Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1820-01-29
DOMESTIC.

VERY HIGH PRAISE.
FROM THE BALTIMORE PATRIOT.
Mr.. P,nhney's Speech in the Senate, on the
Missouri question.

Missouri question.
EXTRACT OF LETTER FROM
ASHlNGTON,J JANUARY 22d, 1920.
Yesterday attended the Senate, aud heard
Mr PINkNEY speak on the Missouri question
Such a burst OF oratory never before wit
messed. The lofty, impressive and elegant ar
gunenfS he adduced-hIs unbroken chain of
reasoning his flights of fancy. his metaphors
and aiinsions, were all of that ne Plus ultra
standard, which we are taught 10 dmire and
reverence III the Orators of Ancient Rome AT
her proudest era.
AT the moment of his speaking, the mind
wasso married along, by the rapid yet collect
ed torrent OF reasoning, imagery pathos and
satire, that ii had not a moments fine In
pause on tie various beauties, by which il was
encompassed nor was il until the scene had
closed, and the untired orator reluctantly
yielded TO the lateness OF the hour that could
rally my spell-bound faculties and enquire
INTO the separate qualities, which created this
fascination over my senses.
IL is so tar beyond the power of my pen to
do justice TO the high strain of eloauence and
argument, which the orator displayed, that
VIII not yield TO the vanity of attempting it,
none Duf The pencil OF the most faithful steno-
Siapher can paint its original and splendid
heahiIes. All that will venture 10 do, is to
express The more than admiration which over
powered me in listening, for three hours and a
hait, 10 chain of the most clear. distinct and
logical reasoning, eniivened throughout by
m-taphorical illusions, and the most chaste as
Wen as tublime expressions of our language
The clearness of his great conceptions was
only equalied by that vigorous self possession
Wbicl during the whole time he was speaking
ala not leave him a moment at a loss for the
most appropriate word, which the subject de-
manded nor cause the slightest hesitancy in
all his discourse, which ii am allowed the ex.
pressions, flowed INTERESTINGLY and spontape-
ously, rolling tide of eoquence.
Never did feel more enthusiasm for nv
CONTINGENCIES did feel more pride i'm the
name of an American, than while listening TO
the exhilirating and animaiing powers of this
orator of the New World
L thought OF Pitt, Burke, Fox and Sheridan,
or MIrabean and MauTy, of a Patrick Hem
Ty, Ames, King Randolph, Madison. Dexter.
and Writ, aud thought likewise of Demos
themes, of Cicero, and of the proudest DAYS of
home; but L felt cODviuced that the e!o-
qnence which once electrified Roman Senates.
never had surpassed that which sounded i'm
The lofty dome of the American Capitol
MIR. PINKNEY divided his SubJect into three
Parts-the constiiutionality of the question
tie treaty of the Louisiana cessioH, aud third
~ the policy OF the proposed restriction. bnt
what he has yet expressed, was limited to the
constitutional branch of the subject, reserve
ing 90 himself until Monday next, the discus
sion Of the other two points
1t his conclusion shall correspond with the
beauty aud dignity of his exordiun, | shaII
eonsderlt the most finished piece of senatorial
eiooqnence ana intellectual strength. ever ex-
blbIted, at least in our country; aud accord
with an opinion of venerable mrmber of the
Sehate, few minutes after Mr.. PINKNEY
closed his discourse, 81 would rather have
spoken that speech, than be Emperor of all
the Russias ;" aud deeply shall regret. if for
want OF Senatorial Reporter or Stenogra-
Pher, II does not appear in print. K.