Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1816-03-06
Ed. u. Press.
"wssh.pgton, 7hJau 1916.
g DEAR JACK


GDEAR JACK.
oI promised to write you now and then
when could overcome the els inertia
and had any thing tn write about. Tn
only resource Of idleuess in this city. is
tee House OF Representatives, and az
wasn't of something better | am generally TO
be found seated 10 the gallery listening
most sterateiy TO all sorts of speeche.
ycg s,sssf si,sset..re eynee, to fied nv let,
te'shHof6Te Eloqdence or no EIoquence
of the members.
" Experience puts to flight more bug.
bears than the light Of reason or theoreti-
Cal truth. Before came here, on this my
first sally, since we left the enchanted
walls Of Nassau Hall, that keep both the
learning and the wit OF that establishment
SO snugly confined, that very title Of it e.
yer gets out. But ramble ike member
OF Congress Just escaped the trammeIs on
1he PretiOus Question: was going 70
say, and | beseech thee Jack to give me
credit for the Intention, that before set
ouf on this visit, had only contemplated
the Speeches of the Congressional Orators
through the medium oil the newspapers.
where all kinds of ElOquence is reduced
60 sort of merchandise standard, some
what analogous TO what IS call nbiddLiags
by mIllers the real orators being degrad.
cd, e. the no orators raised to this stand
ard through the dwelling principle of the
Reporters. consequently had an idea
thai every member talked common sense
at least. when he ventured to talk at all !.
but begin to suspect that laborsd under
delusion--for verify Jack, have heaid
now and theh such arguments actually de-
livered, as would have done little honor to
our debating society, when we were Fresh
men, and used you know, to debate about
man in state Of nature, and whether mar
rage was conductive to happiness, with o.
ther tTi1es of this sort. 1t was on this for
nler question that our friend Absalom
fi------ gained such applause by his pun.
ming syllogism which he uttered with that
invincible, iDveterate gravity, that like the
gravity of the Chinese Philosopher, was
with one degree Of frigidity. Says Absa-
lOm---s' Man in state of Nature is the
most sensible IF ali men--because his plea
sures are those Uf the senSeS--ard the plea
su~es Of sense, are the most sensible plea
sures in the world"
~ lltt iilN dtlttudiNt ~ NbhStteH 1Adii
has given me most mischievOus habit of
Distressing that can't control within
yeasonablr bounds Cor the soul of me.
believe was saving, for wont swear to
81, and never look back on what | have
wriiten--I believe | was saying Mr.. Spea.
ke,, az ie 20 sag ny dear Jack, that la
bored nndcr deusion IN believing every
orator thar tgured IN the news apers t.
be Take oi common sense. Whnt car
you expect from men that make SIX
sDeeche, day, or speak sex lays without
INTERIM sion Can any thing but ong
wlnded nehsense hold out 80 long--or a.
s. ever known tbot plain Sober useful
common sense ever possessed such power
Of repetition or extension The example
Of these immeasurable orators iusiifies our
answerin the negative, for there Is only,
this distinction in favor Of either, that the
hrst class when they do lean towards com
mon sense, forget Che subject Of debate
and the second when they remember the
subject, forget poor cOmmosense.