Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-07-29

His speeches on the American question were
delivered to empty benches. sIt was by his wrl-
tines, and not by his speeches in Parliament,
that he exerted such astonishing and salutary
influence in England during the French Revo-
luton And his retirement from public lille
was clearly owing, in great measure, 10 the
Discrimination ofthe House Of Commons to lis
ten to his harangues.
Ii is a truth seldom attended to in the prac-
tice Of public assemblies, but which is obvious
to any one who has even casually witnessed
their proceedings, that the number OF topics
calculated decsively to Influence the mind are,
in the most complicated questions, compare
lively few. When all the facts are once known,
1t is surely unnecessary 10 make repeated state
mcnts Of them; vet Of such statements the
greater part Of our parliamentary debates is
COMPOSED Among the ancients, the facts
once known, were taken for granted, and the
speakers gave arguments, not histories, to their
audience An extended narrative may be tole-
rated in an opening speech, but succeeding
speakers, unless when new matter must be IN
troduced, should busy themselves with reason
ings only. Let any man try the following ex-
pertinent upon himself; let him listen with the
profoundest attention 10 parliamentary debate
upon the most interesting question; at the close
OF il, let him examine how much OF 1t he re-
members, or even how much Of the contents OF
any ono speech remains upon his mind; the re-
suit will be decisive in proof o.! the utter waste
Of time committed in our public proceedings
Nor is this the only mischief. Such lengthy
discussions fatigue and distract the minds OF
those engaged in them; the confused impress
sion left by tumble Of topics robs the Judgment
Of fair play; and the uncertainty TO which an
ordinary understanding is reduced by such
process is no bad excuse for surrendering to
authority what oughtto be yielded only 10 con-
viction.
1t is not to be doubted that this vice OF pro-
lixty in public speaking is chiefly owing to the
practice of delivering harrangues upon politi-
cal subjects, with little preparation upon the
particular matter acclaimed on, and with no
previous discipline whatever in the art OF ora
tory. But diffuseness is not with US confined
to spoken language. Redundancy seems COM
mon and national pest with bolh speakers and
writer's. There seems TO be something in the
nature and structure Of that copious and varied
dialect, which, like rabble army Of various
nations, we have drawn from so many sources,
rendering it, to say the least, not quite suited
for movements that shall be at once condensed
and rapid Loose and careless diction, abound
ing in repetitions, and usually inclined TO am
piication where it is found announcement to re-
peat, has been prevailing character Of Eng
lsh prose from the very earliest periods oil our
literature Nor is this the less true because
we have had from time to time such writer's as
Swift, Hobbies, Hume, Robertson and Junius.-
They proved tina, the language was not incapa-
BILE of condensation; but they are among few
exceptions in mighty crowd, and some Of
them have at times fallen into the common
habits Of the tongue and the nation. There
never was greater master of the art Of ex-
preston than the whimsical and paradoxical
Hobbies; vet he is often as diffuse, as modern
scribber in newspaper. Swift and Hume are
more even; but in some of the philosophical
compositions Of the latter, and in many of the
best political pieces of the former, there is, IN
the midst OF clear and nervous simplicity, a
disposition to scatter around them as they pro-
coed multitude of idle words, the uselessness
Of which superficial reader is often hindered
from perceiving by the force or beauty Of their
arrangement do not know more curious
instance of this sort Of Inconsistency between
portions of the compositions of the same writ
er than is afforded in the Letters of Junius.-
Perhaps no writer in any language ever studied
brevily more carefully or more successfully. II
have, of course, nothing to do here with his
falsehoods in statement, his errors in princi-
pies, or his sophistries in reasoning. AS ella
borate pieces Of written oratory, many of his
letters approach more nearly than any modern
compositions 10 that severe economy OF words,
that busness-like contempt Of the mere appen-
dages OF language, which distinguished the
perfect models Of Grecian rhetoric. The let
tiers on the Westminster election with the ex-
ceplion Of some passages of ferocious nvec-
tive) contain, in few pages of clear and har-
monious dc.ion, every thing material that was
ever urged upon the side of the question which
this writer advocated, and the substance Of
speeches and disqnisitions which it would take
weeks TO read. A wise man may learn even
from Junius; and really think that our public
men, whether Wing or Tory, might study with
advantage, the following passage, with which
one Of his letters begns:--"A great deal of
useless argument might have been saved in the
political contest which has arisen from the ex-
pulsion of Mr. Wilkes, and the subsequent ap.
pointment of Mr.. Luttrell, if The question had
been once slated ci precision, the satisfaction
Of each party, and clearly understood by them
both. But in this, as in almost every other
dispute, it usually happens that much time is
lost in referring to multitude of cases and pre- |
cedents, ,chch prove nothing 10 the purpose, or in
maintaining propositions tchich are either not dis
puted or, ,cheher they be admitted or denied, are
on yrpy, ind; Hronf ne IN The u0fipr d; definite. until