Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1823-05-27
, FOR THE ENQUIRER.
LETTERS TO A YOUNG MEMBER OF TIE
RAR-Nn

I
and high objects which mankind by prone TO
admire" E.,aus on RhstoyIe
| 1t i, with unfeigned dnidence, my worthy ne
phew, that arproach r subject Of this lei,er even
although am writing you, who Will view with the
partial eye OF friendship whatever shall commune
cate. ElopnenCe ot the bar, OF the pulpit and of
popular assemblies has 50 often employ cd The pen of
cr',ici>i, TASTE and genius, that the feeble hand of
age Troubles when II attempts TO touch IL. You
however expect that shall, after some sort, com
p'rie the task which | have undertaken and this
cannot bo done without giving YOU my ideas on the
subject OF tiyTenee Of the bd, You need not expect
a regular dissertation or "A learned discourse or "a
sa,'sh imitation oi approved authors. My remarks
Will he such suggested hy my own reflections
aud whatever may he then dement's, they shall ut
least have the merit of some degree OF originality
My text has informed You ihat--a true orator
must possess generous sentiments and mind turned
towards the admiration OF all those great ard high
objects, which mankind are Ivy nature prone To ad-
nrc. This l. undoubtedly the first and most i'm
poriant ingredient IN the character of The orator.
| Can the deaf man lie good Judge of music or the
blind "a connOIsseur and critic IN painting Can the
man OF eroveilng mind low, couemptibe and Vi
cinus hahts, debased and malignant heart ever be-
come an eloquent, commanding, duni6ed and con-
vincns speaker | take it for granted tia, no man
| the his command of language and endowments OF
mind what they may eau excite emotion in othets
unless he himself reahyJeels appears feel what
he utiers--which last, iew,--very few indeed, are
capable OF teigming. How, for example, can he who
| mas never lett nm emotion Of beneyolence towards
ms ielow men, warm The frozen heart of charity by
|
has no adequate idea of Justice pourtrly the charac
Ger OF the iusi aud good man? can he, whose bosom
| never glowed with pure, chasie and ,irtuous love,
describe the bliss of TINT gueles. passion-such
" As in the dawn OF time nfornIJ the Lenrt
| % innoeeEce and undiSsembled truth"i
Can he, 10 whom knowledge never unfolded I" her
ample page r'ch with the spns Of time" paint the
beauties ni science can he, whose mind has been
cr'mred 10y despotism and whose slavsh soul has
nevet been cheered ~ one rny o. lihery, awaken
| lay his eloquent and mpassionod drnuncia,ions the
abhnrrence and deesialion of mankind against tie
oppressor's wrong & proud mans coulumely - Can
you suppose that he, who has neither eyes 10 see
ears 10 hear understanding To perceiI the moral
suhlioe and beautiful, can excel in pathos or
Suhi'mliy of eloquence Certainly not-Ihe speaker,
most as>urody, must uHde stand his subject and fee
before he excite the feelings of others-bis mind
must he enlightened and his heart the seat of eyey
virtue. Iou will see many men that are correct
interesting aud huent speakers, who have teach-
ell the moral excellence of which DR.. Blair speaks
IN the sentence ~ the head oil this letter bur none
OF genuine eioGueRce.
Il he possession Of the aminbe qualities OF the
heart, the high moral attributes and the unbleness Of
mind above spoken OF will be considered essential
To the oritor when we regard them another point
ol view. The pHhhc speaker, who is respected for
h'S virtues as well AS his profound learniEg and
iIamscendtnt talents, will always make a deem imures-
sion Wy what he says His hearers can confde in his
sincerity and truth, they know his unmpeachabIe
integrity, and think that they can safely uust tn hin,
| me feIns oi thcr Judgment and submit in thought
dnd leeling 10 his entire CoDtrou and direction His
opinions respectful the respopses o1 nm orncle
depreciation is on pIOc TO catch the truths that he
uifers and every heart open receive The imp
| Sions which he chooses to make on H. So that
whelher we regard norai ercetece, in IFS wholesome
aud invigoraiIng influence The mental powers Of
| the speaker or in lis powerful agency in exciting
the sympAihies, controlling the II, ugs and pu;;9
tie Judgments OF al audience, are forced TO con-
sdrr Il AZ the solid basis which eioguence must
erect It's Dominion Imagine the effect that would
he produced, by an avo"ed infdeI ucrin2 from the
pulpit The sacred truths OF Iegiun-a bloody tyrant
describing the blessings OF free saies-
man renowned for his duplicly and intrigue preach-
Jug SINCERITY, candour and patrioiism-or a LAWYER
known 10 he addicted to every law, sotdid contenD.
uhle and degrading vice, descanng on the beauties
OF morality and The happiness 10 be derived from a
v'r'uuns lie Would not chilling consciousness Of
base hypocrisy cool the aIdor and neuiralise the
| er2y OF lie speaker Wond not tho same cause
place the heAreron his guard against every effort
10 please, 10 instruct OF him and make his heart
cold as polar SHOWS What but "a consciousness OF
| pure InleHiions aud an uncomfortable irmness in
virtue could have inspired Logan the Indian Chief
and supported him in his eIoquence of nature, when
| ne eNcihimed-"l appeal TO any white man TO saw
~ ever ne entered LognnS cabin hungry and he gave
| h'n not iood cold and naked aud he clothed him
not ahd continued his short address, every word of
winch was NATURAL bold, vigorous and commanding ,
me love, respect aud admiration Of good and great
quaIUeSi Which men generally feel, caused 9icibia
| des 10 I've more affected by the naked spepcb az
Socrates than 10y The aboureh eloquence Of Perieles
he saying OF 7risfoC that the mind is TO he erk ed
with good gifts that il may take Dy in things thar he
t"Iy good and abhOr the contrary, was produced by
areiieci knowledge Of human nature and WAS re-
| ally worthy "i u wise man aud philosopher The
orator must ho respected for his virtues a. well as
lemu'ng aud talents. Exceptions do not weaken the
| force Of This remark.
Secondly the orator should understand his sub-
Jec and his first effort should be TO make others nm
tt r. Jind IT. lie should always entle tn convince
dnI persuade, before he enlist the feelings
or rouse the passions Uf his nudiencc A strict OH
serF'nce oil this rule will b5 uselT 10 the UI.lpif r'.i
tOJ and te popuir isclsaier and IL IS in,,s,rns,bIv
l [, he or1gj nj he 1,.
| science requiring much labuuT 10 u,nsier IL Thp
hnyrr ~ compelled to- read, analyze and ron,na,s
many different Legislative acts, many elementary
Ircdtlses, many looks OF Tepnrls and upnions az
Judge. aHd 10 render the most al,strusc ,Iorr;nes
| plum hud inielligible TO common understandings
1igumeni, therefore, suits him better Than ,Iecinn,s
| r0n-he Willie compelled sometimes 80 discuss diff
lctent aud ligHod questions, before Judges remark
able Tor their age learning and virtues and woulJ
! give evidence Of madness folly, was lie IN make
- "redlio their feelings, instead Of heir iudg saens
| " he wishes TO make an impression on such Nm au-
gust and venerable tiibuna he must open his stores
nl knowcdgr, exert The whole Strength Of his reason.
! i"3 powers, present arguments, bold, cogent and
rrcsts die he Will thus clear away ali d,nlt ami
! produce Impressions favourable ~ his cause
A.tcr be las laid The deep and solid foundation Of
cnnvicuon, hC may safely arpea 10 the feelings
| and The p'is7tors. But tho shallow disclaimer who
cutters upon TIE discus ion of legal subject untter
/ the influence Of false belief tlst he las pnthi,g
| 10 do bot 10 display the chrrms ~ rhetoric and
ply oh iiie various arts Of oratory TO indulge in
/ tll the sports Ol tlncy and d'zEc hy The besutv
sud splrndor of his dcclaaigiion, must meet with
| disappointment and modification lie il 90 png
ci rp w'ih scii-conccii soiiciious 10 show him
sih 2" gr"ai advantage AID 20 act the orator, that
he does not link II worth his while 10 attend 10
tune, place or circumstance, and has not patience
ln examine his subject or consult tie characters,
| icelings and wishes Of his hearers.
| Take one oi the most afgumeniaiive speeches Of
I."rd Erstins, wien hn the bar and con,pat p
| It with The bes Of CWrdTs The one vii ave, mower
you BY lie vigOr Of his mud and the resisiicss
| Inc tl.llI L.