation. Clay was a Southerner. Webster was from the North. Joey was from Seattle. The Compromise of 1850 had to do with slavery. It was finally passed.

Bill Hutton's History of America was published by the Coach House Press, Toronto/Detroit. Copyright © 1968 by Bill Hutton.

WEBSTER: America's Most Brilliant Orator

HENRY CLAY: Great Orator and Political Leader