The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1824-02-17
MISCELLANY.



4 Mr.. RANDOLPH AND Mr.. CLAY.
ETfra1 N a pFfrats letter frssn gsrfisnlaa al
Uasiinglon % has friend 81 dtat site. dafed
FRIDAY evening. 30th Jaauay7L lea4.
I II was my good fortune to visit Washingtsu
a very favourable TuomentfoF witnessing 4
display az tie talents aud eloq8ence az the
distinguished men IN Congress. My letter 81
saturday last contained some account " fhe
debate between Mr.. Randolph OF Virginia,
and Mr. Webster Of Massachusetts,, Oh ;he
resolution Of the latter, in favour Of the
Greeks, with sketch Of names II each
I Of these gentlemen. To-day | have bad the
i pleasure Of seeing MIR. Randolph and Dir.
Clay engaged Ia debate On the quo siI0n o.
internal improvements. Sch a kiel 'e-rat-
\ fcation few VII probably ever again tBioy
and before sleeping ! am anxious 10 make a
\ slight memorandum Of the impression which
\ the o-story u these eminent and accomplish
ed speakers left upon my mind, while its ira
ces are ret vivid, and before the harmony o.
their periods has vel ceased 10 yibrate upon
nv ear.
j Much as has been said Of the celebrated
contest between tile Athenian orators, De
imOsshenes and Escbines Of the splendid RI
vaiFies Of Cicero aud Ilortensius 81 the Ro-
man bar ; or Of the displays Of eloQuence IN
the British senate at a still later period in
history. il NAV be seriously doubted whe Their
any Of these specimens of oratory which have
been handed down as models from age 10 age
exceeded the models Of which some Of the
great men OF oar own country are capable.
Y Why should il be 50 The field for elo-
quence is much wider in the American re-
public than Il ever was ia Greece, Rome, or
| England the subjects growing out Of the
nature Of our confe1eracy, and the interests
of a great and dourishing nation, embracing
nearly a whole continent as the theatre Of its
glory, and extending its relations ID every
quarter Of the globe, are certainly rot less
important than ancient republics or modern
empires could furnish while the character
of our government and our free institutions
giye a free scope to our orators, and present
stronger motives to distinction. Ia the
American republic, eoquence is power or,
70 adopt the classical language of one of our
statesman and scholars, (" The rod of Hermes
is the sceptre Of Jove" Politics, and not
letters, are at present the favourite pursuits
of our countrymen and popular eloqnence,
with the exception, perhaps, of the sword, is
tie most powerful instrument Of acquiring
influence and reaovn.
To these considerations il may be added,
that in genius and native talent, the citizens
of the United States are not inferior to those
Of any other country in education they are
not deficient, although il may differ somewhat
in character from that Of other nations, being
mere practical and less polished and in ex-
Tperience, our public speakers enjoy decided
advantages over every Sther people upon the
globe. AS our institutions of all descriptions
are democratic, and the great mass Of the
people participate in the affairs of the gov
lernment, our youth are initiated into popular
meetings at an early age, and begin TO play
the orator even in boy-hood. BY the time
the members Of Congress reach the hall Of
representatives they have been disciplined in
almost every species Of public speaking ;
and here new scene opens, furnishing a
wider field for eloquence, and more powerful
incentives to call forth their talents. They
find themselves 10 the first deliberative as
sembly in the world, composed Of the repre-
lsentatives of more than ten millions of free
men, collected together from 40 immense ex-
tent of territory, anxious to sustain the repu-
tation Of their own districts, and eager in the
pursuit of that fame, which a wide circulation
of their eloquence. and the discrimination OF
a reading and rejecting people can confer:
Tentanda via est qua me quoque possim
4 Tollere humo,yictorque vrum volitare per ora.
\ All the aforementioned circumstances
will apply with peculiar force both to Mr.
Randolph and to Mr. Clay. Both of them
before they had yet left the age Of adde's
cence, made eloqueuce an amusement, a:
one Of the infant demi-gsds Of Greece is said
to have made play things Of the bolts of Jove
They were but stTipllngs when they entered
upon the career of public life the former as
member of Congress, aud the latter in q
Legislative capacity in his own state. II j.
said Mr. Randolph was not twenty-one when
he was first elected a representative and
that there was therefore great shrewdness. al
! well as boldness, in his reply 10 the speaker
of the house, who inquired Of him, as he ad-
vanced 10 be qualified, if he was Of age. and
who received for answer, 9 ask ny coastitu
ients." Mr.. Clay entered upon public life
about the same period and both Of them
have been members of congress, or some 9TH
Ter dehberatiVe body, ever since. Possessed
Of great native talents, with al experience
land discipline of twenty-five wears, during
which they have passed through the most vio-
ieot party times 10 the history of our country
and have frequently come 10 contact with
all sorts Of nen, it is not strange that they
have become able, skillul and accomplished
speakers.
But to descend from generals to psrticu-
lars il IS net my intention to say any thing
of the subject in debate, beyond what is ne
cessary to illustrate the manners Of the speak
ers, and chiefly that Of Mr.. Clay, having ia
my last letter attempted sketch Of the elo-
lquence of his antagonist. II may be remark
ed, however, that Dir. Randolph was much
greater, and appeared 10 much better ad-
vantage to-day, than be did in the discussion
lon Dir. Webster's resolution, being much