The Alexandria herald. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1811-1826, 1823-03-19
Gbe Ian Fllunh. NO. VI.
FOR rtE ALExAspRiA HERALD.
ON ELOQUENCE.

| standing SO well embellished by
| The figures of rhetoric-stii, If il want
that compulsive ardour, that the heart
alone can communicate, it will produce
but slig..t effect. Indeed if we are
cold and formal IN our mode of express
sion, the more ornamental our diction, the
more repulsive we become just as
man who possesses great haughtiness,
Increases our previous aversion by deck
ing himself in gorgeous apparel. The
reason OF disgust in both these instances
10 the same. Every object deserves
attention oRly in proportion to lis impor-
tances Now il something worthless re-
ceives great decoration, it Assumes the
airs OF vanity and affectatioB. SO If the
naughty man array himself in a splendid
costume, he is considered as very vainIy
Counting an attention he does not deserve,
and is viewed with mingled emotions of
contempt and scorn. And in the same
manner, when the cold and frieid pro.
ductions OF critical Iabour are presented
TO our examination, we soon perceive
peoury OF feeling amid all the profusion
OF ornament, that creates disgust.
Civilization, it would seem, is mimi.
cal to natural e!oquence. At least the
unsophistica,ed language of nature is
more generally found to prevail in chimes
that have never felt its genial influence
The most sublime specimens Of elo.
quence have flowed from the uncui.ured
Indian He has no scholastick rules-no
forms Of hypocritical polteness, to allie
nate him from all adherence to nature
HIS only tutor is the impulse of the heert.
! In las oratorical attempts, uS does not
compose his ideas-select his imagery
adopt his language, or sjorn it with any
artificial flowers. He has no elaborate
| period (: no affected accom- mediation of
sound to sense-no puerile efforts to
| give melody to his sentence but he has
what is more: strong resistess current
OF natural feeling, Rowing in one channel
mot lost IN a thousand subdivisions
The speech Of Logan produces an effect
in the bosom long after the speech i,aclf
has been laid aside 1t will never cease
to affect the heart until the heart shall
cease to feel. The pert and frothy lucua
brations and nonsensical rantings of our
modern declaimers, form a laughabIe
counterpart to this simple, yet sublime
eHusion. Fathers have not been content
Only with deserving nature, but mould
themselves and their harangucs with a
view to gain the transitory applau~e Of
the crowd They indulge in high flown
rhaPsodies, and select figures of language
more to crafty popular prejudice than
from Inability TO make different and
more agreeable choice. But why should
this tieeting applause be preferred to that
OF the wise and cha.te Why should
the standard of nature be deserted in
subserviency to the caprice of mob (?
Those who thus misspeDd their genius,
should remember that they are rearing
a superstructure, the materials Of which
are not calculated to stand the test Of time.
Words have been very Justly styled the
dress of our sentiments. Now dress is
known TO hide the object it invests, if as.
sumed in too great quantity. So the &C.
emulation Of words obscures our dis
courses, and retards the perception of
our meaning. No impressive effect can
be produced, unless our sentiments and
feelings are transmitted with facility into
TIE minds Of our audience, To convince
their understandings and to move their
hearts, perspicuity throughout is indls
pensably necessary. AS the sense of the
publick speaker must be gathered as he
proceeds, an attention to this rule is pes
culiarly obligatory in him. He should
not indulge in romantick flights Of fancy
nor affect fastidious delicacy of Style
His elocution should be prompt and rea.
dyj flexible without weakness, and
e,rono without coarseneso