The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1824-02-24

From he NesO- York Statesmen.
RANDOLPH AND MIR. CLAY.

MR.. RANDOLPH AND MR.. CLAY.
CONCLUDED from our last paper.l
The ability with which Mr.. Clay fills The
Office ofSpeaker Of the House, is already well
known 10 the public. By blending unusual
promptness and decision with great courtesy
towards the members, he preserves the strict
est order, without giving dissatisfaction to
those upon whom il is enjoinea and enforced.
His dignity and authority, when ID the chair,
command the voluntary respect OF The house ;
while his familiarity with the duties or the or
fee affords the utmost facility % tie transac-
ton Of business. There has not been, 70 nv
knowledge, a single appeal from the decision
Of the speaker, since the commencement Of
the present session, aud such is bis acquaint-
ance with legislation and with parliamentary
ussges, that one viii probably not occur iii
its close.
But it Is not with Mr.. Clay as speaker o.
the house, as a statesman, as a diplomatist. Z
jurist, or In any other capacity than as an Or
Gtor, that ! am AZ present concerned Sucl
| general deIineations Of character are cheer
fully resigned 20 abier pens; 10 some skilful
accomplished, and accurate biographer Of TIE
numerous family Of he Wood5ees" M,
humble province i still further coatracted &
a sketch Of Mr.. Clay's STYLE Of eloquence, a!
Tax was exhibited in single speech, delivered
toe, when he was obliged 10 commence will
an apology for intruding himself upon tht
house in feeble state bis health. and with.
out either preparation or an expectation 4
participate in the debate But even undei
these disadvantages, the powers Of the might,
master Of the feelings and the passions wer,
conspicuous
If persuasion be the test of genuine elo
quence land il is difficult to fix upon any 9th
er standard,) Mr.. Clay NAV probably b,
ranked among the most powerful orators >
any age or country. My own opinion i
founded perhaps upon slight grounds, aus
without sufficient data for institutinr coEnpar
isons, that there il not a public speaker nov
living, who could produce deeper impression
upon dehberative body than Mr.. Clay. Blu
what are the constituents Of his eloquence
In the first place, let me tell you what the,
are not. Ills oratoFy is as unlike that d
Mr.. Randolph, a. the wild and lofty and lu1u
rant forests Of the west are unlike the level
led and cultivated and smooth-sh0rn fields a
Virginia plantation or as the native anJ
spontaneous eloquence Of Patrick Henry wa
unlike the classical and polished periods .
Edmund Burke Mr.. Clay makes no preten
Sons 70 scholarship, having never enloyed Tx
benefits of q liberal education. His lie Ia
been passed IN active pursuits in the hnrr,
and hustle % business; 10 the cares of Gu
merous family and be has never, like Mr.
Randolph trained and disciplined bis mind b
severe study and strict attention to the hes
models both ancient and modern 1t i 20
probable be ever read speech IN his life
With q design 20 initiate It's arrangement. IL
Term, or # diciion; 70 observe aud admin
the symmetry Of it, parts, the beauty " il
eKordiuFn. the c0nciseness and persnicuitv !
it, narF1tisn. the Iucsdsss ard0 OF III arru
msutss the pathos a IL pcroraIion, and
Thousand Cther particulars familiar to IL