Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1824-02-10

and 10 see what arguments he could adducr
nm an interesting question. You may suppose
the area behind the speakers chair, the spa
cious aises around The bar of the House, and
the extensive galleries through all its ranges
of seats mounted oneabove another like an
'ampitheatre, filed with ladies, with the mem
bers OF the Senate, with foreign ministers, with
pubic fnnctiunarics OF various descriptions,
with the multitude of strangers now at Wash
llnglon, and with citizens uf the Metropolis
You may suppose one vacant chair in the
ffonse, after the proceedings of the morning
commenced, and that all eyes are turned IN il
with fearful soliciiutie. lest the occupant was
taken suddenly i'll, and might not be- able TO
come out and i"in in the debate. You NAV
suppose. at a little after Q, the door opens, and
al heads are turned, and peep over the gal
iery tn see who enters. A hustle runs thru
the mulffnde, and a whisper rapidly circti-
lates from oneto another, "Mr. Randnlrh
mas come" No one could mistake III. man
who bad seen him before. or ever heard him
described. You discover tall, straight. slcu-
der figure, say about G feet in height. with re-
markedly long limbs, small and sallow fea-
lures. advancing with hasty step, ha,ng in
II little of The gravity and statcliness If the
ordinary Virginia gait. H.. uniformly - ears
a neat fur cap. white cloth great coat, or ra-
cinlhcs, white stockings, with an additional
pair Of socks, coming above his shoes. about
his ANGLES. He wears his gloves even when
he IS speaking When his cap is removed,
which IS seldom the case, except when he
arises TO address the chair, you see It fine
mead OF black hair, apparently untouched hy
the frost of agr, conibed smoothly before
slightly parted upon his forehead. and long
behind, being tie,l near his head, by single
string. AT "a distancr, the contour Of his
features gives him young appearance. but
ON Il nearer view. the nia,ks nran ipfirm
constitution, anh the deep lines of thought be-
come visible
! Accuston,rdto hear Mr. Randolph srnkrn
nj: and to consider him "a remarkahle for
little else fhan his i,id imagination, his keen
satricaI powers, and the polished shafts Of
his wit, was disappcini d in finding about
him So much the dignity aud gravity OF The
statesman, such depth "f reflection, so wide
range and forecast of thought, and so deep
an interest IN his subject. Perhaps his facul-
ties we're less playful to-day Than they are on
most occasions for in his txordiunl he de-
ciared his solemn con, cion, that the r,snI,i-
ton under discussion involve ed more s,iinns
and important question, than any subject
which had been in drbatr, since he had taken
his seat IN the House, in the year 1899 Be
ms as 1t may, his manner on This occasion
was unusually dSniird, serious. and inprrs
sive Even hen his wit and satire mad. o.
Tiers laugh, you could not Sc The muscles of
MS lace relax in the slightest degree from
their gravity and his countenanoe gave no in
timaiion, when tn" poisoned arrow was TO hr.
lahnched from his bow. He speaks with great
deliotra'ion, making long and emphatic pans
rs, winch sometimes express more Ihan even
ms words themselves. His elnqncnce is never
hurried, vehement, and impassIpned, evnci,,s
an excitement of the mind, and rr,dnni-
nancr"f feeling In this yeeprcI he differs We
~ widely from most of The orators which his
own state has prD.luced lie is never carried
away himself, nor carries away the hrnrrr
with any sudden glow Of thought, ar,!unr OF
imagination, or bursts of passion.
Mr. Randolph may BIZ regarded as on. oi
me most finished orators of the age. His cl-
! oquence IS not spontaneous and nntntorrd, but
has been formed by a severe study of The best
models, and frai.ed by the piecepts Of The
ablest masters. Burke, Chatham, and Fox.
with the ancient orators whom even these
great men initiated, have been his pro-
tOiypes and instructors.
There is a volume of Burke now in the IL
brary Of Congress. which contains copous
marginal notes In the hand writing of Mr. Ran
dolph, evincing how closely he has studied
and copied his g.rat cxpmplar. His voice
which is naturally clear and harmonious, but
neither fall nor majestic, has been Disciplined
To the most exact mOduIations and cadencps
and IFS silver tones pierce like a two edged
sword, being directed to its Object by glance
OF ms eye, or a significant gesture of his fin
ger dIs gestures are not numerous, but TX
pressl'r, Ioroible, and graceful Long and Sc
we're study, with close observation of men and
Z h.. 4. -
ryspecies of knowledge, and his images, Fl
guIes, and illustrations are chastp, classical and
opposite. Perhaps no person in this country
is better acquainted with the English Ian
suage. He has made it study aud knows
The force of every word and phrase he uses
Ills language is therefore scrupulously correct
MS arrangements exact, and his periods full
polished and harmonious.
Such may be considered general outline nl
Mr.. Randnlphs el0quence, which his spprrh
to-day exempliiied, together with many ot
those characteristic traits, pucnlisrities, az il
you please eccentriciijes, by which he is DIS
tnSuishrd. The manner in which ne adnp
nlshed the gentleman from Massachusetts o
TIE fearful consequences Of his resolution was
solemn, grand and terrific. " 1t was but II
small sprck 10 The verge Of the horiZnu brt
me gentleman was rs well aware as himself
qua. SPeVkS W nus description, clnuds OF sucl
porient, often forebod' the most lremeudou,
storms and con'uIsons in the physical, moral
aad political world"
As proofof his independence and intrepi.
! dity of character, might cite The passage. r.
which he declared, that With ali his partiali
Ties Tor England, he should be opposed to ~
alliance with that country or with any Other
/ Tor any purposes whairNcr. Had his aniagn
INST ~ ihe debate, or almost aoy othrr mem.
Der OF he lous :. mad such a declaration, Il
would have RUG through she country, and
perhaps nave blasted his political prospects.
! Aaoihrr instance ofhi= irdrprnacncc ina,